This Halloween season think “Trick NOT Treat”
Written by Yvonne Bishop
It's Halloween and loads of candy will be making its way to young members of your family, including you. I think it's time to take a health stand and say, "we can do better!" With a little creativity and time you can avoid so many of the toxic additives and anti-nutrient foods that are driving inflammation causing the New Millennium diseases we are plagued with today.
When I talk about eating sugar, it’s not taking it from the sugar bowl; it’s in everything you are eating.
The average American consumes 27 teaspoons of sugar a day (Bradley, 2004).
1/3 comes from soft drinks (9 ½ teaspoons)
2/3 hidden sources including lunch meats, pizza, sauces, breads, soups, crackers, fruit drink, canned foods, yogurt, “Catch-up” Mayonnaise etc.
The U.S. spends more per child than any other nation in the world advertising food. They plug in $15 billion per year marketing foods to kids. (New York times January 15 2005). Our kids deserve better!
All fast food and candy commercials in Ireland are banned. Sweden, Norway, Austria and Vietnam have banned all advertising to children. Belgium, France, Portugal and Portugal have banned all marketing in schools.
There are three problems with sugar:
1. It’s an anti-nutrient that leads to weight gain and disease. It robs nutrients from your body to digest it.
2. It alters your hormones that leads to weight gain, aging, fat storage, and degenerative diseases. When you eat sugar your glucose increases, your insulin increases and your leptin goes up. When leptin gets deregulated you cannot lose weight despite how much you exercise or what you eat. Elevated insulin levels are linked to premature aging. If you want to age faster not only on the inside but the outside then keep elevating your insulin.
3. It causes inflammation which leads to new millennium diseases.
One way to cut down on the amount of Halloween candy that gets eaten would be to freeze all of it and bring it out sparingly – remember not to use food as a reward. Think about donating it to a shelter, food bank or homeless. You will have less headaches dealing with all the hyperactive behavior your child will have.
Check the diagram to see how much sugar you might be eating.
Click here to visit Yvonne's website for information, ideas, and products to stay healthy and to help balance your pH.
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Yvonne is the owner of Essence of Health located in Laguna Beach. She graduated from the University of Alberta with her degree in Nutrition and Food Science. Originally from Calgary, this Canadian brings with her over 23 years in the fitness industry working in both corporate and private arenas. She is very passionate about health and loves sharing that passion with everyone around her. Yvonne's complimentary background in fitness AND nutrition enables her to bring the latest phenomenon's in the industry to her clients, making Essence of Health the most unique studio in Laguna. Exercise and nutrition is a partnership and by addressing both you get the best results; KNOWLEDGE + ACTION = RESULTS. Yvonne helps you transform your mindset, body, and life!
