Is Sugar a Toxin?
By Marja
@buenavida (9984)
Sweden
June 12, 2012 7:42am CST
Fruit has sugar but if we eat fruit, we get many goodies, like fibre, vitamins, minerals etc.. Fruit is balanced food.
But the white sugar, how much can we eat without becoming sick?
The factories have taken away all minerals and fibres and vitamins and made it inedible for worms, larva, maggots or others who love to eat natural sugar.
At the same time they have made it inedible for human beings. 
Do they care if we get sick as long as we buy their sugar and pay and make them rich??
Sugar is, according to the research made by Americas most respected institutions, the way it is used today, a toxin that can cause many of the biggest health threats including heart disease and cancer.
Some artificial sweeteners, like aspartame are even worse and can cause lots of diseases as well.
Here is a program from 60 minutes. Why not watch, if you missed it?
http://www.wben.com/pages/12715207.php?contentType=4&contentId=10312584
It looks like we have to train our taste buds so we stop craving sugar and other fast carbs.. Yes, it is really possible to do that..
What is your solution for sweet cravings??
Do they care if we get sick as long as we buy their sugar and pay and make them rich??
Sugar is, according to the research made by Americas most respected institutions, the way it is used today, a toxin that can cause many of the biggest health threats including heart disease and cancer.
Some artificial sweeteners, like aspartame are even worse and can cause lots of diseases as well.
Here is a program from 60 minutes. Why not watch, if you missed it?
http://www.wben.com/pages/12715207.php?contentType=4&contentId=10312584
It looks like we have to train our taste buds so we stop craving sugar and other fast carbs.. Yes, it is really possible to do that..
What is your solution for sweet cravings??3 people like this
11 responses
@peavey (16936)
• United States
12 Jun 12
As you said, fruit has sugar in it but has other things, too. I think a natural combination can't be as harmful as refined white sugar, so when I get a craving for something sweet, a piece of fruit will satisfy. Also, I use stevia in tea and other drinks. It's a natural plant based sweetener that has no calories and has not been shown to be harmful in any way. I wouldn't use artificial sweeteners because there are too many questions about their safety.
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
14 Jun 12
Yes, I agree about stevia, if you can find the less processed form, use it. Be aware, though, that it isn't standardized and some of it's sweeter and some of it isn't. I have tried to grow stevia here but haven't had much luck. I think it gets too hot and dry. Or maybe too cold and wet. 
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
12 Jun 12
Yes, peavey - fruit gives us great satisfaction if we crave something sweet.
I have not tested stevia, but maybe I will do some research to see what I find.
Aspartame is one of the worst sweeteners, and I think it tastes really bad, so it is easy to not use at all.
A little organic honey can give a lot of taste and good nutrients as well.
Have a nice day 
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
14 Jun 12
Make sure that you use a stevia product that is green in colour as that white powder that they sell as stevia has been processed beyond recognition from the green leaf that it once was. That white stuff is no better than sugar in my opinion. I grow stevia in my garden and use the leaves straight from the plant. I love to pick and eat them as I walk past it too. So nice!
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
12 Jun 12
I think sugar in moderation is fine. I don't feel it is a toxin until the body can't process it. Like with insulin resistance of the cells. Most diabetic type II's have insulin resistance which causes obesity.
I am not diabetic but I am insulin resistant. I have low blood glucose levels. It's usually down in the low 50s. I'm not sure about the physiology that happens to my body, but I try to stay away from most sugars... however, I do eat it at times. When I do eat it I get very tired where I can hardly move... I get short of breath and have to go to bed. I sometimes get sick to my stomach, but I seldom throw up. Part of that is due to dumping syndrome.. but some of it is due to my low blood sugar.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
12 Jun 12
Yes, eating white sugar - especially too much, can make us very tired.
What happens, as far as I have learned, is that the refined sugar causes production of too much insulin and the extra sugar is stored in the body as fat. Too much insulin also lowers the blood sugar too much so that we get very tired.
All fast carbs can cause this reaction, so better keep the Glycemic Index on the right level.
You can do more research about it... gnld.com has some good info how to avoid the ups and downs in blood sugar levels. Just check the info about "GR2".
