Weight Loss that Lasts: Sugar "The White Death" & " The Legal Cocaine"

Weight Loss that Lasts: Sugar "The White Death" & " The Legal Cocaine": Sugar "The White Death" & " The Legal Cocaine"   THIS IS A MUST READ!! By Thom Underwood, CNC When processe...

Sugar "The White Death" & " The Legal Cocaine"

Sugar "The White Death" & " The Legal Cocaine" 

 THIS IS A MUST READ!!

By Thom Underwood, CNC

When processed sugar & junk food are consumed, a massive amount of dopamine is released in an area of the brain called the "nucleus accumbes". When we eat these type of foods in large amounts, dopamine receptors (in the brain) start to down-regulate. Now there are fewer receptors for dopamine. This means that the next time we eat these foods, their effect is blunted. We will need more sugar & junk food next time we eat in order to get the same level of reward. Sugar and other junk foods, due to their powerful effect on the reward centers of the brain, function similarly to drugs of abuse like cocaine and nicotine. Research has proven that the same areas in the brain centers are activated and light when they are consumed. People who have a certain predisposition to addiction become addicted to these foods and lose control over their consumption. This is basically how sugar and other junk foods “hijack” the brain chemistry to make us crave more and eat more. 

Is Sugar Our Friend?

Sugar is not your friend. It may “feel like” your friend when it comforts you (due to the beta- endorphin rush in your brain), but sugar is actually your enemy. The “sugar” has magical powers which cause children to be hyper, irritable, and uptight. This white demon helps to destroy your teeth, kidneys, and pancreas and robs your body of many essential vitamins. Rregular consumption of sugary foods is one of the worst things that you can do to your health. Modern scientific research has shown us, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that sugar in your food (in all its myriad of forms) is taking a devastating toll on your health.

Sugar Addiction & Facts?

Many folks are addicted to sugar and are literally destroying their health. Let’s take a look and see what scientific research is telling us about sugar:

Weight Gain: Eating sugar creates large spikes in blood sugar. Whenever your blood sugar is higher than the current needs of your body, your body will store the extra sugar as fat.

Insulin Insensitivity: Your cells become resistant to insulin when there is constantly too much sugar in your blood stream. Diabetes is a form of insulin insensitivity, and it's completely reversible under a strict sugar-free diet.

Toxic: Sugar is toxic to the blood vessels in the body. In the exact same way that cigarette smoke damages the lungs, sugar in the blood stream damages blood vessels.

Despite these destructive effects on health, sugar consumption has been increasing drastically. Just take a look at the sugar consumption trends of the past 300 years:

In 1700, the average person consumed about 4 pounds of sugar per year.
In 1800, the average person consumed about 18 pounds of sugar per year.

In 1900, individual consumption had risen to 90 pounds of sugar per year.
In 2012, more than 50% of all Americans consume 1/2 pound of sugar per day — translating to a whopping 180 pounds of sugar per year!

In 1890, only 3 people out of 100,000 had diabetes. In 2012, diabetes strikes almost 8,000 out of every 100,000 people!

The “sugar rush” has really been targeted at children. American children are consuming about ten times as much sugar as they were in 1900, especially in the form of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which is the average American’s largest source of calories! Highly addictive HFCS contains fructose and glucose, but they are not bound together (as they are in table sugar) so your body doesn’t need to break it down. Therefore, the fructose is absorbed immediately, going straight to your liver, which turns it into FAT (VLDL andtriglycerides).

According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, “Fructose also tricks the body into gaining weight by fooling your metabolism (it turns off the appetite-control system. Fructose does not appropriately stimulate insulin, which in turn does not suppress ghrelin (the “hunger hormone”) and doesn’t stimulate leptin (the “satiety hormone”), which together result in your eating more and developing insulin resistance.”

Consequences

But just because you avoid HFCS doesn’t mean that you’re in the clear. Excess intake of all processed sugars results in compromised immune function (decreasing the white blood cells’ ability to destroy bacteria), obesity, and diabetes. Remember that sugar is cancer’s favorite food! And since half of the white sugar in the USA comes from sugar beets, you should remember that most beets are now genetically modified. Yet another reason to stay away from the “White Death” isn’t it? 

I personally recommend that you avoid white sugar, brown sugar, agave, and all artificial sweeteners. 

If you have a sweet tooth, it’s best to

stick with stevia, xylitol, raw honey/maple syrup, molasses, and coconut sugar.

Types of Sugars & Sweeteners

It is easy to become confused by the various sugars and sweeteners, so here is a basic overview:

Saccharide = sugar
Glucose (aka “dextrose” or “grape sugar”), galactose (“milk sugar”), and fructose (“fruit sugar”) are all “monosaccharides” (i.e. single sugar molecules), known as “simple sugars.” The primary difference between them is how your body metabolizes them. Glucose is the form of energy you were designed to run on. Every cell in your body uses glucose for energy. High amounts of fructose are very damaging to thebody, since if fructose isn’t burned immediately for energy, it travels directly to the liver, where it is converted to triglycerides (fats). Excess triglycerides increase insulin resistance (and insulin production), thus contributing to diabetes in a “back door” fashion. The simple sugars can combine to form more complex sugars, like sucrose (“table sugar”) which is a “disaccharide” comprised of 50% glucose and 50% fructose.

