Written by Dr Steven Gunn (MBChB. BSc. CVIT)

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly Side of Too Much Sweetness

Ever wondered what the world would be like without sugar?  The addiction to sugar is the most common addiction in the world, certainly in the developed countries globally.  Babies are not born with ‘sweet tooths’ but develop a liking for sugar and sweet foods and drinks as they grow and eventually become sugar addicted adults.  This behavior is driven mostly by the parents and family and friends giving children sweets (candy) as a treat or reward, instead of something healthy or valuable.

The combination of sugar plus fat, is a lethal combination if it is the wrong sugar and fat from a health point of view.  The brain and taste buds love the taste of this combo which is why most of us love ice cream, sweetened yoghurt, custard and chocolate.  Sugar and fat help to increase serotonin in the brain which makes one feel better.  The unhealthy sugars are the refined sugars, such as, white and brown table sugar (sucrose), fruit sugar (fructose), milk sugar (lactose), or combinations of the above.  The refined carbs for example, white and brown bread, mash potato, white rice, wheat pasta and what flour consist of predominantly simple sugars joined together to form long chains of molecules of carbohydrates, which taste great, but break down into simple sugars which spike your blood sugar and insulin levels (high glycemic index) leading to insulin resistance and prediabetes or diabetes, resulting in increased circulating levels of sugar and insulin travelling throughout the blood vessels and entering the cells of all the organs and tissues (insulin carries sugar into the cells).

The excess sugar causes inflammation and damage to the blood vessels and organs such as the brain, kidneys, eyes, pancreas, heart, liver, nerves and immune system.  Sugar also binds with proteins forming strands of sugar-protein molecules which interface with the function of cells causing accelerated ageing.  High sugar levels also weaken the immune system and excess sugar and insulin can promote cancer cells growth.  Excess sugar and insulin promotes fat cell formation and weight gain and diabetes mellitus.

Measures to control sugar and insulin balance, instead of excess, include the following:

• Healthy diet low in refined carbs and saturated fat with more vegetables, salads, fish, chicken, turkey, lean meat, beans, nuts, seeds, low on dairy, plus healthy oils (e.g. olive, coconut and omega 3 fish oil) and plenty of pure mineral water
• Intermittent fasting or ketogenic diet (2 meals per day) for certain individuals this works well
• Cardiovascular and resistance training exercises, preferable HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) instead of long hours in the gym
• Food supplements which help control sugar and insulin levels must be chosen wisely
• Regular medical check-ups and blood chemistry tests at the pathology lab every 6 months

Nutritional supplements containing the following ingredients can be very beneficial in controlling mild to moderately high blood glucose and insulin levels:

• Cinnamon
• Gymnema Sylvestre
• Berberine
• Lemon juice
• Chromium
• Vanadium
• Alpha Lipoic Acid
• Apple cider vinegar
• Certain amino acids
• Certain adaptogenic plants and superfoods
• Certain complex carbohydrates

XTREME HEALTH.CO.ZA has a food supplement called XTREME SUGAR & INSULIN CONTROL-IGX capsules (60) which contains many of these ingredients and is highly recommended.

References: Scientific references and clinical studies information available from LIFEXMED CLINICS.

For more information and to order the XTREME SUGAR & INSULIN CONTROL-IGX go to www.xtremehealth.co.za