WHY SLASH SUGAR?
We’ve just started Week 3 of the 212 Sugar Slash, and many of you have been diligently perusing nutrition labels to see which of your favorite foods contain added sugar. But why slash added sugar? And what’s the difference between added sugar and natural sugar? This article will explore why.
The first thing to understand is that sugar isn’t inherently bad per se. In fact, glucose – a simple sugar – is the primary fuel of the brain! Additionally, properly timed carbohydrates can even improve high intensity workout performance, and most marathon runners will consume sugar throughout the duration of the race.
Many natural foods like fruits, berries, and even some vegetables contain sugar! So whats the big deal? Well, the problem occurs when we separate natural sugar from its fiber base, resulting in what can be thought of as hyper-concentrated caloric rocket fuel.
This processed sugar is released all at once into the blood stream, rather than being released more slowly, resulting in the blood sugar spikes and dips that are known to contribute to type 2 diabetes.
Additionally, foods containing processed sugar, like cookies, candy, soda, cake, and yes, even ice cream typically contain a lot of calories. While a marathon runner who is already two hours into the race might be able to burn these excess calories off, most of us aren’t doing enough physical activity to justify this caloric consumption, so the excess gets stored as – you guessed it – fat.
To bring things full circle, the Sugar Slash isn’t meant to villainize sugar, or shame you for eating it, but rather, to bring awareness to the concentrated caloric rocket fuel that you may be inadvertently eating every single day! For example, did you know that a bottle of Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce contains a half pound of sugar?
The point is, we are inundated with unreasonably sugary options that are sabotaging our health, longevity, and quality of life. By removing added sugar from our diets for a week, we can become more aware of the sugary consumeristic milieu in which we swim, so we can start to make more informed decisions about what we put into our body.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this email is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, exercise, or nutrition regimen.