“Refined” white sugar (pure sucrose) is washed with a syrup solution, then with hot water, clarified (usually chemically) to remove impurities, decolorized, concentrated, evap- orated, re-boiled until crystals form, centrifuged again to separate, then dried. By this point, any remnants of “natural goodness” and “nutritional value” have completely disappeared! Quite frankly, white sugar should be considered to be an “industrial product” rather than a “food.”

Aspartame is a neurotoxic rat poison ... need I say more?

HFCS is 55% fructose and 45% glucose. Rapadura is the pure juice extracted from the sugar cane (using a press), which is then evaporated over low heats, whilst being stirred with paddles, then sieve ground to produce a grainy sugar. It has not been cooked at highheats, and spun to change it into crystals, and the molasses has not been separated from the sugar. “Sucanat” is the USA trade name forRapadura.

Splenda (sucralose) is NOT a sugar, despite its deceptive marketing slogan, “made from sugar.” It’s a chlorinated artificial sweetener in line with aspartame, though not quite as harmful.

"Brown sugar” is just white sugar mixed with molasses.

“Raw” sugar is not really raw – it has been cooked, and most of the minerals and vitamins are gone. But it’s probably a little better than refined white sugar because it has a little of the molasses remaining.

Honey is approx.- imately 50% fructose, but in natural (raw) form contains many health benefits.

Agave nectar is made from the agave plant, which is a cactus. Sound natural, right? Like maple syrup from a tree, or honey from abeehive. Only it isn’t. Agave is processed and the end product does not even remotely resemble the original agave plant. And agave is approximately 80% fructose (much higher than honey and maple syrup).

Stevia is an extremely sweet herb derived from the leaf of the South American stevia plant, which is completely safe (in its natural form).

Coconut sugar is made from the sweet watery sap that drips from the cut flower buds of fresh coconuts. It has a low glycemic index (GI) and is rich in amino acids. It is typically less than 10% fructose, with sucrose being the primary component.

Xylitol is a sweetener known as a “sugar alcohol” (or polyol). Sugar alcohols are neither sugars nor alcohols – they are carbohydrates (with structures that happen to resemble sugar and alcohol). Xylitol is extracted from birch cellulose. Unlike sugar, Xylitol is slowly absorbed,does not cause a rapid blood sugar increase, and does not require an immediate insulin response from the body to be metabolized. And because Xylitol is anti- bacterial, many studies have shown that it actually helps prevent dental cavities, ear infections, and some evidence suggests that it helps prevent gum disease.

A Heart Disease Connection?

Everyone has heard of hypertension and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), and we’ve all been told by the pharmaceutical companies that this is due to high cholesterol. We are prescribed medications to lower this terrible substance and preserve our lives. But unfortunately, this is not at all factual. The real problem lies in the health of the endothelium (inner lining) of the arterial and venous walls. While it is true that cholesterol will adhere to tears or damage to the endothelial lining, it is not the cause of these lesions. In actuality,insulin causes lesions in the endothelium, so sugar (which causes insulin to be secreted) is the true culprit.

What is insulin? Insulin is a hormone that facilitates the transfer of glucose (blood sugar) from the blood into the cells where it is used as fuel. When blood sugar levels rise, the pancreas secretes insulin into the bloodstream.

The more sugar we consume, the more insulin we secrete. The more insulin we secrete, the more lesions in the endothelium we create. The more lesions we create, the more cholesterol will adhere to these lesions. If we removed all of the cholesterol from our bodies we would lose many things that we require, starting with the brain (which is made of cholesterol), hormones (which are made from cholesterol), and a functioning immune system. Insulin also causes us to store fat, so it is completely logical that obese people have a higher incidence of heart disease. Perhaps if we dealt with medical problems honestly, rather than watching and believing complete fiction (relating to sugar and drugs) on television, we would make true progress in our health.

The bottom line is this:

If you want to be healthy, you must take control of your sugar intake so that it doesn't take control over you. If not IF see a bleak future for you.

For A Free 45 min Consultation go to  meetme.so/ThomUnderwood

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Alcohol and Weight Loss, Can You Have Both?

Alcohol and Weight Loss, Can You Have Both?

By Liz Noelcke

Alcohol and weight loss are enemies, but an occasional drink can have a place in a healthy lifestyle. In fact, many experts note the potential health benefits of consuming a single drink per day, including a reduced risk for high blood pressure. If, however, you are exceeding one drink daily, you might be sabotaging your weight loss plans.

Alcohol is metabolized differently than other foods and beverages. Under normal conditions, your body gets its energy from the calories in carbohydrates, fats and proteins, which are slowly digested and absorbed within the gastrointestinal system. However, this digestive process changes when alcohol is present. When you drink alcohol, it gets immediate attention (because it is viewed by the body as a toxin) and needs no digestion.

