Originally published September 12 2005
Naturopath explains why sugar is detrimental for human growth
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
In a column for the Billings Gazette, naturopath Rachel Roberts Oppitz gives some scary statistics about the average American's consumption of sugar before breaking down how sugar is an addictive, detrimental drug to the human body.
In colonial times, the average amount of sugar consumed was four pounds per year.
Currently, the average person eats 155 pounds of sugar a year, which is equivalent to more than half a cup per day.
Only one child in five consumes the recommended minimum of five fruits and vegetables a day, while the top 10 sources of carbohydrates in children's diets include soft drinks, cakes, cookies, jam, fruit drinks and fruit snacks.
Children who eat lots of sugar consume significantly lower amounts of protein, vitamin E, B vitamins, iron and zinc.
Most people are addicted to sugar, and along with grain addiction, the overconsumption of added sugars is one of the major health problems facing our nation today.
Although many people do not consider food a drug, sugar, white flour and refined carbohydrates are akin to drugs in that they are addictive substances with effects on brain neurotransmitters similar to those from alcohol.
The taste for sweets leads to a craving for more sugar, just the way other drugs create cravings.
Trying to go "cold turkey" from a diet with a heavy emphasis on these foods can result in withdrawal symptoms including strong cravings, fatigue, mood swings, irritability, depression, headaches and dizziness.
Vitamins B1, B2, and B6 are needed to detoxify and metabolize sugar; our bodies particularly need vitamin B1 to metabolize sugar.
Sugar also increases the magnesium and calcium excretion in our urine and decreases the overall absorption from our food (which predisposes to osteoporosis).
It is no secret that dental diseases such as periodontal (gum) disease and cavities are related to refined sugars.
The heart and cardiovascular system are also vulnerable to sugar - excess sugar in the bloodstream stimulates the generation of free radicals; in blood vessels, free radical damage causes an accumulation of plaque that can lead to blocked arteries and cardiovascular disease.
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