Sweet And Deadly
Date:
When my sugar walks down the
street,....this refrain from an old American ballad reminds us of the intense
preoccupation that we have with our sweet tooth. In one form or another we find
sweeteners in almost everything that we eat or drink. They are presented in a
multitude of subtle forms and disguises as if to appear harmless; however, many
are far from harmless; few of them have any nutritional value at all. The near
universal presence of incredible amounts of sugars and artificial sweeteners
throughout our entire food supply makes a trip to the local supermarket a
dangerous experience indeed, particularly for the uninformed. Because this
whole commercial arena changes quickly as more and more customers catch on, it
becomes essential that we become periodically updated about the sugar
deception.
Sugar addiction is a complex process that starts with the stimulation of the
sweet sensors in our mouth and ends with a twisted whole body immune response
and a severely malfunctioning endocrine system. Sugars are known to cause
massive dislocations in our endocrine system leading directly to a national
obesity epidemic and the eventual and certain loss of the body’s ability to
metabolize any sugar. The result of an out of control sugar addiction is often
diabetes, obesity, kidney failure, blindness, amputation of the extremities and
an early and miserable death. The price of allowing ourselves to be deceived by
fraudulent labels and of failing to cope with sugar addiction is very high.
When the per capita consumption of sugar was on the order of twelve pounds per
year, it posed little danger because most people can handle that amount without
adverse effects. Today’s per capita consumption is approaching 150 pounds per
year, with certain subgroups, teenagers for example, consuming much more; and,
the negative health consequences are devastating.
The damaging effects of sugar are worsened dramatically by two other dietary
changes that were introduced in the early 1970s. These changes act in synergy
with sugar consumption to enhance the damaging effect of sugar and to guarantee
epidemic diabetes, overweight and obesity. One change was the substitution of
cheap junk oils for the highly beneficial coconut oil we once had in the
American diet. The awful health consequences of this substitution have been
widely exposed by many students of these issues. Another factor was the
widespread addition of MSG to the food supply for the purpose of creating food
addictions. MSG is so well understood to reliably cause obesity, that a strain
of lab rats noted for their obesity and widely used by scientists in their
obesity studies, is identified as MSG rats. It was when these dietary changes
were introduced that obesity began to assume epidemic proportions in the
The type of sugars in our food has changed over the years. Once sucrose,
derived from sugar cane or sugar beets was our leading dietary sugar. Today,
cheaper sugars, such as high fructose corn syrup, are widely used. High
fructose corn syrup is derived from the chemical, biological and enzymatic
manipulation of corn syrup. At least two of the enzymes that are used in the
manufacture of high fructose corn syrup have been genetically modified to
facilitate the process. Although there are hundreds of sugars and sugar isomers
in common use, it is only glucose, sometimes known as dextrose, that powers our
cellular metabolism. Contrary to widespread opinion, fructose is not a healthy
sugar, especially for the overweight.
How Sugar Is Metabolized
Some crops, such as corn, sugar cane and sugar beets are processed to yield
refined sugars. Glucose, fructose and galactose are all monosaccharides, or
simple sugars. There are numerous other monosaccharides. They all have three to
seven carbon atoms. Glucose, fructose and galactose are all hexoses; that is
they have six carbon atoms. They are all isomers of each other, i.e.: they all
have the same chemical formula but with differing arrangements of the
constituent atoms. It is this differing isomeric arrangement to which the
body’s enzymes respond during their metabolism.
Often sugar molecules will connect up in chains. A chain of two molecules is
called a disaccharide. Common table sugar, called sucrose, is such a
disaccharide; it is composed of one molecule of glucose and one of fructose.
When the chain of sugar molecules exceeds two it is called a polysaccharide.
Starch is a common vegetable dietary polysaccharide. The widespread consumption
of white potatoes, an important starch, is a factor in our national obesity
epidemic. On the glycemic index, white potatoes, a polysaccharide sugar, is
higher than ice cream; thus white potatoes are more difficult for our blood sugar
controller to manage than is ice cream.
In order for a molecule of glucose to be absorbed by the villi in our
intestines, two molecules of sodium must be there to facilitate the absorption.
