{"id":26862,"date":"2016-12-13T16:52:08","date_gmt":"2016-12-13T16:52:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/womensvoice.com\/en-ca\/?p=26862"},"modified":"2019-03-21T11:28:10","modified_gmt":"2019-03-21T18:28:10","slug":"the-sour-side-of-sweet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/womensvoice.com\/en-ca\/articles\/expert-advice\/the-sour-side-of-sweet\/","title":{"rendered":"How Sugar Affects Your Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”on” specialty=”off”][et_pb_fullwidth_image admin_label=”Featured Image” src=”https:\/\/womensvoice.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/12\/wv-sugar-image-03.jpg” alt=”How Sugar Affects Your Health” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [\/et_pb_fullwidth_image][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” custom_padding=”0px|0px|38.2656px|0px” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” disabled=”off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” use_custom_gutter=”off” gutter_width=”3″ custom_padding=”30px||0px|” padding_mobile=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_equal=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” padding_top_1=” ” padding_right_1=” ” padding_left_1=” ” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”on” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”on” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”on” parallax_4=”off” parallax_method_4=”on” disabled=”off”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – When life is good or people are appreciated…” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font=”PT Sans||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_text_color=”#c31e52″ use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” disabled=”off”]<\/p>\n

When life is good or people are appreciated, we humans use language that relates to something sweet. And when the opposite is true, well, Mary Poppins said it best:\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cA spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.\u201d We addictively turn to sugar when our \u201cmedicine\u201d is a hard task, a big disappointment, or just a long, rough day. I guess you could say that when the going gets tough, the tough get going\u2026 to the freezer for ice cream!<\/span><\/p>\n

Ah, but if only sugar\u2019s story was that sweet.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” use_custom_gutter=”off” gutter_width=”3″ custom_padding=”0px|||” padding_mobile=”off” custom_margin=”30px|||” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_equal=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”on” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”on” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”on” parallax_4=”off” parallax_method_4=”on” disabled=”off”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title – DON\u2019T Sugarcoat It…” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”right” text_font=”PT Sans||||” text_font_size=”40px” text_line_height=”1.1em” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” disabled=”off”]<\/p>\n

DON\u2019T<\/span><\/strong>
\n Sugarcoat It \u2013<\/span>
\nSugar Makes
\nUs Sick!<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – There is evidence that sugar is…” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” disabled=”off”]<\/p>\n

There is evidence that sugar is a major thief of modern-day health. Sugar suppresses the activity of a key growth hormone in the brain that has been found to be critically low in people with depression, memory problems, and mood disorders.<\/p>\n

Sugar consumption also promotes inflammation in the brain, gut, and body, which can lead to chronic physical and mental health problems. Most disturbing of all, perhaps, is the growing realization that sugar is a mood-altering drug.<\/span> Clinical studies have linked sugar to depression, anxiety, suicide, irritability, anger outbursts, fatigue, and lethargy.<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s another way in which sugar poses a threat to our health. Instead of being the antidote to stress, as we\u2019ve always thought, sugar IS a stressor.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” use_custom_gutter=”off” gutter_width=”3″ padding_mobile=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_equal=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”on” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”on” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”on” parallax_4=”off” parallax_method_4=”on” disabled=”off”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title – Sugar and Stress” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” header_font=”Arimo||||” text_font=”|on|||” text_font_size=”18″ text_text_color=”#c31e52″ use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” custom_margin=”||0px|” disabled=”off”]<\/p>\n

Sugar and Stress<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – You\u2019re probably thinking…” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” disabled=”off”]<\/p>\n

