How Much Sugar Is Too Much?

We know that there is an epidemic of Diabetes around the Western World.  Why now? Sugar has been around since 509 BC Emperor Darius of Persia invaded India and discovered sugar cane, “the reed which gives honey without bees.

When the Arabs spread their culture through in the 7th Century they discovered sugar in Persia and the secret of the sweet spice was out. Sugar was first recorded in London in 1099. The Venetians first refined sugar in the 15th Century. Columbus took sugar cane plants to the Caribbean and a new industry was born in the New World.

By 1750, there were 120 sugar refineries in Great Britain. Beets were identified as a source of sugar in 1747, but not used in quantity until the Napoleonic Wars caused the British to blockade sugar cane to the rest of Europe. Sugar beets became the main source of sugar to Europe, as a result. Today about 40 million tons of sugar are produced worldwide. Sugar has been big business since England built refineries and the government was able to tax and control the business of sugar. http://www.sucrose.com/lhist.html

In today’s world sugar comes in many other forms: agave, high fructose corn syrup, honey, maple syrup to name a few. Which is the healthiest choice for you?

Here are some definitions and descriptions to help you sort out the sweets.

1.     White sugar or pure refined sugar. It is 99.9% sucrose, which is a double sugar molecule and the body breaks it down into glucose and fructose.

2.     Caster sugar means smaller granules of refined white sugar.

3.     Icing sugar or powdered sugar-dissolves better in liquids or egg whites.

4.     Raw sugar-similar to white sugar in nutrient value, but brown colored.

5.     Brown sugar is sucrose with 5% molasses added. This gives a tiny amount of minerals and nutrients.

6.     Fructose, the fruit sugar, is metabolized differently. It is a single sugar molecule. Pure refined fructose is converted to body fat more easily than glucose. It is released more slowly when consumed with the fiber from whole fruit.

7.     Glucose is the form of sugar that your body actually uses for cellular energy. It is also a single sugar molecule. Athletes will take pure glucose (called Dextrose) for extreme athletic events. If not utilized by the body for energy it will be converted to fats (called triglycerides) by the liver and then stored as body fat. http://foodwatch.com.au/blog/carbs-sugars-and-fibres/item/7-types-of-sugar-which-is-healthier.html

8.     Agave nectar or syrup is 90% fructose. It is not more nutritious than sugar, despite its reputation.

9.     High fructose corn syrup is made from cornstarch and contains 55% fructose and 45% glucose. Because it is made from corn, a government subsidized crop, it is much cheaper than sugar, but just as sweet. Regular corn syrup is glucose (called Dextrose on food labels) and is not as sweet. High fructose corn syrup requires a number of chemical processes to convert part of the glucose into fructose. This fructose is not necessarily natural because of the chemical processing and may alter the taste in foods, despite the sweetness.

See my next blog for more about the different types of sugar and how much is too much.

Frustrated with Feeling Stressed, Nervous, or Restless?

If this applies to you, there may be something you can do, without taking medication that will only mask the symptoms.

The body was designed for quick responses to stress. Something threatening appears, and the body goes into hyper-drive to avoid the danger. When the danger passes, the body should return to a set point of relaxation.

But when you have constant stressors, from deadlines, traffic, interrupted sleep, toxins, sugar and junk food and the emotional ups and downs of relationships, some people are living in a tornado of constant stress. The body never has a chance to relax and reset.

The body cannot differentiate between physical stress (tigers and traffic) or emotional stress (break-ups and arguments). Stress is stress is stress and the response, particularly from the adrenal glands, is the same. Cortisol is produced and excess cortisol will cause that hyped-up feeling of nervousness and anxiety. It will also interfere with sleep, make you crave sugar and carbs.

Too much cortisol in your system over time ruins your figure and causes weight gain around the middle. It may also cause muscle-wasting when it continues on over-drive.

The liver also does not function well. A congested liver, over-burdened with toxins, will not work correctly, and that can make you feel worried and anxious.