On an empty stomach, the alcohol molecules diffuse through the stomach wall quickly and can reach the brain and liver in minutes. This process is slower when you have food in your stomach, but as soon as that food enters the small intestine, the alcohol grabs first priority and is absorbed quickly into the bloodstream.

As the alcohol reaches the liver for processing, the liver places all of its attention on the alcohol. If you drink very slowly, all the alcohol is collected by the liver and processed immediately—avoiding all other body systems. If you drink more quickly, the liver cannot keep up with the processing needs and the alcohol continues to circulate in the body until the liver is available to process it. That's why drinking large amounts of alcohol (or drinking alcohol quickly) affect the brain centers involved with speech, vision, reasoning and judgment.

When the body is focused on processing alcohol, it is not able to properly break down foods containing carbohydrates and fat. Therefore, these calories are converted into body fat and are carried away for permanent storage on your body.

Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning that it causes water loss and dehydration. Along with this water loss you lose important minerals, such as magnesium, potassium, calcium and zinc. These minerals are vital to the maintenance of fluid balance, chemical reactions, and muscle contraction and relaxation.

Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram and offers NO nutritional value. It only adds empty calories to your diet. Why not spend your calorie budget on something healthier?

Alcohol affects your body in other negative ways. Drinking may help induce sleep, but the sleep you get isn't very deep. As a result, you get less rest, which can trigger you to eat more calories the next day. Alcohol can also increase the amount of acid that your stomach produces, causing your stomach lining to become inflamed. Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to serious health problems, including stomach ulcers, liver disease, and heart troubles.

Alcohol lowers your inhibitions, which is detrimental to your diet plans. Alcohol actually stimulates your appetite. While you might be full from a comparable amount of calories from food, several drinks might not fill you up. On top of that, research shows that if you drink before or during a meal, both your inhibitions and willpower are reduced. In this state, you are more likely to overeat—especially greasy or fried foods—which can add to your waistline. To avoid this, wait to order that drink until you're done with your meal.

Many foods that accompany drinking (peanuts, pretzels, chips) are salty, which can make you thirsty, encouraging you to drink even more. To avoid over drinking, sip on a glass of water in between each alcoholic beverage.

Skipping a meal to save your calories for drinks later is a bad idea. Many drinkers know they'll be having some alcohol later, whether going to a bar, party, or just kicking back at home. Knowing that drinking entails extra calories, it may be tempting to "bank" some calories by skipping a meal or two. This is a bad move. If you come to the bar hungry, you are even more likely to munch on the snacks, and drinking on an empty stomach enhances the negative effects of alcohol. If you're planning on drinking later, eat a healthy meal first. You'll feel fuller, which will stop you from overdrinking. If you are worried about a looming night out with friends, include an extra 30 minutes of exercise to balance your calories—instead of skipping a meal.

What are more important, calories or carbs? You might think that drinking liquor is more diet-friendly because it has no carbohydrates, while both wine and beer do contain carbs. But dieters need to watch calories, and liquor only has a few calories less than beer or wine. Plus, it is often mixed with other drinks, adding even more empty calories. Hard liquor contains around 100 calories per shot, so adding a mixer increases calories even more. If you are going to mix liquor with anything, opt for a diet or club soda, instead of fruit juice or regular soda. Sweeter drinks, whether liquor or wine, tend to have more sugar, and therefore more calories. In that respect, dry wines usually have fewer calories than sweet wines.

The list below breaks down the number of calories in typical alcoholic drinks. Compare some of your favorites to make a good choice next time you decide to indulge in a serving of alcohol.

Drink	Serving Size	Calories
Red wine	5 oz.	100
White wine	5 oz.	100
Champagne	5 oz.	130
Light beer	12 oz.	105
Regular beer	12 oz.	140
Dark beer	12 oz.	170
Cosmopolitan	3 oz.	165
Martini	3 oz.	205
Long Island iced tea	8 oz.	400
Gin & Tonic	8 oz.	175
Rum & Soda	8 oz.	180
Margarita	8 oz.	200
Whiskey Sour	4 oz.	200

Alcohol can easily be the enemy when it comes to weight loss. It adds extra calories to your diet, encourages you to eat more food, and alters the normal digestive process. Not only are the extra calories a hindrance, but the changes in food breakdown sends turns those extra calories into unwanted body fat. Alcohol does have a bad reputation when it comes to weight loss, and rightfully so, so be smart about your alcohol choices if you're watching your weight.

What's the Definition of "Moderate" Alcohol Consumption?

A moderate alcohol intake is defined as up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men. One drink contains 0.6 fluid ounces of alcohol and is defined as:

•           12 fl. oz. of regular beer (5% alcohol)

•           4-5 fl. oz. of wine (12% alcohol)

•           1.5 fl. oz. of 80-proof distilled spirits (40% alcohol)

•           1 fl. oz. of 100-proof distilled spirits (50%