In the absence of sodium, glucose will not be absorbed. This makes the
consumption of white potatoes, such as French fries or baked potatoes liberally
dosed with table salt, sodium chloride, doubly damaging to the human
metabolism.
Glycogen, manufactured by our liver, is a common animal polysaccharide composed
of a long chain of glucose molecules connected in a slightly different way than
the starch. In between meals, it is this glycogen that is secreted by the liver
into the bloodstream that prevents our blood sugar from falling too low. This
is the system that fails with certain forms of hypoglycemia
In our intestines, disaccharides and polysaccharides are broken down into
monosaccharide form by enzymes in our brush border villi. The monosaccharides
are then absorbed. Sucrose, table sugar is a common disaccharide that is broken
down into glucose and fructose before being absorbed. The glucose goes into the
bloodstream and then to the different cells of our body where it powers
cellular activity and is involved in other cellular processes. The fructose
goes to the liver for the triglyceride transformation needed before it can be
stored as body fat.
Metabolic Consequences Of Chronic Sugar Consumption
This metabolism of fructose into triglyceride body fat is an important factor
in the obesity epidemic sweeping the nation. There are many, including this
writer, that are convinced that the widespread over-consumption of high
fructose corn syrup is a key factor our national epidemic of obesity. The
widespread popular belief that fructose is a harmless sugar because it does not
elevate blood sugar levels is not at all well founded. Immediately after the
ingestion of fructose, a rapid rise in blood triglycerides occurs. This reveals
the newly manufactured fat being transported from the liver to the adipose
cells where it is stored.
Our digestive and metabolic systems work through the action of enzymes
manufactured by the body. Minerals are an important constituent of enzymes;
enzymes cannot function without minerals. The chronic consumption of sugar
completely upsets all of our mineral balances. We then become enzyme deficient.
Among the early warning signs of this deficiency are multiple food allergies.
When we lack the enzymes needed to digest and metabolize our food, these
processes work poorly, if at all. The next step in this degenerative process is
that we not only become allergic to the food that we eat, but also no longer
digest and metabolize properly.
When the Calcium-Phosphorous mineral balance becomes distorted by excess sugar,
we suffer from inability to properly metabolize calcium. Even if we have
normal, even excess, calcium in the bloodstream, it doesn’t do us any good. We
excrete the excess calcium and then the body raids the supply of calcium in the
bones and we operate as calcium deficient. Osteoporosis is often the result.
Chronic elevated levels of blood sugar stimulate chronic elevated levels of
insulin as the body attempts to clear sugar from the bloodstream. Elevated
levels of glucose cause the fine capillaries and veins throughout the body to
leak. If the capillaries are in the feet, neuropathy and eventual gangrene
result. If they are in the kidneys, irreversible loss of kidney function
results. If they are in the eyes, retinopathy and progressive loss of vision
results. An elevated level of insulin is linked to atherosclerosis and eventual
stroke or heart failure.
Natural Sweeteners
If carbohydrates containing sugar are processed to the point where the isolated
sugar molecules appear to be the only, or major result of the refining process,
the sugar is said to be refined. Ordinary table sugar, sucrose, is a refined
sugar.
However, if the refining process is started but not allowed to go to
completion, a class of so-called “unrefined sugars” result. There are hundreds
of different unrefined sugars in relatively common usage. Amongst these can be
found: organic maple syrup, organic maple sugar, barley malt syrup, brown rice
syrup, honey, date sugar as well as several grades of partially refined brown
sugars and syrups. These so called unrefined sugar substitutes all contain
sugar; usually sucrose, maltose galactose or fructose in varying proportions.
Typically these unrefined sugars are, in terms of health, somewhat superior to
the refined sugars because they often still contain varying amounts of the mineral
complexes, vitamins and other nutrients that were once a part of the raw source
product. Their presence may tend to prevent the body from raiding its stores of
these nutrients when the sugar is consumed. The sugar content, however, usually
either sucrose or fructose, remains as the sweetening agent. These unrefined
sugars will elevate the blood sugar just as the their more refined counterparts
do. However, they may do it more slowly and also supply more of the nutrients
that have been removed from the more refined sugars.
