What You Need to Know Sucrose Consumed as Sugar
JERSEY FOODSTATE NEWSLETTER SERIES
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT REFINED SUGAR
PART 1
Refined sugar exists within the Western diet to an alarming degree, often hidden in foods, in particular those enjoyed by our children. We would all be very wise indeed to eliminate as much refined sugar (often described as sucrose) from our and our childrens’ diets as possible because it interrupts so many of the body’s important functions. We tend to focus on the dangers of drinking alcohol and smoking, yet not enough emphasis is placed on the dangers of sugar abuse. As a result we have a desperate increase in obesity and diabetes, which, like so many of today’s diseases, are lifestyle associated. The list of dangers attributed to sugar is extensive, as the following reading indicates.
Sucrose interferes with the following factors:
1. GROWTH FACTORS
A high consumption of sucrose may lower the production of BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor). BDNF fundamentally enhances learning ability and is involved in the survival of neurons.
BDNF is under investigation as a treatment for Alzheimers disease. It is thought that BDNF may stimulate the re-growth of damaged neurons in areas of the nervous system.
2. HORMONES
Sucrose may inhibit the production and release of Human Growth Hormone (Hgh), which is essential to the body’s ability to offset the progression of the ageing process. In addition, the body’s tissues become more resistant to the actions of the reduced Hgh secretion that occurs with ageing, giving more potential for ill health.
3. MINERALS
Minerals
- Sucrose may increase the body’s excretion of Calcium.
- Sucrose may increase urinary Chromium excretion.
- Sucrose may cause the depletion of Copper.
- Sucrose may interfere with the absorption of Magnesium.
- Sucrose may cause depletion of the body’s Phosphorus.
Vitamins
- Sucrose may deplete the body’s supply of Biotin, Choline and Vitamin B1.
- Sucrose may cause the depletion of Vitamin B6.
- Sucrose may interfere with the transport of Vitamin C through the body.
- Sucrose may cause the depletion of Vitamin E.
Toxic Effects of Sucrose
Aging Process
Sucrose is considered to contribute and indeed accelerate the aging process (the fructose component of the sucrose molecule appears to play a larger role in accelerated aging than does the glucose component of sucrose):
When sucrose is removed from the diets of rats they live for twice as long as when their diets contain sucrose.
Cardiovascular System
- A high consumption of sucrose is known to increase the risk of Atherosclerosis.
- A high consumption of sucrose can increase the risk of Abnormal Blood Clotting.
- Sucrose is considered to contribute to an increase blood pressure - and may therefore contribute to the development of Hypertension
- A high consumption of Sucrose may increase the risk of Preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a form of Hypertension that develops (in conjunction with albuminuria or oedema) between the 20th week of pregnancy and the end of the first week postpartum
- A high consumption of sucrose may cause Ischemic Heart Disease:
- A high consumption of sucrose may cause Heart Attack.
Digestive System
- A high consumption of sucrose may cause Appendicitis.
- A high consumption of sucrose (as refined Sugar) may be implicated as a possible cause of Crohn’s Disease and 80% of Crohn’s Disease patients who adopt a sucrose-free diet achieve an improvement in symptoms after eighteen months.
- A high consumption of sucrose may increase the risk of Gallstones.
- A high consumption of sucrose may irritate the Stomach.
- A high consumption of sucrose may increase the risk of Ulcerative Colitis.
Excretory System
Sucrose may increase the risk of Kidney Stones.
A high consumption of sucrose may damage the Kidneys.
Eyes/Vision
A high consumption of sucrose may cause Cataracts.
Immune System
- A high consumption of sucrose may suppress the Immune System:
- Sucrose may reduce the body’s production of Antibodies.
- A high consumption of sucrose may interfere with the function of Neutrophils.
- A high consumption of sucrose may interfere with the function of Phagocytes.
- Sucrose may increase the risk of Breast Cancer.