When humans ate organ meats like liver, brains and hearts of animals, they got plenty of B vitamins that are vital for adrenal function. Barley and brown rice grains have B’s, but they are high carb and will cause weight gain if you are not active enough to burn off the starch that turns into sugar when grains are digested.

One solution is to add Nutritional Yeast to your diet. It has a pleasant nutty taste, and can be added to shakes, soups or mixed in sauces. Nutritional yeast is gluten-free, full of B vitamins including B12, contains iron and is a complete protein. Brewer's yeast is another type of nutritional yeast with B vitamins. It is a by-product of beer production, and not gluten-free.

You can buy Nutritional Yeast at a Health Food Store or online.

Using Nutritional Yeast will take some time to work.  If you feel that the stress and anxiety is really making life difficult, there is more you can do. For a faster recovery to ease your stress add in Standard Process Cataplex B and Cataplex G. Together these provide a whole spectrum of natural B’s that you will not find in any other supplement on the planet. Commercial B complex only has 5-6 B’s, but Nature makes a couple of dozen B vitamins. All of them work together to give your body what it needs to perform vital functions and a lack of even one of the B’s can inhibit body function. Over time this can develop into a broken system.

We often make the mistake of expecting our body to “run on empty”. We neglect the nutrients that are needed and then wonder why we feel terrible, or get sick. If you want your body to stop being a source of distraction, pain and frustration, first give it the food source nutrients that make it work properly. If you aren’t providing all the vital minerals, vitamins and proteins, you cannot be surprised when things begin to break down. There is a Cause and Effect factor here, just as there is with maintaining your car or your house.

So, many of your uncomfortable sensations may be helped by getting your body better and providing what the body needs to heal and repair.

Helping you sort this out is what we do. From exercises to relieve muscle tension to detoxification programs to assessments to determine what you need to get your body parts working correctly, Natural medicine is the answer to your frustrations about how your body is treating you. Call us and find out how to get your body to chill so you can get on with your life.

Warmly;

Anne

Anne Dunev, PhD, C.N. has over twenty years experience helping people feel better by finding the root cause of what is not working well in the body. Addressing that with the correct natural and nutritional medicine is her strength. By restoring the function of specific parts of the body, thousands of people are living happier, healthier lives. Her office is located in Burbank, CA. Reach us at 818-562-1400.

What’s in Your Eggs?

Does anyone remember the original Orange Julius? You could add a raw egg to give it a nutritious boost. Orange Julius is still around today, and uses egg white powder and whey powder, but no more raw eggs. Body builders used raw eggs for decades. Arnold Schwarzenegger says he drank raw eggs and cream to build his sculpted muscles.

Would you drink raw eggs today? You could, but only if you chose pasture-raised eggs. These are eggs laid by hens who have farm land to run around on and are able to grub for bugs and grass like real birds. The hens are never given non-organic feed and are not treated with chemicals or antibiotics. The quality of life of the chickens is considered as a factor in healthy eggs. There is a certified Humane designation if the space allotted to the chickens meets Humane standards. http://vitalfarms.com/pasture-raised-eggs/

Pasture-raised eggs go beyond organic. The designation Organic eggs means that the chickens eat organic feed and are raised in an organic environment. The hens may be fed organic corn or other organic feed, vitamins and minerals. They also receive vaccinations and antibiotics as needed, but do not receive growth hormones.  Since 2010, the hens must have access to the outdoors and cannot be caged inside. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/constitutes-organic-chicken-egg-79176.html

Free-range eggs means that the chicken must have some access to outdoors (which they may or may not use) and the size of the territory may not be large. The hens may be given non-organic food and they may receive routine antibiotics. There are no other standards set by the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture), so it is up to the egg farmers to decide.

