Health

Decoded: Is Sugar A Slow Poison?

• By All That Trending
• 15-06-2021
• 11.92K

We all badly crave sugar, don’t we? If you are someone who has tried cutting back on sugar, you do know how arduous the journey is! When someone stops consuming certain kinds of drugs, their body starts showing withdrawal symptoms, and this is what happens when you cut down on sugar! Eating food high in sugar activates the rewards centres of our brain, and a large amount of dopamine is released. The powerful effect of sugary foods on our brain makes them no less addictive than drugs like cocaine and heroin. Desiring for something sweet is not what we should feel guilty about, but the problem with sugar is that we don’t know when to stop!

What Exactly Is Sugar?

The most common type of sugar that we all are accustomed to is table sugar or white sugar. Sugar is obtained through sugar cane, but table sugar goes through a hella lot of stages of refinement before reaching us in the form of white sugar granules. In order to extract the sucrose from the stems, the sugar cane is milled to extract the juice and converted into a thin syrup. The evaporation process takes place, and sugar crystals are separated from the fluid. At this stage, raw sugar can be used as it is or processed further. In the following stages, raw sugar is extensively processed and, in turn, loses all of its nutritional perks. In short, that one tablespoon table sugar you are adding to your cup of tea/coffee is just empty calories!

Is Sugar A Slow Poison?

The reason why sugar can be compared to be working as a poison in our bodies is because of the reason that it is not adding any kind of benefit to your health. With no nutritional value and a lack of vitamins, minerals, and proteins, sugar is just increasing your daily calorie intake. For anyone who is on a weight loss or weight management journey, the first thing that they should swear by is to either cut down sugar or limit the sugar intake. That being said, our bodies need sugar, and it is impossible to completely deprive our bodies of sugar, so do we have a choice? Well, yes! You can choose natural alternatives of sugar to activate the sweet taste buds. By choosing healthier alternatives, you can get the best of both the world - some nutrition and, ofcourse, satisfying the sweet tooth!

Natural Alternatives of Sugar

Jaggery Powder

[caption id="attachment_11340" align="alignnone" width="300"] Image credits: Terra Earthfood[/caption] Our grandmothers are using jaggery for years now. Jaggery is rich in minerals like magnesium, calcium, iron and phosphorus. There are many health benefits of consuming jaggery, including purification of blood, digestive benefits and boosting immunity.

Coconut Sugar

[caption id="attachment_11341" align="alignnone" width="300"] Image credits: Medical News Today[/caption] It’s not what you are thinking! Coconut sugar tastes nothing like coconut and undergoes minimal processing. Having a glycemic index of 54, coconut sugar is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. Coconut sugar is loaded with fructose content but have a low calorific value.

Stevia

[caption id="attachment_11343" align="alignnone" width="300"] Image credits: Sharp Eye[/caption] Stevia is a plant that has been used for years as an alternative to artificial sweetener. Stevia is excellent for stomach problems and has no calories in them. Stevia is available in the market in the form of powder and drops. Stevia is a smart choice, literally! Though that being said, sugar is highly addictive, so genius is knowing when to stop!

Disclaimer - The texts with tips or advice mentioned here are only for generic information, but not for a substitute of medical advice. Before applying any advice or tips, you should consult a respective doctor or expert. ATT is not responsible if you have any bad impacts on your health.

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