All fast carbs can cause this reaction, so better keep the Glycemic Index on the right level.
You can do more research about it... gnld.com has some good info how to avoid the ups and downs in blood sugar levels. Just check the info about "GR2". 1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
12 Jun 12
Great, and if you change the fries and white bread to salad, I think you will feel the difference.
I have to be careful with carbs too, as both my grandma and mom had diabetes 2. Better prevent than have to deal with the disease.
One woman I know, lost about 80 pounds in two years when she used GR2 and her MS got better so she could leave the wheelchair too. I don't know if everyone gets that much better, but no harm in trying.
GR2 has a sweetener, Acesulfam K, that should not be harmful as the body doesn't absorb it.
I have to be careful with carbs too, as both my grandma and mom had diabetes 2. Better prevent than have to deal with the disease.
One woman I know, lost about 80 pounds in two years when she used GR2 and her MS got better so she could leave the wheelchair too. I don't know if everyone gets that much better, but no harm in trying.
GR2 has a sweetener, Acesulfam K, that should not be harmful as the body doesn't absorb it.@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
12 Jun 12
Thank you. I think I will write an article about it based on my own experience. I ate half a donut for dessert tonight and I started to feel tired and sick. Good thing I didn't eat the whole thing. I only ate half of my hamburger and bun and half my french fries. I will eat the other half if I get hungry later. Thanks for the idea.
Yes.. I produce so much insulin but it doesn't carry the glucose into the cell to be used as energy and just makes fat... so I try to really cut it down.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
12 Jun 12
yep it is damned if you do and damned if you don't.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
12 Jun 12
Yeah, it is like we say in Sweden, it is like choosing between plague and cholera..
But it is a good thing we can get used to change the sweets to fruits and if we follow the Glycemic Index, we soon don't want much sugar any more.
But it can be a fight to change habits we have and people around us have..
But it is a good thing we can get used to change the sweets to fruits and if we follow the Glycemic Index, we soon don't want much sugar any more.
But it can be a fight to change habits we have and people around us have..
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
13 Jun 12
Well, dark chocolate can be good if it has very little sugar. I think it has flavonoids and other goodies. Tastes great too..
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
12 Jun 12
Fruit sugar will not make you sick, unless you have a health problem such as diabetes and have to watch your blood glucose levels. Refinied sugar affects everyone differently, but it does have toxic type effects if you consume too much, or if you consume it on an empty stomach. I believe the artificial sweeteners are way worse than sugar.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
12 Jun 12
Yes, Canellita, I know diabetics are avoiding some fruits - like bananas that are ripe. I am not sure if there is research on this, but the dietists recommend them to buy not so ripe bananas..
If we can keep the refined sugar on minimal levels, we might be able to eat it now and then at special occasions. 
Most artificial sweeteners should be avoided of course..
Most artificial sweeteners should be avoided of course..@Canellita (12029)
• United States
20 Jun 12
Doctors usually recommend that diabetics only consume 1/2 of a banana. No one should eat an underripe banana ever.
@asdomencil (4265)
• Philippines
13 Jun 12
I think, if it is used in excess it will have a toxic effect in our body. Sugar is calories therefore it can increase the heat in our body system which make cancer cells active. These are the foods of cancer cells according to natural medicines.
One of the alternative they are recommending is the raw sugar. Honey is an example of this raw sugar or sugar that does not undergo heating/cooking processes. However, there are still cautions in using honey, there are many in the market that are not pure honey, still they add some sugar in it. So better try to have idea in determining a pure honey. For example, pure honey does not hardened when placed in a refrigerator. Another, if you leave a drop of it even in the home of ants, they will not eat it.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
13 Jun 12
Hi, asdomencil It is interesting to learn this about the honey. If we know someone who has bees and sells honey, it would help..
I buy organic honey in the store and hope it is OK, but I can test it by having it in the refrigerator for a while..
I have used raw sugar for many years and and we can buy lump sugar made of brown sugar here. It tastes better too, even if I rarely use it..
It is interesting to learn this about the honey. If we know someone who has bees and sells honey, it would help..
I buy organic honey in the store and hope it is OK, but I can test it by having it in the refrigerator for a while..