Omega-3 eggs, Antibiotic-free eggs, Vegetarian eggs, Soy-free eggs, and Natural eggs are designations not monitored by government regulatory agencies regarding their claims. So, you are relying on the honesty of egg manufacturers may who cut hens’ beaks, confine them to battery-cages, feed antibiotics constantly and are feeding the hens GMO corn and other non-organic feed. The cages may be filthy and dead chickens may not be removed. Consider all of these eggs as Commercial or Conventional eggs. In one study Omega-3 eggs were found to be higher in Omega-3 fats and lower in Arachidonic Acid, which is associate with inflammation. If the hens are fed fish oil, the eggs may also taste fishy! www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814609003513

Battery-cage (electric cage) farming of chickens has been banned in Sweden since 1992, and in other European countries since 2012. The USDA has not banned the practice in the U.S. It is hard to imagine that such inhumane practices lead to the healthiest of eggs.

Eggs are very nutritious. The egg white contains 20 different amino acids, nine of which are essential” for humans, and only 71 calories on average. They have 6 grams of protein, 5 grams of fat. A healthy liver makes 2,000 mg of cholesterol a day, so you don’t need to worry about the 190 mg. of cholesterol in an egg. Eggs have no carbohydrates, so they will keep blood sugar in balance.

In 2007, Mother Earth News tested commercial eggs vs. pasture-raised eggs and found that the pastured chickens laid eggs that had two-thirds more Vitamin A, twice as many Omega-3 fats, three times more Vitamin E and seven times more beta-carotene. Carotenoids are anti-oxidants that reduce inflammation in the body.

Organic eggs are one of the best sources of B12, and also contain iron, B6, Vitamins D and A, Calcium and Magnesium, and a host of traces minerals.

It is best not to over-cook eggs, which causes the protein to become rubbery and unusable by the body. Poached, soft-boiled and raw (organic only!) are easiest for the body to digest. Commercial eggs are dangerous to eat raw, as they may contain salmonella, but organic eggs should be safe. Keep eggs refrigerated and consume within the indicated date on the carton.

To check out the best brands of eggs go to www.cornucopia.org/organic-egg-scorecard/  Also, look for the following certifications from The Humane Society:

Animal Welfare Approved, Certified Humane, Food Alliance Certified, United Egg Producers Certified, Certified Organic.

Egg shells are porous, and what is outside passes through, so be careful about what rubs against them. Use a quick warm water rinse or use vinegar diluted in water to wash away any debris. Commercial eggs may be washed in chlorine and coated with mineral oil, both of which will penetrate the shell.

The best place to purchase eggs is from small farmers you know and trust. The Burbank Farmer’s Market has a stand called Ha’s Apple Farm. They have delicious organic apples, and sell pasture-raised eggs, some of which have beautiful green shells. Health Food Stores may also sell pasture-raised eggs.

Hope this helps you to look at eggs in a whole new light, after they have been demonized for years. We now know that whole foods are usually heart-healthy foods and that it is sugar and white starches that are the real enemies of hearts and arteries. Nature’s bounty comes in a beautiful oval shape.

Simple Guide to Kid’s Nutrition

Body builders calculate their nutrient needs, but how many parents know what their children require to grow healthy bodies? Your kids may enjoy counting up their nutritional score to see if they reach health goals, and this may help them make informed choices for the rest of their lives.

Every process in the body requires protein that has been broken down into amino acids and even tinier particles called peptides. Protein sources include meat, chicken, fish, eggs, dairy products like cheese and milk, nuts and seeds. Some beans and legumes have protein, but these are not adequate for humans on their own, and they must be twinned up with other proteins to be complete enough. So, beans and rice make a more complete protein.

Soy is not recommended for kids because soy has compounds that cause estrogen-like effects. This may cause early puberty and too much estrogen for male characteristics. Puberty, or the onset of menstruation and development from children’s bodies to adult bodies, used to occur from age 16-18 in Victorian times. Now kids as young as 8 are experiencing puberty and our modern lifestyle and foods are causing this shift. Fluoride is another cause of early puberty because of its effect on the pineal gland, which monitors the onset of puberty. So, consider this when you buy toothpaste for your kids. I raised my kids on non-fluoride toothpaste, but gave them specific nutrients for healthy teeth, and they had zero cavities growing up. Tooth health is built from the inside, because teeth are alive.

