Sugar & Sweet Choices
Consider Be willing to do whatever it takes to be a warrior for your own health. – Jan Mundo How Sugar Affects the Brain Video Length: 5 Minutes Click here to view. also view The Different Types of Sugars & How to Use Them Video Length: 4 minutes, 40 seconds Click here to view Sugar provides energy to the muscles, brain and nervous system. Chemical processes break down blood sugar [glucose] to sustain life and keep the body from using protein for energy. The hormone insulin is released when sugar is eaten and tells the cells to absorb glucose as an energy source. Read more. The Sugar Association [scientific voice of U.S. sugar industry] calls sugar sucrose, a simple carbohydrate. It’s made from one glucose molecule attached to one fructose molecule. Lactose, sugar in cow’s milk is made from a glucose molecule attached to a galactose molecule. Read more. While sugar is essential, too much causes problems. A Clean Plates post, “Five Reasons You Need to Eat Less Sugar,” begins: Sugary foods tend to be processed foods, and … “it’s the ultra-processed ones we need to significantly reduce from our diet. They include packaged snacks, candy, ice cream, refined grain breads, margarine, packaged baked goods, and packaged/powdered soups and noodles, as well as the sugary cereals made from refined grains,” says Dr. Jampolis, who explained many of these, especially those with a sugar glaze, also produce AGEs, which are “advanced glycation end” products that cause inflammation. Read more. Sugar is associated with diabetes, which happens when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin and/or cells resist the insulin. Sustained high blood sugar levels raises risks of heart disease, liver and nerve damage. Healthline answers these and more questions about diabetes: Can sugar increase the chance of diabetes? Added sugars, especially from sugar-sweetened beverages, are strongly linked to the development of type 2 diabetes. This is likely due to sugar’s direct effect on your liver, as well as its indirect effect of increasing body weight. What about natural sugar [including from fruits]? While added sugars are strongly linked to the development of diabetes, natural sugars found in whole fruits and vegetables don’t have the same effect. How about artificial sweeteners? While artificially sweetened foods and beverages contain no sugar and fewer calories than sugar-sweetened alternatives, they’re still linked to the development of diabetes. Here are eleven healthy and natural sweeteners, including coconut sugar, maple sugar and blackstrap molasses. Agave is not listed because the way some is manufactured is similar to high fructose corn syrup, which encourages belly fat and other problems. For more information, see: Is Agave better than sugar? 8 Reasons to Avoid Agave Fortunately, sugar-free, tasty and healthy recipes are available. See a few below. Write. Share your thoughts on this post, and … Succeed and Soar! Sugar Free Recipes Make in One Minute from Two Healthy Ingredients Click here to view. Also enjoy: Ten, Sugar-Free Deserts without Artificial Sweeteners [Includes 3-Ingredient peanut butter fudge, Sweet potato brownies and Grilled watermelon] 15 Best Sugar-Free Deserts That Taste Like Real Thing Includes Gingerbread cake, Keto Chocolate Mousse and Instant Millionaire Pie for Diabetics] Shop Sandra’s Art on Coffee Mugs As well as tote bags, tee shirts, journals, puzzles, phone cases, ornaments, face masks, towels, blankets, cups, pillows, shower curtains and more These unique, sturdy mugs are: Ceramic Dishwasher and Microwave safe Two sizes: 11 oz and 15 oz Prices, $15 and $18 CUSTOMIZE. Use tools with item to: Enlarge, reduce size of art Change placement of art and text Choose background colors Purchase this cup View All Collections HERE. Thanks for shopping! Keep in Mind All information offered here is meant to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. With a Masters Degree in Fine Arts, Sandra Gould Ford is an artist, author, educator and former steelworker who intends to lift hearts and spirits, our awareness and humanity. Know that information explored here may be time sensitive and could have been updated. This material prescribes neither drugs nor therapies. Further, this brief post cannot cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic responses, adverse effects or appropriateness for any individual. This presenter uses her best discretion in sharing resources. She recommends readers do the same, including consulting appropriate professionals [such as doctors, nurses and/or pharmacists] to make sure this information fits personal circumstances. Blessings and Good Health.