You\u2019re probably thinking, \u201cSince when is sugar \u2013 a food \u2013 consid\u00adered to be a stressor? Isn\u2019t stress a feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a good question, but it\u2019s one that\u2019s born of a basic misunderstanding of what stress really is. Stress is what we feel when we\u2019re having trouble meeting life\u2019s demands. Anything that requires your body to adapt and respond to something that threatens the proper functioning of your whole system is a stressor. These threats include: environmental toxins, electromagnetic fields, illnesses, psychological or emotional pain, and, refined carbohydrates, especially sugar.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”https:\/\/womensvoice.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/12\/wv-your-sugar-fact.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”1px” border_style=”solid” custom_margin=”40px|||” disabled=”off”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” use_custom_gutter=”off” gutter_width=”3″ custom_padding=”||0px|” padding_mobile=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_equal=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”on” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”on” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”on” parallax_4=”off” parallax_method_4=”on” disabled=”off”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title – Sugar: Not a Toxin, but Toxic!” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”center” text_font=”|on|||” text_font_size=”37px” text_text_color=”#3f3f3f” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” disabled=”off”]<\/p>\n

Sugar: Not a Toxin, but Toxic!<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Sugar: Not a Toxin, but Toxic!” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” disabled=”off”]<\/p>\n

Unlike a poison, sugar is not a toxin, but it is toxic. Sugar reduces our ability to respond to other kinds of stressors. It\u2019s the straw that breaks the camel\u2019s back, so to speak.<\/p>\n

When we\u2019re struggling with illness, psychological stress, or chronic physical exertion, an excess consumption of sugar and other refined carbohydrates gives the body one too many problems to solve and we are no longer able to adapt to stress.<\/p>\n

What separates healthy people, who deal effectively with stressors, from those who don\u2019t and get sick? It\u2019s often the health of two powerhouse glands, the adrenals. These are the organs responsible for directing how our bodies adapt to stresses of all kinds.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” background_image=”https:\/\/womensvoice.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/12\/wv-sugar-stress-and-hormone-connection-rv2.jpg” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” disabled=”off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” use_custom_gutter=”off” gutter_width=”3″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|” padding_mobile=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_equal=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” background_color_1=”rgba(255,255,255,0.3)” padding_top_1=”20px ” padding_right_1=” 20px ” padding_bottom_1=” 20px ” padding_left_1=”20px” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”on” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”on” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”on” parallax_4=”off” parallax_method_4=”on” disabled=”off”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title – Sugar, Stress, and Hormone Connection” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”27px” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.2em” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” disabled=”off”]<\/p>\n

Sugar, Stress,
\nand Hormone<\/strong>
\nConnection<\/strong><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – When we are under ” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” header_font=”||on||” text_font=”||on||” text_font_size=”16px” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” disabled=”off”]<\/p>\n

When we are under constant stress the body\u2019s response is to increase the production of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol causes the release of glucose (sugar) from the liver and the surge of glucose is no problem unless your body is insulin resistant. Many people cannot move glucose efficiently into their cells, and sugar builds up in the bloodstream setting the cycle for insulin resistance and weight gain. Excess cortisol increases cravings for fatty comfort foods and prolonged cortisol release can lead to an intake of high-fat and high-sugar foods.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” disabled=”off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” use_custom_gutter=”off” gutter_width=”3″ padding_mobile=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_equal=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” padding_top_1=” ” padding_right_1=” 20px ” padding_bottom_1=” ” padding_left_1=”20px” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”on” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”on” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”on” parallax_4=”off” parallax_method_4=”on” disabled=”off”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title 1 – There\u2019s nothing like stress to send many of…” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”center” text_font=”|on|||” text_font_size=”18px” text_text_color=”#c31e52″ text_line_height=”1.4em” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” custom_margin=”0px||15px|” custom_padding=”|||” disabled=”off”]<\/p>\n

There\u2019s nothing like stress to send many of us straight to a sweet treat<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title 2 – Is it a coincidence that desserts spelled…” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”center” text_font=”|on|||” text_font_size=”18px” text_text_color=”#c31e52″ text_line_height=”1.4em” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” custom_margin=”10px|||” custom_padding=”|||” disabled=”off”]<\/p>\n

Is it a coincidence that desserts spelled backwards is stressed?<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title – Kicking the Sugar Habit…” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font=”|on|||” text_font_size=”18px” text_text_color=”#c31e52″ text_line_height=”1.6em” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” custom_margin=”||0px|” disabled=”off”]<\/p>\n

Kicking the Sugar Habit \u2013
\nWhy It\u2019s So Hard<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – For many of us, sugar is the key addiction that keeps…” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” disabled=”off”]<\/p>\n