Xylitol and Stevia are two natural sweeteners that are very useful to those who
want to avoid the bad consequences of sugar and the worse consequences of
artificial sweeteners.
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol, not a true sugar. In taste and appearance it is
much like the sucrose to which we’ve all become habituated. Although it looks
and tastes like sugar it has a greatly diminished effect upon our blood sugar
metabolism. The only side effect, for some, is that usage in very large quantities
will produce diarrhea. The other most noticeable characteristic is that it is
somewhat expensive; currently it is about .00 per pound in most health food
stores. Xylitol is highly recommended for diabetics or those who seek a healthy
alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners.
Stevia is an herb and is, wrongly, reputed to be a cure for diabetes in some
countries. While not a cure for diabetes, it is a very good sweetener for the
diabetic as well as those who want to escape the damage done by sugar and
artificial sweeteners. It is so effective as a competitor for the artificial
sweetener industry that the FDA refuses to allow it to be advertised as a
sweetener in spite of the fact that being sweet is its major identifying
characteristic. Highly recommended as a sweetener to those who seek a healthy
alternative to the sugar and artificial sweetener industry.
Artificial Sweeteners
Because of the many widely recognized dangers inherent in the excess use of
sugar, an important market has developed in the use of artificial sweeteners,
or so called sugar substitutes. Sadly, many of these sugar substitutes have far
worse health effects upon the body than does sugar itself. In theory, these
artificial sweeteners do not elevate blood sugar. However, the many other
deadly effects of them are often far worse than the effects of sugar. A good
piece of advice is: Control your sweet tooth; if you cannot control your sweet
tooth, then use one of the two alternative sweeteners mentioned above or the
unrefined sweeteners available. If you cannot do either, then accept the bad
effects of sugar, because as bad as sugar is, it is far better than its
artificial alternatives.
The principal artificial sweeteners are: Aspartame, Neotame, Acesulfame-K,
Saccharin and Sucralose. There are a few others, however, these are the ones
most commonly found in our food and soft drinks.
Aspartame is a chemical that was once on the congressional list of biowarfare
agents. It was refused a place in our food supply for sixteen years by the FDA
because it was and is a well-known toxic agent. Aspartame was finally approved
by a new FDA commissioner put in place by the political influence of Donald
Rumsfeld who, as president of the company that owned the patent on Aspartame,
wanted to get it approved. This event is a case study in criminal politics and
an eye opening view of how corporate America really works.
Currently aspartame appears in several thousand food products in our
supermarkets and is regularly consumed by at least 2/3rds of the US population.
There are far too many serious side effects caused by this chemical to list in
this short article. However, just for the purpose of illustration, aspartame
has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease in thirty year olds, brain tumors, and
Parkinson’s disease in young people. When forced to do so under a freedom of
information act request, the FDA produced a list of 92 symptoms caused by this
chemical food and drink additive. Over 10,000 victims reported these symptoms.
By the FDA’s own admission 75% of the complaints received by the agency were
about Aspartame.
The medical text “Aspartame Disease: an Ignored Epidemic”, by Dr. H.J. Roberts,
presents 1038 pages of symptoms and diseases triggered by this neurotoxin.
It is indeed ironic that aspartame even fails in its role as a dietary
supplement to promote weight loss. As an excitotoxin it stimulates the body’s
craving for carbohydrates and is known to promote obesity.
Multiple lawsuits have recently been filed in several California courts. If justice
is finally served, the settlements may run into the billions and this poison
could be removed from the marketplace. It’s a shame that political immunity
will probably keep the people that merchandise this poison out of jail.
In the meantime, if you value your health, do not consume any product that
contains Aspartame. The trade names under which it is currently sold include
NutraSweet, Canderal, Spoonful, Equal, and Benevia. These constantly change as
consumers catch on, so be aware. Even as the tradenames are changed to confuse
the unwary, remember that as required by law the label must contain a warning
about PKU stating that the product contains Phenylalanine (PKU).