I have used raw sugar for many years and and we can buy lump sugar made of brown sugar here. It tastes better too, even if I rarely use it..@asdomencil (4265)
• Philippines
14 Jun 12
There are also other option. Try to have the sugar plant named Stevia. It can be used as substitute for sugar. A piece of its leaf is sweeter than a teaspoon of table sugar.
@kareng (80243)
• United States
12 Jun 12
Sugar is overused in this country by incredible amounts. Think back to the old days, a pound of sugar lasted forever. These days it is used up in a day or less in most homes.
I kicked the sugar habit many years ago when my husband was diagnosed with diabetes. Our kids were still at home and they were the ones that missed it the most. I just quit buying bulk sugar.
As for myself, I do not use artificial sweeteners. I just went cold turkey. I do still eat things with sugar in it, but limit myself. I have greatly reduced my sugar intake by doing this.
I didn't care for the way artificial sweetener tasted. My husband uses it, but I just preferred the natural taste of things.
The decision is a personal preference and one that will be different for each person to make. I wish cutting carbohydrates were as easy!
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
12 Jun 12
Congratulations, it is a big step forward to leave the sugar to a minimum and not use artificial sweeteners.
Some diabetics us a little honey, but maybe it is not good for everyone.
Yes, we all have to decide what to do as we get the consequences. But it can be good to do research before using any sweetener. Some may be harmful and some not so harmful.
Some diabetics us a little honey, but maybe it is not good for everyone.
Yes, we all have to decide what to do as we get the consequences. But it can be good to do research before using any sweetener. Some may be harmful and some not so harmful. 
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
16 Jun 12
My solution is using natural and low glycemic birch sugar (same as xylitol), which actually has many wonderful health benefits even though it tastes better than the other white stuff. But first I trained myself to use less and less sweetener, which is hard to do first because sugar is addicting but also because it is added to SO MANY commercial products. If I make something from a recipe I always use a lot less sugar than is called for.
Of course, healthy sugar is more expensive, go figure, but I only use a little of it, so that does make the choice easier. Personally, I do not think the sugars in fresh fruit are bad for us, unless they are taken in concentration.
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
12 Jun 12
I bought a bag of sugar when I first moved here 5 years ago and hadn't gone through it by the time my sister visited a couple months ago. She had to buy a new bag of sugar and that was half used by the time her week's visit was over!
I cut out most of my sugar a couple of years ago and noticed a difference in how I felt within a couple of days. I try to avoid processed foods as much as possible because of the huge amounts of salt and sugar in them. Plus, I'm trying to avoid wheat.
I still crave sugar but I guess that's just something I have to put up with and resist.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
12 Jun 12
Thanks dragon54u for your experiences.
It is interesting that you felt the difference in just a couple of days!
It can be very wise to avoid wheat too, as the wheat of our days is not the same that was used thousands of years ago.
I read that our wheat has something in it that can cause ADHD, so better eat something more healthy!
It is interesting that you felt the difference in just a couple of days!
It can be very wise to avoid wheat too, as the wheat of our days is not the same that was used thousands of years ago.
I read that our wheat has something in it that can cause ADHD, so better eat something more healthy! 
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
12 Jun 12
It is the refined sugar that is a problem and which should be avoided most of the time. A bit now and then can be forgiven.
The sugar in fruits is totally different.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
12 Jun 12
I agree.. It can be very difficult to keep away from all refined sugar, as we sometimes visit friends who want to be friendly and want us to eat a cookie that they have baked themselves.
I am so happy that we have so many tasty fruits and vegetables with good nutrition. We can enjoy them every day..
It can be very difficult to keep away from all refined sugar, as we sometimes visit friends who want to be friendly and want us to eat a cookie that they have baked themselves.
I am so happy that we have so many tasty fruits and vegetables with good nutrition. We can enjoy them every day..
@marguicha (230351)
• Chile
19 Jun 12
Fortunatly, my biggest cravings are salty. But that does not mean it`s very safe. I love chocolate and I`m addicted to it, so I never buy chocolate. And I mean never. But if someone brings me chocolate as a goft, I will eat it all at once. It happened at my birthday, but usually I won`t get chocolates again until my next birthday.
