Sharing an article on the “toxicity” of sugar, and why we should avoid having too much of it. Now that Diwali is behind us and we’re starting a Brand New Year (some of us, New Year comes several times in India 😉 ), let’s make some “healthy resolutions”.
According to latest research, diets high in sugar and refined carbohydrates (white rice, white flour etc.) are really toxic for you and pave the way for obesity and future diabetes. India is now the “Diabetes Capital” of the world, with as many as 50 million sufferers!! Our country has the highest number of diabetic patients in the world, and this “sugar disease” is posing enormous health challenges to us.
Faulty diets and lifestyles are mostly to blame. We consume too much of carbohydrates and sugar, and too little protein (dal, whole pulses, milk products, eggs, fish and chicken), fibre and fruits/vegetables. Most of us believe that fats and fried foods are more dangerous than sweets, but sweets (due to high sugar that leads to insulin resistance) are actually more dangerous 🙁 🙁
I’ve read in books, and personally experienced that the best way to lose excess weight is to cut down sugar and refined carbohydrates in our diets. And in their place we should add more lean protein, fruits and vegetables, and fibre rich foods (whole grains). Protein and fibre help you stay full longer, whereas refined carbs make you feel hungry very fast.
So in a nutshell:
1. Cut down sweets and sugar.
2. Replace white rice with brown rice or broken wheat, and maida with wholegrain flour.
3. Increase consumption of lean protein – soya products, low fat milk products, dals (preferably those with skin), eggs, fish, chicken (without skin).
4. Consume more fruits and vegetables (cooked with less oil, salt and spices).
5. Always choose wholegrains – brown rice, dals with skin like channa, rajma, kala masoor, whole moong dal etc. – they’re much healthier because they have more fibre and anti-oxidants.
6. Make these changes gradually, one by one, so that you adjust easily.
Diet and lifestyle changes can drastically cut down rates of Diabetes and help you manage it. So do try to follow a more healthy diet/lifestyle.
PS: The attached article clearly outlines the toxic effects of consuming too much sugar or refined carbohydrates, like white rice and white flour (pizza, cakes, burgers).
Reference: https://aeon.co/essays/sugar-is-a-toxic-agent-that-creates-conditions-for-disease