- Sucrose may increase the risk of Colon Cancer:
One teaspoon of additional sucrose sugar per day may increase Colon Cancer risk by 40% and an additional three teaspoons or more may increase the risk of Colon Cancer by 100%.
Metabolism
- Sucrose may cause a temporary rise in Blood Sugar:
- The rise in Blood Sugar caused by sucrose increases the body’s production of Insulin and can therefore contribute to Insulin Resistance.
- Sucrose may increase the production of endogenous Cholesterol:
- A high consumption of sucrose may lower HDL Cholesterol levels-undesirable
- A high consumption of sucrose may increase LDL Cholesterol levels-undesirable
- Sucrose may initiate Cross-Linking (glycosylation) of the body’s skin and tissues (via glucose and Free Radicals).
- Sucrose may generate the production of Free Radicals within the body.
- A high consumption of sucrose may cause Hypoglycemia.
- A high consumption of sucrose may cause Insulin Resistance.
- A high consumption of sucrose may exacerbate Obesity by increasing the formation of Adipose Tissue (body fat) - sucrose substitutes for dietary Fats and Adipose Tissues in the body’s production of Energy:
- A high consumption of sucrose may induce the accumulation of Visceral Fat.
- Sucrose may increase the production of Triglycerides (the body converts excess sucrose into Triglycerides to protect itself from the toxic effects of excess sucrose).
Nervous System
- A high consumption of sucrose may cause or exacerbate Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
- A high consumption of sucrose may exacerbate the symptoms of Autism.
- A high consumption of sucrose may cause Depression.
- A high consumption of sucrose can cause Drowsiness.
- A high consumption of sucrose may impair Spatial Memory (due to sucrose causing the depletion of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in the Hippocampus).
Oral Health
Sucrose may cause Tooth Decay by converting the Detrimental Bacteria (Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus) that naturally reside on the teeth to the cariogenic Lactic Acid - the resulting compound - Plaque - is integral to the development of Tooth Decay.
Skin
A high intake of sucrose can accelerate the development of Wrinkles (due to Fructose and Glucose in Sucrose stimulating Inflammation and the process of Cross-Linking).
CONCLUSION
It is abundantly clear that refined sugar is one of the most harmful foods that we consume, and we are well advised only to eat sugar the way nature has created it in fruits and other natural food sources. We need to remember that this refined sugar is not in a form that nature intended us to receive it. So many pre-packed and processed foods contain sugar. Children are most at risk from inadvertently consuming sugar, and please be under no illusion: sugar is highly addictive. MacDonalds understand the value of this addiction, which is why the combined sugar content of a Big Mac and a large Coke is 32 teaspoons!
I hope this article helps you to understand the dangers of refined sugars. I have provided a list of descriptions of different forms of sugar below:
Raw Cane Sugar: Sugar crystals derived from sugarcane that are coated with a thin film of molasses.
Note: Organic molasses is the preferred option as many informed nutritionists recommend against molasses consumption as they often contain excessive residues of pesticides.
Granulated White Sugar: Raw cane Sugar (i.e. from sugarcane) that has been washed to remove its film of molasses or raw beet sugar; that have been dissolved into a water syrup and then crystallized.
Granulated white beet sugar is indistinguishable form granulated white cane sugar as both varieties are almost 100% sucrose. Granulated white sugar is further classified according to the size of its crystals, but all grades are identical in terms of sucrose content.
Brown Sugar: (also known as soft sugar) the extraction from the syrup remaining after granulated white sugar has been removed - brown sugar is only manufactured from sugarcane and not sugar beets.
Table Sugar: Table sugar consists almost exclusively of concentrated sucrose.
Most table sugar (60% of the world’s table sugar production) is produced by pressing the juice out of sugarcane, boiling it down and drying (crystallizing) it - table sugar derived from sugarcane is sometimes known as cane sugar.
A simple trawl on the internet will advise the reader of further information regarding sucrose and good health.