Summer is waning and the kids are
back in school. Magazines and newspapers are full of information on
healthy snacks and lunches, and you as a parent are wondering how to make
modifications to their eating habits at the end of a busy day.
Our children consume a handful of
sugar, or more, on a daily basis – from prepared foods and juices to fast
foods – you know the “take out type.”
Did you know that in addition to
throwing off the body’s balance, sugar may contribute to a number of
other consequences? Dr. Joseph Mercola, N.D., lists 76 ways that sugar
can ruin your health. Here are some of them:
1.
Suppress your immune system and impairs your defences against
infection disease
2.
Upsets the mineral relationships in your body and causes chromium
and copper deficiencies, and interferes with the absorption of calcium
and magnesium
3.
Causes a rapid rise of adrenaline, hyperactivity, anxiety,
difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children
4.
Causes a significant rise in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and
bad cholesterol and decreases in good cholesterol
5.
Loss of tissue elasticity and function
6.
Feeds cancer cells and has been connected with the development of
cancer of the breast, ovaries, prostate, rectum, pancreas, lung,
gallbladder, and stomach
7.
Increases fasting levels of glucose and can cause reactive
hypoglycaemia
8.
Weakens eyesight
9.
G.I. tract problems including acid indigestion, malabsorption in
patients with functional bowel disease, increased risk of Chron’s disease
and ulcerative colitis
10.
Premature aging
11.
Can lead to alcoholism
12.
Contributes to tooth decay
13.
Contributes to obesity
14.
Causes autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, asthma, M.S.,
gallstones, appendicitis, haemorrhoids, varicose veins, and contributes
to osteoporosis
15.
Causes a decrease in insulin sensitivity and ultimately high
insulin levels leading to diabetes
16.
Lowers vitamin number levels
17.
Increases systolic blood pressure
18.
Cause food allergies and eczema in children
19.
Can impair the structure of your DNA
20.
Causes atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease and contributes
to aging of the skin, cataracts, and nearsightedness
There are more, many more – but
these are popular conditions that people deal with every day. For the
entire list go to
www.mercola.com and type in the search box 76 ways sugar can ruin
your health.
So, how do you begin to decrease
the sugar intake for your family?
On your Google search box, type
in “glycaemic index.” The fourth listing entitled Glycaemic Index is put
out for people with diabetes and has an entire chart ranking foods by
their glycaemic index. Just print it off and keep it handy when shopping
and planning meals for the family.
Children can help you prepare
healthy after school snacks the night before, and breakfast can be a
pleasure for both you and your kids. Check out this Web site:
www.dole5aday.com. It has lots of healthy recipes that you can make
for your kids or they can make for themselves. It involves the concept
of five fruits and vegetables a day for healthier more attentive
children.
So, enjoy the back-to-school time
with your kids and help them to eat healthier. These healthy habits can
stay with them all their lives…and help them protect their most precious
possession – the only one that can’t be purchased – their own good
health.
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