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Written by Dr. Sue   
Who doesn't LOVE sugar?  Truly.  You may say you're not a "sweet" person, but do you love carbs?  I love my mom, no sweet tooth for her, but bread and butter?  Nothin' better in her book!  It's really all the same.  Why?  Because the body recognizes sugar and processed carbs the same...as sugar.  The more processed the carb, the easier the body breaks it down into sugar.  Without fiber or fat to slow it's digestion, it's basically stressing the body causing insulin surges the same way sugar does.

"The basic building block of every carbohydrate is a sugar molecule, a simple union of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Starches and fibers are essentially chains of sugar molecules. Some contain hundreds of sugars. Some chains are straight, others branch wildly...The digestive system handles all carbohydrates in much the same way—it breaks them down (or tries to break them down) into single sugar molecules, since only these are small enough to cross into the bloodstream. It also converts most digestible carbohydrates into glucose (also known as blood sugar), because cells are designed to use this as a universal energy source.  Fiber is an exception. It is put together in such a way that it can't be broken down into sugar molecules, and so it passes through the body undigested." 
~ Harvard School of Public Health

Fortunately diabetes isn't on our list of health issues for the McCreadie Family, but...I still work hard to keep sugar and processed grains to a minimum.  Just ask Kaitlin!  Why bother?  Because they are also the leading culprits for inflammation, the root of all chronic diseases: diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cancer or how about allergies, asthma, and eczema?  Yep, them too!

For the first time in two centuries, the current generation of children in America may not live as long as their parents.  A report in the Archives of Internal Medicine (August 2009) notes four healthy lifestyle factors together reduce the risk of developing the most common and deadly chronic diseases (diabetes, heart disease, and cancer) by 80%.  Amazing!  A healthy diet is among those 4 healthy lifestyle factors. 

We have to remember as parents that
we are building the foundation for our children
for the rest of their lives. 

Are you building a rock solid brick house or a rickety shack?  Many of the foods our children are eating are setting them up for a lifetime of chronic disease and early death.  Removing sugar and processed grains from your child’s diet and replacing it with nutrient dense food is yet another way to set your child up for a lifetime of health and happiness.

Don't get me wrong, we do eat sugar of course we do.  We eat vegetables, we eat fruit, we stir raw honey into oatmeal and tea, and use it to make cookies.  Our REAL food journey has taught us how to eliminate fake foods, including fake sweeteners, how to move from white cane sugar to sucanat, and then again to raw honey.  We've also learned how to grind down gluten-free rolled oats for flour, and make cookies and muffins grain-free with nut flours.  Coconut flour is my favorite thus far!  You know, I never get bored ~ there's always more room to learn.  REAL food.  Love it!

Blessings,
~ Dr. Sue
 

Comments  

 
0 #5 Sucanat vs Turbinado — 2010-11-21 03:44
I have used both Sucanat and Turbinado and in my research found that Sucanat retains the natural molasses while turbinado has had 2/3 of the molasses romoved. I prefer the flavor of turbinado, as Sucanat was too strong for us. I am also all for removing processed/fake foods from our diets, but think about this: In order to make Sucanat or Turbinado (or any other sugar), the sugar cane has to be processed somewhat. Sucanat is possibly the least processed, but not everyone likes the flavor, not too mention it can be quite costly. I limit my family's sugar consumption and I do all of my own baking using the most wholesome, natural ingredients that I can. Some are organic, some not. I have some great stores near me and would love to be totally organic, however, our budget just doesn't allow it. I find it funny that the less something is processed, the more expensive it is. Shouldn't it be the other way around??
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0 #4 sucanat? — 2010-10-25 12:44
Dr. Sue,

Thanks for keeping up the reminders. I'm with Jeanine; is turbinado sugar any different from sucanat? I bought the sucanat from whole foods for the oatmeal muffin recipe (yummy!), but wondered if 'sugar in the raw' would bake as well and if it broke down in the body the same way? Thanks! ps: where do you find coconut flour?
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0 #3 RE: Sugar Sweet Sugar — 2010-10-23 12:54
While I would like to remove as much processed food and refined sugar from my family's diet-it's a very difficult and confusing process for those of us who don't really know where to start. We don't have things like organic markets anywhere close by where we live, and many things I've seen recommended to switch to are completely foreign to me.
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0 #2 great article, but a couple questions — 2010-10-20 15:09
I had no idea that sugar and processed grains can impact eczema. We are already in the process of getting rid of fake foods, pure cane sugar and processed foods. This brings up a couple questions. What about turbinado sugar (sugar in the raw)? Also, tell me more about coconut flour. Where do you get it or how do you make it? Thanks so much.
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0 #1 Carolyn — 2010-10-20 11:38
Dr. Sue,

Thank you so much for this very important article. Many people do not realize how damaging sugar is and how many places it hides in the foods we eat. However, I think even less people know how processed grains have virtually the same effect on our bodies!

I have forwarded this article to my husband. I was just explaining this to him last night so we can get 'on the same page' and work to further eliminate processed grains from our household.

Your post is right on time....
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