Day 152- Nutrition Bite

"People are getting alot more fructose from high-fructose corn syrup contained in processed foods and sweetened beverages than from eating fruit."
- Dr. Peter J Havel, D.V.M, Ph.D

Sugar Preacher's Experience
I observe high school students drinking and eating more foods with high-fuctose corn syrup than fructose from fruit. The regular soda machines were removed from the schools in Utah, but the diet coke, minute maid machines, and candy machines remain. Umm.. I guess they are beginning to fight the battle in one direction. I think the Utah schools should simply remove all of the soda and candy machines like NYC public schools did. Today, I forgot my sack breakfast, lunch, and wallet. I am starving!! I did eat the cookie in my desk, which was empty calories. I'll have to try negotiating with the lunch ladies. They might have some healthy foods to spare.

Day 30-Nutritional Bite

Diet Soda causes weight gain despite contrary belief. First, diet soda causes our bodies to retain water because of the large amount of sodium consumed. If you are drinking more diet soda than water, you will become dehydrated. Dehydration causes your metabolism to slow down. Fat and muscle cells need plenty of water to flush your system. Second, diet soda also gives you cravings for high caloric foods which you may be accustomed to eating with your drink. Third, drinking diet soda will trick your mind into thinking that it is hungry. The chemicals in diet soda, such as aspartame, will trigger a hunger response in your head, not in your stomach. A side effect from the hunger response will result in weight gain. Fourth, diet soda affects your body's Ph balance. When your Ph balance is out of balance, your body cannot absorb nutrients as effectively. Nutrients play a vital role in keeping your body metabolically active. Vitamins and minerals are absorbed into your muscle cells for strength and keeps your body burning more calories. You might want to think twice about consuming diet soda. Click on the video and scroll down to Dr. Manny's Skip the Diet Soda for details.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=4271246

http://news.yahoo.com/i/3054

http://www.uthscsa.edu/hscnews/singleformat.asp?newID=1539

Sugar Preacher's Experience
I do notice many people who drink diet soda are overweight. I would advise people to lay off the diet soda!!

Day 29-Nutritional Bite

Skip the soda! Reasons not to drink soda are weight gain, higher risk for diabetes and heart problems, and the rise of triglycerides (fats in the blood). The empty calories cause a lack of fullness or satiety, which results in an increased appetite. Calories are not processed properly because soda cannot boost insulin and soda inteferes with leptin production. Leptin is a protein hormone that helps regulate body weight. Soda triggers poor eating habits and cravings for fast food. The list continues on. Click on article for more details.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060305/news_1n5soda.html

Sugar Preacher's Experience
Luckily, I haven't had soda since I was a child. When I was eight years old, I was dehydrated and drank only soda. I vomited the soda and haven't enjoyed soda since that experience. Now, I relate soda to vomit.

Day 28-Nutritional Bite

Limit your refined sugars! The U.S. Department of Agriculture advises most people to limit daily sugar intake to 10-12 teaspoons or 47-57 grams a day. In 2000, we ate an average of 31 teaspoons a day. Most of the sugars are from sweetened drinks. A single 12-ounce can of soda has as much as 13 teaspoons of sugar. Dr. Mehmet Oz shows some great visuals of the amount of sugar in soda. Click below and then on video "Fighting Obesity" for more information.  http://abcnews.go.com/search?searchtext=April%2024%2C%202008%20fighting%20obesity&type

Sugar Preacher's Experience

I am close to celebrating the month mark for my un-refined sugar diet. My blood sugar levels are more stabilized, and  I feel great. You can take the challenge and try the diet! I still crave sweets, but fresh fruits and other natural sweets do the trick!