CAN ANGER AND FEAR AFFECT YOUR HEALTH?
JULY 2018 Page 11
HEALTH AND WELNESS
THE DANGERS OF SUGAR
As a Chef, many clients seek my services for an effective detox plan. Undergoing a cleanse or detox program has become all the rage in recent years, but the key to truly reaping the benefits of any detoxification plan lies in a genuine understanding of the how and why. Remember, not all detox programs are created equal, and embarking on a cleanse or detox without the proper knowledge can do more harm than good. While there are tons of approaches and pre-designed programs that you can purchase online and follow when deciding which detoxification program is right for you, know that the first step to any good detox should absolutely begin with breaking the sugar addiction.
What are the dangers of sugar? 1. Sugar is an Anti-Nutrient The term“ anti-nutrient” refers to a nutrient that offers no benefits to the body and takes away nutrients. In fact, we end up using more nutrients in the energy it takes to process and assimilate refined sugar in the diet than any benefit it might give us. Sugar contains no protein, no essential fatty acids, and certainly no vitamins, minerals, or phytonutrients.
2. A Diet High in Fructose Harms the Liver
One of the primary reasons that a good cleanse should begin with sugar detox is sugar is high in fructose, which goes directly to the liver upon consumption. As opposed to glucose, which is found in nature and is a type of sugar that the body needs( to a certain extent), there is no physiological need for fructose. In a documentary titled“ Sugar, the Bitter Truth,” Dr. Robert Lustig explains that fructose is only metabolized by the liver, which can cause severe problems if consumed in excess.
3. Excess S u g a r Consumption Can Lead to Insulin Resistance
Insulin is the hormone that escorts glucose( blood sugar) into our cells and sends our cells the message to burn glucose instead of fat. However, if you have chronically high blood glucose levels( which is actually toxic in and of itself), this can lead to severe complications like diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
4. Sugar Suppresses the Immune System and Could Cause Cancer
Contrary to popular belief, a giant glass of orange juice when we are sick is not the best way to get better. In his widely known research conducted in the 1970’ s Linus Pauling discovered that sugar and vitamin C have similar chemical structures, and the two( very different) compounds actually compete for space in our white blood cells. Meaning that the more sugar we eat, the lower our vitamin C content becomes. Vitamin C is a powerful immuneboosting and infection-preventing antioxidant and is put directly in harm’ s way when being forced to compete with sugar. As noted above, sugar also has devastating effects on our metabolism, which can also lead to cancer cell proliferation.
5. Sugar is the Leading Cause of Obesity
Plain and simple, sugar and refined carbohydrate consumption causes you to gain excessive weight. Sugar directly affects insulin and cortisol, two hormones that play a crucial role in fat storage. A study released by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition connects consumption of high-fructose corn syrup with America’ s obesity epidemic.
How do you know if you need to do a sugar detox?
If you have any symptoms including, frequent sugar / carbohydrate cravings, regular headaches, low energy( dips and spikes), mood swings, excessive irritability, muscle pains( not exercise related), excessive thirst or increased hunger, you may need to do a sugar detox. In reality, even if you are one of the lucky ones who does not experience some or all of these symptoms, the truth is that everyone can benefit from a simple sugar detox.
How to Do a Simple 24 Hour Sugar Detox
Start with 24 hours, and if you feel good and motivated to keep going, please do! Most habits( dietary and other) can be both created and broken within approximately three weeks, so a three to four-week sugar detox is even better.
The goal of your sugar detox is to maintain stable blood sugar levels by breaking the vicious cycle of a high carbohydrate and sugar-based diet. Foods that consist mainly of carbs( and particularly when not accompanied by high-quality protein and fat), instantly work to spike our blood sugar levels, which energizes us for a short period and then causes a sudden energy dip. We then find ourselves craving more of the same foods and beverages to recover our crashing energy levels and thus repeats the cycle.
For 24 hours, minimize not only refined sugar but all foods that provide a sweet sensation. Although fruit contains natural sugar, during a sugar detox, it is best to avoid.
For 24 hours, completely avoid aspartame( Equal), saccharin( Sweet n Low), stevia that is white( Truvia), sucralose( Splenda), HFCS( High Fructose Corn Syrup), honey, maple syrup, molasses, agave syrup, date, palm, and coconut sugar, fruit juice, all fruit, all packaged / processed foods( if it has an ingredient list, avoid it), diet or sugar-free foods( highly processed), coffee, dairy, soda and alcohol. You should also avoid refined carbohydrates including bread, bagels, brownies, cakes, candy, cereal, chips, cookies, crackers, cupcakes, muffins, oats, pasta, spaghetti, pastries, pizza, popcorn, tortillas, and couscous. The vegetables you should avoid include potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, winter squash, and corn.
Foods you should eat during your sugar detox:
• All meat( opt for grass-fed, organic, pasture-raised whenever possible).
• Wild caught fish.
• All vegetables except those mentioned above.
• Raw nuts and seeds and their kinds of butter including almonds, walnuts, pecans, sesame, hemp, and flax seeds.
• Good fats, including avocado, coconut oil, grass-fed butter, ghee, olive, sesame and flax oils.
• Herbal teas.
• Unsweetened almond and coconut milk
While any detox can undoubtedly be challenging, the beauty lies in the fact that the better we feel, the more we are motivated to create longlasting diet and lifestyle changes. Breaking sugar addiction through a simple sugar detox is an excellent place to start, and might just lead you to a lifetime of healthier eating.
