Breaking up Is Hard to Do, but When You Realize Your Life Is at Stake, Suddenly the Choice Becomes Crystal Clear.
There may be no greater contributor to the #2 cause of deaths across the United States (cancer) than the sweet but far-from-innocent ingredient that has found its way into most of the pre-packaged foods that line our grocery aisles and are stashed away in our kitchen cabinets.Hiding in Plain Sight
Before you pat yourself on the back for avoiding the obvious culprits (cookies, cakes, and pies), take a long look at the hidden forms of this enemy that robs us of our health and steals years from our life.Don’t kid yourself. Sugar is not just present in those cookies, candies, and desserts that are easily recognizable as villains. Sugar is also present in a whopping 74% of a variety of savory packaged goods like breads, pasta sauce, and even so-called “healthy foods” like yogurt or those handy breakfast bars made with not-so-real fruit and whole grains.
How Much Sugar Are You Eating?
A lot has changed, and not for the better. Over 200 years ago, the average American consumed an average of 2 lbs. of sugar per year. Now, the average American consumes an average of 152 lbs. of sugar in one year—or 3 lbs. of sugar in one week!And while we may kid ourselves that we’re avoiding added sugar by foregoing that teaspoon or two of white granulated sugar into our coffee or tea, we’re often sabotaging our own efforts by not recognizing the hidden sugar content in a variety of common foods.
- 12 oz. sodas contain upwards of 11 teaspoons of sugar
- Quaker Chewy Yogurt Granola Bars contain 10 grams of added sugar per bar
- Dannon Strawberry Fruit on the Bottom yogurt contains 15 grams of added sugar per 5.3 oz. container
- Monster Energy drinks contain 54 grams of sugar per 16 oz. can
- Honey Nut Cheerios contain 12 grams of added sugar per cup
- Yogurt-covered raisins contain 64 grams of total sugar per 100 gram serving
- A 20-ounce bottle of Heinz tomato ketchup contains about 2/3 cup sugar
- Jack Daniel’s barbecue sauce contains approximately 1 cup sugar in each 19 oz. bottle
- One cup of regular baked beans contains about 5 teaspoons of sugar
Don’t Be Fooled — Know the Names of Sugar
Always check the ingredients on the packaged foods and drinks you buy. Look for and avoid sugar in all its forms: glucose, maltose, sucrose, lactose, dextrose, fructose (basically anything that ends in -ose), raw sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, fruit juice concentrate, high-fructose corn syrup, sorghum syrup, corn sweetener, molasses, alcohol, and synthetic sugars such as sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, NutraSweet, and Equal.Cancer is Fueled by Sugar
If you’ve read my book, I Used to Have Cancer, then you know that I learned quickly that cancer feeds on sugar of all kinds. Not only does sugar have a negative effect on the body’s pH, scientists have discovered that proteins linked to cancer can be activated by glucose (remember, that is a form of sugar).Once you’ve got sugar out of your system, you won’t miss it! Your taste buds will begin to “re-set” and your sugar cravings will become a thing of the past. You’ll discover the sweetness of vegetables, and your body will thank you.
Also see my latest video interview with cancer survivor and former World Champion extreme skier Alison Gannett. Her battle with cancer included her discovery of the role glucose played in the formation of a very large brain tumor. I think you’ll find the interview fascinating.
References:
“Hidden in Plain Sight,” University of California San Francisco, Sugar Science. https://sugarscience.ucsf.edu/hidden-in-plain-sight.“How Much Sugar Do You Eat? You May Be Surprised!,” NH DHHS-DPHS-Health Promotion in Motion. https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/nhp/documents/sugar.pdf.