For many of us, sugar is the key addiction that keeps us from achieving optimal health. We may succeed in cleaning up our eating habits, adding exercise and taking supportive supplements, but for many of us, quitting sugar feels almost impossible. To understand why sweet stuff has such a hold on us, consider this: it\u2019s uniquely suited to activating the pleasure centre in our brains.
\nWhen we eat sugary foods (and salty ones, for that matter), they stimulate the release of dopamine to calm our stress and provide us a sense of well-being. Not surprisingly, our bodies want more! As the brain begins to associate all these beneficial effects with the sugar (or salt) that stimulated the dopamine, cravings begin. The more we rely on these sweet snacks to produce dopamine, the more we deplete our natural ability to produce it.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” disabled=”off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” use_custom_gutter=”off” gutter_width=”3″ custom_padding=”0px|||” padding_mobile=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_equal=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”on” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”on” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”on” parallax_4=”off” parallax_method_4=”on” disabled=”off”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”When we rely on sugar to satisfy…” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” disabled=”off”]<\/p>\n

When we rely on sugar to satisfy our desire for dopamine, we add stress to our adrenal glands, and overwork our pancreas, sometimes to the point that it can no longer regulate insulin. When that happens, hypoglycemia and often diabetes is the result. In hypoglycemia, blood sugar levels soar and fall wildly, putting us on what\u2019s often called \u201cthe blood sugar roller coaster.\u201d Whenever that roller coaster drops precipitously, we experience a variety of unwanted symptoms such as fatigue, mood swings, difficulty concentrating, crying spells, irritability, restlessness, forgetfulness, anxiety, insomnia, panic attacks, and angry or violent outbursts.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – No wonder we reach for something sweet!” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” disabled=”off”]<\/p>\n

No wonder we reach for something sweet! It\u2019s the worst thing we can do, because the cycle starts all over again and becomes well-established. As many of us have learned, if we so much as try to get off the roller coaster, it leaves us feeling tired and sick.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”on” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”73″ make_equal=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” gutter_width=”14″ fullwidth=”off” specialty=”on” parallax_2=”on” parallax_method_2=”on” bg_img_2=”https:\/\/womensvoice.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/12\/wv-sugar-stress-and-hormone-connection-rv3.jpg” disabled=”off”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ specialty_columns=”2″][et_pb_row_inner admin_label=”row_inner” padding_mobile=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” column_padding_mobile=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”on” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”on” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”on” disabled=”off”][et_pb_column_inner type=”4_4″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title – Getting off the Blood Sugar Roller Coaster” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font=”|on|||” text_font_size=”18px” text_text_color=”#c31e52″ use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” custom_margin=”||0px|” disabled=”off”]<\/p>\n

Getting off the Blood Sugar Roller Coaster<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – One of the best ways…” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” disabled=”off”]<\/p>\n

One of the best ways to get off the blood sugar roller coaster is to begin addressing hunger and sugar cravings not with refined carbohydrates (sugar), but with complex carbohydrates such as those found in whole grain foods, fibre-rich vegetables, or in my favourite complex carbohydrate supplement, PGX\u00ae. Taken with or before meals, this patented super-fibre slows digestion and curbs the harmful blood sugar spikes that cause cravings.<\/p>\n

As I\u2019ve already mentioned, AdrenaSense, not only supports your adrenal glands, but reduces stress, improves energy levels, and promotes a restful night\u2019s sleep!<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner admin_label=”row_inner” padding_mobile=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” column_padding_mobile=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”on” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”on” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”on” custom_css_main_element=”border:2px dotted #c5c6c5;||border-right: none;” disabled=”off”][et_pb_column_inner type=”4_4″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title – Sweet tips for Sugar Cravers” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”35px” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” custom_margin=”||0px|20px” disabled=”off” inline_fonts=”Dancing Script”]<\/p>\n

sweet tips<\/span> for Sugar Cravers<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – \u0007To reduce your daily…” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” custom_margin=”||20px|” custom_padding=”|||20px” disabled=”off”]<\/p>\n