Comes from : a tropical perennial grass Stems contain Native to India, New Guinea, and Pakistan Brought to Caribbean by Christopher Columbus

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1 What is Sugar? DANGERS OF SUGAR Comes from : a tropical perennial grass Stems contain Native to India, New Guinea, and Pakistan Brought to Caribbean by Christopher Columbus World s Largest Crop In 2011, sugarcane had a worldwide harvest of 1.68 million tons The world s top producers are Brazil India China Thailand Pakistan Mexico Sugar Cane Refining Process Raw sugar is extracted from the cane, then bleached Heavy syrup is then added to remove the hard coating This mixture goes through a chemical processing, and it then dehydrated back into crystals Types of Sugar Cane sugar Unrefined from sugar cane White refined sugar and refined cane sugar Brown sugar Refined sugar crystals with coating Beet sugar Extracted from sugar beet tubers

2 Date sugar Made from dried dates Maple syrup/sugar Made from sap of sugar, red and black maple trees Honey Made by bees from nectar collected from flowers Raw honey and unprocessed honey Fruit sugar Fructose with vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, and fiber High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) Made from corn starch Put through an enzymatic process to make sweeter History of Sugar Consumption per person, per year 1700 pounds per year 1800 pounds per year 1900 pounds per year 2009 pounds per year (1/2 pound per day) Sugar Is In Everything Soda Sports Drinks Juices Ketchup BBQ Sauce Mayonnaise Relish Honey Mustard Baby Formula Cereal Granola Bars Bread Frozen Dinners Protein Drinks/Powders Yogurt Peanut Butter Tomato Sauce and more

3 High Fructose Corn Syrup Sugar and HFCS are metabolized very differently in the body (sugar) is converted to glucose by the pancreas; it is used for energy, and the excess is stored in the liver for future use (HFCS) bypasses the pancreas, and is metabolized by the liver; it does not convert to glucose, and it stores as fat Other names from HFCS Dextrose Dextrin Fructose Carbohydrate from refined corn starch Used as a cheep filler and food preservative Causes a rapid rise in blood sugar levels Dangers of High Fructose Corn Syrup High Raises LDL and triglycerides Liver distress The liver has over 500 jobs to do; it cannot handle processing large amounts of HFCS High blood pressure Changes the viscosity of the blood, necessitating an increase in blood flow Obesity Turns to fat faster than sucrose The body does not break down this fat unless it is necessary for fuel Causes cellular oxidation of collagen in the skin Acidic blood Creates an environment conducive to parasites, fungus, viruses, bacteria, and cancer

4 Disrupts homeostasis Affects enzymes, hormones, and mineral balance Stimulates When glucose enters the body, the pancreas releases insulin and the hormone leptin, which tells the body to stop eating When fructose enters, the body releases the hormone ghrelin which tells the body to keep eating Dangers of Refined Sugar Empty calories Depletes the body of essential vitamins and minerals in order to digest Calcium deficiency Causes bones to Responsible for breaks, sprains, and tooth decay Stores as fat Overloads the liver with too much stored glucose, which is deposited as fat into inactive areas of the body Brain fog Depletes B vitamins that are necessary for brain function Adrenal stress Constant fluctuations in blood sugar cause the adrenals to secrete cortisol, which deposits as fat into the belly This fatigues the adrenal glands Decreases Lowers white blood cell activity by 50% Reduces neutrophils, which are the first line of defense against pathogens resistance The cells are not able to accept insulin in order to absorb glucose from the bloodstream, and reduce blood sugar Diabetes The pancreas stops producing insulin, and eventually wears out

5 Hyperactivity Surge in blood sugar causes hyperactivity in children and adults Feeds parasites and candida Provides ideal living conditions for these pathogens Anxiety and Causes mineral imbalances and deficiencies, which lead to psychological distress Cravings Solutions Causes cravings for more sugar Recent research finds sugar as addictive as cocaine, and that it releases the hormone dopamine, which causes feelings of pleasure Avoid forms of sugar when you can Eat fruit instead Use healthier forms of sugar for special occasions Beet sugar, date sugar, maple syrup, raw honey, agave nectar Do not or keep sugary desserts or snacks in the house Learn to prepare healthy meals and snacks without sugar Avoid processed and/or packaged foods what you are eating References and Recommended Reading wikipedia.org, mercola.com, globalhealingcenter.com, benefits-of-honey.com, unhinderedliving.com, nydailynews.com Suicide by Sugar by Nancy Appleton, PhD Lick the Sugar Habit by Nancy Appleton, PhD