The sweet stuff

Majority of the things we eat now days has huge amounts of sugar in it. In just one snack, it have have 20g or more of sugar in it. We don't only get our sugar intake from eating sugary snacks or candy, but also from drinks. Many of us drink our daily intake of sugar and calories.

Eating more sugar causes the body to release more insulin to accommodate all the sugar that was consumed.

 Photo: Remi Taum

Sugar is a addiction. It is what it is, whether we want to believe it or not. Chemically, sugar sparks the rewards center of our brain -- too much sugar causes weight gain and  diabetes.

Like a drug, the more you consumer sugar on a regular basis, your body starts to develop a tolerance. You'll need more and more to get that "fix" on sugar, the same pleasure feelings. This can cause the cutback on sugar to be more difficult. While it may seem all to easy that cutting back on sugar is a pinch, it can actually prove to be tough.

In a previous story I wrote, for the Kapi'o Newspress, I spoke with a personal trainer at 24 Hour Fitness in Hawai'i Kai, he explained that people coming off a sugar filled diet can be a grump.

To cutback on sugar, shift your diet to a whole foods diet. Cut out carbohydrates. Also, eating fats and proteins slow the process of carbs into the intestines. People tend to shy away from fats and are scared of them, but are less scared of sugars. When sugar, expands the waistline and presents a ton of health problems.

Healthy fats are those found in almonds, walnuts, avocados, and more. People can also get their fats from Omega3's.

Anyway, just keep in mind the amount of sugar and be sure to read the labels, make those things your best friends. Anything you can't pronounce or you see that the list is a mile long, put that food or drink back on the shelf and find something else.

More information: 

Everyday Health
Cut back on Sugar