Number 6... and 7

I've been dieting since January, using Weight Watchers.  I chose WW because I could still eat what I wanted, but in smaller portions.  As a treat, I would have vanilla yogurt with mini chocolate chips in them.  I would occasionally have a soda (although I did a challenge in November/December to see how long I could go without a soda... I went about a month.)  I've since been discussing with a friend about the effects of refined sugars on your body.



DISCLAIMER: I'm not a nutritionist, and I'm not a doctor.  I am simply trying to lead a healthier lifestyle, and from what I have read, eliminating refined sugar is a great way.  If you want to live a healthier life, and want to make diet changes, I STRONGLY urge you to consult with your regular doctor before dieting.

So, getting off my soapbox, let's get back to sugar!

What is refined sugar? The sugar that's used in our food is separated from the unwanted parts of the sugar cane or the sugar beet.  It then goes through a further cycle of refinement, (and a bleaching!) leaving behind a beautiful and chemically pure sugar. According to  Become Healthy Now, "The completely refined white sugar product is now over 99.9% sucrose and for all practical purposes contains no nutritional elements (...)"

I get the empty calorie part, but still, why is this bad for our bodies?  Basically, what's left is a carbohydrate.  We all know the fad diet going around - less carbs, more protein   But studies have been published that shows an association between sugar and "dyslipidemia - higher triglycerides and lower HDL ('good') cholestorol." (WebMD)

WebMD shares of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association:

In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), people who ate the largest amounts of added sugar had the highest blood triglyceride levels and the lowest HDL (good) cholesterol levels. That study also showed that eating lots of sugar more than tripled the odds of having low HDL cholesterol levels, a strong risk factor for heart disease.

In contrast, people who ate the least sugar had the lowest triglyceride levels and highest HDL levels, a protective factor against heart disease. This study does not prove that sugar causes dylipidemia, though!  I also want to point out that naturally occurring sugars, like those found in fruits, or sugar snap peas are OK!

For me, I have a family history of heart attacks and heart-related deaths.  It's not something I want to worry about because of my diet.  I know there is something I can do about it, and to do it now, rather than later, can add years to my life.

I can't say this one will be easy. (I just had a cookie with my lunch...) But I can say that I have noticed a few things since starting my diet.  The first is how good I feel.  I have been really discouraged lately because I have not seen the numbers on the scale budge. And if they do budge, the budge UP. Not down. I've already had a chat with a friend about this too.  I understand that the numbers on the scale are not worthy of measure my progress so far.  But what's pulling me through is how good I feel when I eat right, and when I exercise.  (And that's a conversation for later.)

I've also noticed how upset my stomach gets when I eat something loaded with sugar.  Last weekend, I went out Friday and Saturday night and had delicious, fruity drinks.  Fun for the night... not the next day.  Despite what you are thinking, I was not hungover.  I was just nauseated by all the sugar sitting in my stomach.

Now, eating sugars in moderation - that's a healthier way to look at all this.  It's OK to have a drink or sugary snack once in a while.  Just as long as it's not every single day...

I'll let you know when I've cut it out of my diet for good!  Wish me luck!