By Desmon Short
IT’ S TIME TO HYDRATE!
“ I
know I need to drink more water, but...” So many of us know we need to drink more water, but for some reason we just don’ t.
Our bodies are made up of almost 70 percent water, so it’ s no surprise that drinking water is vital for our physiques to function. The amount of water you should drink each day varies depending on your age, weight, physical activity and even stress levels. Most people generally need about 8-10 cups of water, or half of your body weight in ounces of water per day. Aside from hydration, water plays a significant role in regulating metabolism( maintaining or losing weight) and in regulating hunger and satiety. Water can also help boost your energy. 1. Do you feel thirsty? Don’ t wait until you feel parched, as this is usually a sign that you may already be dehydrated. 2. Do you see dark colors? When you go to the bathroom, if your urine is dark in color that’ s a clue that your kidneys are holding onto water. You should
make up to 8 trips to the bathroom each day and your urine should be pale yellow or clear. 3. Do you have headaches, digestive issues, fatigue, heartburn, high cholesterol, anxiety or feel irritable? These are all potential signs of dehydration. Try drinking more water and see if your symptoms subside. As a health and wellness coach, I encourage my clients that don’ t like the taste of water, to make their own flavored water at home. Simply cut up fresh fruits and vegetables such as cucumbers, lemons, oranges, strawberries and ginger and add them to a pitcher of water. Allow the natural flavors to infuse into your water for a cool, refreshing treat.
As always, remember to“ indulge when it’ s worth it and pass when it’ s not!’
Coach Venus, MBA, MAFM
Source: Beachbody
Whenever
I find a positive story, I am bothered by the comments that invariably express anger and hostility instead of embracing the good. A pilot safely lands a compromised plane, and as people express their gratefulness, someone has to comment that she was just doing the job she was trained to do and it was nothing special. Why not celebrate the skill and the lives saved?
Someone tells the story of a lost little girl protected in the woods in the cold and rain by her dog. Instead of rejoicing when she is found safe, someone has to lash out at the parents for allowing their child to wander off. Through social media, there is much more bullying and shaming others. Sometimes people on social media lash out at people they don’ t even know.
Many comedians are no longer funny. They are sometimes mean or degrading. They lash out at a so-called enemy. It’ s hard these days to find a show or performance to generate a good belly laugh. The Bob Hope’ s and the I Love Lucy’ s of the world are gone.
Unfounded charges of racism, sexism, homophobia and the like are thrown around without regard to truth. People are afraid to share their opinions because it may be misinterpreted, leading to an attack on their character, their family or their job. Protesters destroy property and attack innocent bystanders all while justifying their actions as freedom of expression. Out-of-control anger, or is it fear? Anger is the emotion associated with the liver and is the organ most affected by excess stress or emotions. With the prevalence of stress in today’ s society, the majority of us experience stress not only in our lives but also with our livers. Fear is the emotion associated with the kidney. The liver and kidneys are our two main detoxifying organs. Could it be that the hostility today is somehow related to the toxic onslaught impacting our two detoxifying organs?
Does the“ meanness” of today stem from a compromised liver and kidney leading to anger and fear? What happens when an animal is cornered and fearful – it attacks. What happens when a child is fearful from being bullied? The child may be violent, either against others or sometimes against themselves, engaging in self-destructive behavior.
We have become a drug-obsessed society. Our foods are filled with pesticides and chemicals. We continue to abuse our liver and kidneys with fatty
CAN ANGER AND FEAR AFFECT YOUR HEALTH?
foods, tobacco, and obesity. According to the American Liver Foundation, nearly 10 % of Americans suffer from some form of liver disease. The overall prevalence of chronic kidney disease in the general population is approximately 14 percent; over 660,000 Americans have kidney failure.
Although I’ m sure there is a multitude of reasons for anger and fear in our society, I hypothesize that a portion is related to the health of our kidneys and liver. I believe that just as liver and kidney disease contribute to anger and fear, so too, the expression of anger and fear contribute to the ill health of the liver and kidneys. So, what can you do about it? Avoid chemical drugs unless we absolutely need them; try natural alternatives instead, such as diet changes, massage, supplements, chiropractic, homeopathy, exercise, meditation, prayer or acupuncture.
If overweight, make a commitment to lose weight. Being overweight leads to the chronic diseases calling for pharmaceutical drugs, which in turn, increase the assault on the liver. Moderate your fat consumption.
Eat organic and unprocessed foods whenever possible; the more processed the food, the more chemicals. Also, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.
Cut down on alcohol consumption or eliminate consumption. If you smoke, quit. Limit direct contact with toxins from cleaning and aerosol products, insecticides, chemicals, and additives. If you must use these chemicals, wear gloves and make sure the area is well ventilated. The liver and kidneys are not only affected by what you ingest but also what you inhale and what is absorbed through your skin.
Think and act positive and happy until you are. You’ ve heard the saying,“ Fake it‘ till you make it.” When you feel your anger or fear rising and are tempted to say or do something negative, try to replace it with a positive affirmation or an act of kindness. Eventually, it will become second-nature, and you will nurture your liver and kidney rather than inflict damage.
It may be a far-fetched notion to relate the prevalence of anger and fear in today’ s world to physical health. However, if you practice healthy habits, what’ s the best that can happen? You just might feel better and have a happier outlook on life.
By Marge Roberts, BSN, MSHP, DAHom