For a graph of how much protein your child needs at every age see here. http://www.canadianliving.com/health/nutrition/your_childs_protein_needs.php

Kids also need healthy fats from butter, unrefined oils like coconut and olive, nuts and whole dairy products. I always suggest buying organic dairy and don’t buy low fat or skim products because they are more processed. You can make a healthy treat by mixing organic butter, peanut or almond butter, and raw coconut oil together. Use equal parts of each and mash together to form a thick oily paste. Add some sea salt and stevia, xylitol or raw honey to taste. Put in a small bowl or press into a small pan and let set in refrigerator until firm. Cut off small pieces and enjoy for a healthy sweet treat that offers the right fats for anyone to enjoy. Good fats can reduce sugar cravings and this is a treat you can offer anytime, even at bedtime.

Introduce vegetables young and fix them a variety of ways so your child can learn about the different tastes and textures. Make healthy dips to serve with raw veggies.  Help your kids to “eat their carbs green” to avoid the trap of grain-based snacks that offer lots of calories and little nutrition, as well as being addicting. Let your child cook with you and let them get creative.

I think that minerals are not rated highly enough as a vital nutrient for kids. We all talk about vitamins, which are necessary for various body functions. But minerals are vital as the actual building blocks of the cells. Mineral deficiency is also a cancer risk. Potassium, zinc, magnesium, and calcium, as well as trace minerals like copper, iodine, iron, chromium and selenium are vital. Manganese helps ligaments (which act as bands to connect bones) so if your child plays sports, manganese can help them avoid injury. For more on minerals see www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/vitamins-minerals/treace-minerals-what-they-are-and-their-importance.html#b

Really talk to your kids about nutrients and help them to understand the liabilities of junk foods and sugar and the importance of nutrition to help their bodies grow and function. I find that kids are fascinated by books on the body with lots of pictures to help them see what is inside. There are some movies that can help. For older kids I like this one from National Geographic http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/101-videos/human-body-sci

I found that some of the movies that try to teach kids start out with too many big words without explaining them, which is one of the great challenges concerning the body. The inside parts were named in Latin for research purposes, and is a barrier to understanding how it all works. It also means that most doctors can’t talk to patients because the doctors only know how to speak “Latin medical” and that is missing from everyone else’s standard education.

Osmosis Jones films are another fun choice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1yrB92QTW0 

“Kidding Around the Kitchen” offers weekly demos at the Hollywood/Atwater Farmers’ Market on Sundays, and will do birthday parties and cooking classes with different themes. If you have a budding chef, you might even be able to delegate some family meals!

On a site called Red Tricycle  tri.com/los-angeles/kid-friendly-farms-around-los-angeles/#  there is a list of farms that welcome kids. Helping kids understand that food does not come packaged from the market will help them become more informed consumers. There are big issues with genetically modified foods and poisonous pesticides that are already impacting kids’ health. Seeing where food comes from may enhance their understanding of the need for real, whole foods.

For eating out, here is a site that has healthy options to fast food dining in LA. www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/15/best-healthy-fast-food-al_n_783824.html

I see many older people in their 80’s and 90’s who are in good shape because they grew up on healthy, complete foods. My concern for kids today is that those whole foods are disappearing from the American diet and there will be long-term health consequences. My own kids considered me a food-Nazi when they were growing up, but they are healthy today and voluntarily take lots of supplements now that they have seen for themselves how they feel when they don’t eat well.

Kids are fascinated by muscle testing and I have given demonstrations at several schools to help kids see how their bodies respond to whole foods vs. sugar and junk. Let me know if you have any questions about kids and health.