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Friday, March 6, 2015


Last week I posted on the dangers of sugar:
This week, the World Health Organization (WHO) said we are eating too much sugar and people should slash their intake/day to an equivalent less than a single can of soda, which can be as  high as 12 teaspoons.  Why? To reduce the risk of obesity and tooth decay.  If you cut your sugar intake by two-thirds, you will live longer, and minimize the potential of getting diabetes, heart problems and cancer.

Another article indicated that WHO would like you to limit total sugar intake/day to 6 teaspoons.  Forget the adding sugar part of your diet.  Just the natural sugar in the following drinks can reach or exceed this limit:
  • A pint (about two cans) of cider = 5 teaspoons
  • Can (12 oz) of Coke = 7.5 teaspoons
  • Can (8.3 oz) of Red Bull = 5 teaspoons (equivalent to 7.5 tsp/12 oz)
  • 8 oz serving of Minute Maid Lemonade = 5 teaspoons
  • 8 oz serving of Nesquick Chocolate Milk = 5.6 teaspoons
  • One quart of milk = 10 teaspoons
  • A can of beer = 0.25 teaspoons
  • One ounce of whiskey = 0.4 teaspoons
Further, not sugar, but alcohol, here is an equivalency to the right.  Each has a little more than half a teaspoon of sugar.  

Remember, the most dangerous natural sugar is fructose, and fructose naturally comes from fruits.  However, high fructose corn syrup is the killer, and you find this toxin in most sodas and a variety of processed foods.  Interesting how the corn industry has joined tobacco as purveyors of toxoids, now that ethanol (for cars)  has been mostly discredited,  the issue with Genetically Modified Crops and, now, fructose.
Here is a list of what to avoid.  On page 15 with the lowest fructose concentration can be found coconut, rice, pecans, pastrami, bread, ham, etc.  You might, though, want to avoid white rice and bread, pastrami and ham for other reasons.  I've had several postings on the intriguing prospects of coconuts delaying Alzheimer's and improving memory.  And here, this drupe (yes, drupe, but can be loosely defined as a multi-purpose fruit, nut and seed), was once banished by diet doctors for having too much cholesterol.  Now, it's a miracle food!  I'll need to try a coconut martini tonight:


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