by Anay Abreu, Ayurvedic Specialist
Sugar is addictive. When a person is addicted to sugar, the pineal gland produces a substance called beta-endorphin, similar to morphine, which promotes addiction.
This process cannot be eliminated with diet alone, but with detoxification.
Studies have shown that people with a need to consume sugar suffer from depression at a rate of 54%.
Sugar is hygroscopic, meaning it attracts water. When we ingest sugar, it attracts water, which causes dry skin and dehydration in the body in general, as it removes this water from the tissues.
The joints suffer because sugar excites the nervous system, which affects circulation and increases pain. Sugar temporarily relieves pain, but because it stimulates that part of the nervous system, it causes long-term pain.
The heart is affected because, when there is excess sugar in the blood, the walls of the arteries (the endothelium) become inflamed.
The liver, the second largest organ after the skin, suffers, as it causes fatty liver disease. The liver’s detoxifying function is affected, leading to generalized toxicity.
Sugar consumption causes general inflammation of the body and a depressed immune system. When blood sugar rises, the white blood cells of the immune system that defend us reduce their mobility by up to 40%.
When all this happens, the chances of cancer, diabetes, arthritis, obesity, and insomnia increase.
Sugar is either white or brown. Brown sugar simply means it has been refined less. There is no significant difference between brown and white sugar.
The idea is to use as little sugar as possible: it’s empty calories. Almost all the food we consume is converted into glucose, a substance the body needs to produce energy and for brain function. Therefore, we don’t need sugary substances, as they are processed from fructose and directly affect metabolism.
When it comes to losing weight and improving metabolism, you need to consume very little or no sugar. Metabolism occurs in the cell. The mitochondria are located in the cell, where proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and the main element that sustains life, oxygen, enter.
A healthy person with a good metabolism has plenty of oxygen because there is good cellular respiration, more energy, and that is one of the factors that helps people lose weight.
Almost all artificial sweeteners have an acid with a pH of 2.5; the body has a pH of 7.4. Substances with a pH lower than that will contribute much more acidity to our body. It takes 32 glasses of water after consuming a can of soda to return to a normal pH.
The glucose the body needs comes from fiber-rich foods, such as vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins like fish, beans, nuts and eggs, avocado, and berries, which stabilize blood sugar levels. Fruits can be consumed in moderation, ideally before noon and on their own. Fruits contain simple sugars or fructose and are recommended to be eaten alone or at least at a different time than other foods, especially during main meals. This is because fruits are digested relatively quickly due to their simple sugars, while other foods are digested slowly, which can lead to fermentation and digestive problems such as gas, bloating, and indigestion. Ideally, fruits should be consumed on an empty stomach, preferably in the morning or as a snack between meals.
When it comes to beverages, your body needs water. The number of glasses you should drink is determined by dividing your weight in pounds by 16.
You can enjoy sugar-free meals by using natural sweeteners such as fruits (berries, dates, bananas) and spices (cinnamon, vanilla), focusing on savory flavors with aromatic herbs. Reducing your sugar intake allows you taste buds to recover their natural intelligence revealing the natural sweetness of foods and decreasing cravings for refined sugars.