Neotame is a new sweetener developed by Monsanto. It is very similar to the
Aspartame discussed above. There are no legitimate, independent, long-term
studies to justify the rapid rubber stamp approval of this substance by the
FDA. The label for this product must also contain the PKU warning by law.
The FDA approved acesulfame-K in 1988. There have been few if any human
studies. Animal studies have indicated that it stimulates insulin production
thereby precipitating hypoglycemic events. It is also strongly suspected of
causing lung tumors, breast tumors, several forms of Leukemia as well as
multiple rare organ cancers. Trade names this poison is sold under include
Sunette and Sweet one.
Saccharin has been implicated in causing bladder cancer in lab rats. In the US,
the National Cancer Institute took the position that Saccharin is not a
carcinogen. It is banned in Britain as a carcinogen. France made it a
prescription drug. It was deleted from the FDA’s GRAS (generally regarded as
safe) list. A warning label to indicate it is a potential carcinogen is now
required in the US. Its most well known trade name is Sweet’n Low. Fortunately
it has a metallic after taste that limits its use for many applications; this
means it gets hidden in processed food.
Sucralose is the latest in the list of artificial sweeteners. One would hope
that it would be the best; unfortunately it is not. It is made by chlorinating
sucrose – table sugar. It causes shrinkage of the thymus, poor blood sugar
control, enlarged liver and kidneys, decreased red blood cell count, abortions,
extended pregnancy and increases the Hba1C marker for diabetes, among many
other symptoms. The Hba1C marker is often associated with accelerated aging.
The FDA itself, in its “final rules report”, indicated that Sucralose was
weakly mutagenic in a lymphoma mutation assay. Sucralose is not approved for
most European countries, but is in routine use in the US and Canada. This
commercial junk science is on our supermarket shelves and in our processed food
under the trade name “Splenda”.
Again, it is interesting to note that Sucralose does not even meet its
advertised purpose of being useful for weight control. Although often sold
under this misleading advertising, it actually functions as an appetite
stimulant and promotes the consumption of carbohydrates.
What To Do
Contemporary Americans are widely deceived by ads for food and drugs. Indeed,
prior to this generation, when people were still relatively healthy, the
ability of the corporate food manufacturers to deceive and swindle the
population was limited. With the growth of marketing as a science, swindles and
swindlers have proliferated as never before.
It is important to realize that it is not the job of the FDA, nor indeed any
government agency, to protect us from harmful contaminants in our food and
drugs. That agency is largely responsible to manage competition between
corporate suppliers of our food and drugs. Over the years, the FDA has become
so politicized and focused upon corporate need, that the consumer, having
little political power, has become little more than a victim. Indeed, the very
term consumer implies his only role is to buy and consume to support industry.
He is useful mostly to determine the toxicity of the food and drugs that are
promoted to the consumer in America. History shows that even when something is
found to be notably toxic, it frequently remains in the marketplace for
unexplainable lengths of time. Surprisingly, being toxic often does not even
mean that the label must reflect the toxicity.
Due to widespread corruption, the agencies that were originally chartered to
protect the public health do not do their job, and so we have been forced into
the position of being the lab rats for the food and drug industry. Short of
another American revolution, we cannot escape our role as lab rats, thus
behooving us, as individuals, to do what we can to protect our health. At the
very least we can become intelligent, informed lab rats and refuse to knowingly
buy addictive junk that can kill us.
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Thomas Smith is a reluctant medical investigator having been forced into curing
his own diabetes because it was obvious that his doctor would not or could not
cure it. He has published the results of his successful diabetes investigation
in his self-help manual entitled “Insulin: Our Silent Killer” written for the
layman but also widely valued by the medical practitioner. This manual details
the steps required to reverse Type II Diabetes and references the work being
done with Type I Diabetes. In the US, the book may be purchased by sending .00
US to him at PO Box 7685, Loveland, Colorado 80537. Outside of the US, email us
for the special payment and shipping information required for international
transactions. He has also posted a great deal of useful information about this
disease on his web page at: www.Healingmatters.com
He can be reached by email at valley@healingmatters.com
and, in the US, by telephone at: 1 (970) 669-9176.