I have significantly cut back my sugar intake in recent months, and eating it now makes me nauseated. Yesterday was my birthday, and a well-meaning friend gave me a cupcake. I ate it later at home, and boy was I glad I didn't eat it in front of her! I don't know if I could have hidden the disgusted look on my face. I forced myself to finish it, though I lobbed off about half the frosting. SO much frosting. I felt quite ill after eating it. Happy birthday.
My family in Bakersfield eats way too much sugar. Growing up, I ate just like they do. It's in everything, not just typical culprits like soda and candy- it's in ketchup, juice, all processed foods (frozen waffles, bologna, bagels, salad dressing, Lunchables, chicken nuggets), low-fat dairy (just STOP with the low-fat nonsense already), even canned soups.
Sugar messes with your brain, your liver, your kidneys, your hormones, your appetite (increases!), and your body's fat-storage. Sugar is the devil. No joke. And fructose is the worst sugar. Google it. High-fructose corn syrup is the most commonly used sugar in processed foods, and what do the average Americans eat in increasing quantities? Processed foods. Dinner, lunch, breakfast, snack.
I have some discomfort staying at my sister's house because of this. I can't escape the sugary, over-salted, over-chemicalled (my new word) "food" she serves. And after a day or two I end up feeling fogged and cranky. It's bad. Pop-Tarts, Teddy Grahams, Hamburger Helper, Pringles, Rice-A-Roni, and the worst offenders, fast food. Sonic is the worst, but my grossly obese older nephew loves it. Of course he does. Now his little brother's tummy is hanging over his shorts, and he has cellulite forming on his little knees. His knees!
I can't stand it. My whole family is overweight. Only my parents, now deceased, managed to stay trim. My uncle, also deceased, only lost weight when he got cancer of the jaw and literally couldn't eat. I remember summers at his house. He taught me to swim, God love him, but after every swim he served me Pepsi and Honey-Buns. I can't believe I never gained weight. I did have anxiety and thyroid issues, however.
My well-meaning cupcake-gifting friend is also a highly skeptical atheist. She told me yesterday that it's a myth that sugar causes children to become hyper. I'm never good with facts and comebacks, so I stayed silent. I'm sorry, I just can't believe her. I don't care what scientific studies she can show me, I won't believe it. My little nephew, the one with the cottage-cheese knees, is always hyped up after Pop-Tarts, juice and his highly-processed dinner. Always. My sister is always saying, "Oh little boy, what is the DEAL?" And I just shake my head.
I often feel shaky and amped up after eating sugar, in addition to feeling queasy. If I feel that way as an adult, what effect is sugar having on little ones? Not a myth. No way.
Real food tastes so good. It really does. I no longer want dessert after dinner. I'm satisfied. I hardly even want honey in my tea anymore. It's more for when I have a sore throat. Real food, folks. Cook it. Eat it. Eat fats too. Butter, bacon, avocados, coconut oil, olive oil (unheated), lard, ghee, fish. All organic, of course. Eat it. Your brain needs it, and so do the fat-soluble vitamins that you need to absorb, like A, D, E and K.
And for Pete's sake, stop the sugar madness.
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