WRRR Health and Fitness: Sugar a SUPERFOOD?!

 

 

OK, so sugar isn’t 1 of the top super foods, but there are some great qualities by consuming sugar in moderation and yes it’s a super food.  Not every one can tolerate sugar so talk with your doctor and or your nutritionist about sugar consumption before you start consuming more sugar.    ALL food has the potential to be bad for you but in reality it isn’t the food it’s the quantity.   If your body can’t burn it off, your body will store it as fat regardless of what you eat.  I wouldn’t recommend a person who is prone to getting blood clots to eat broccoli, kale or spinach with every meal as they are high in vitamin k.  However, these are extremely healthy but vitamin k thickens the blood.  Sugar should be used as fuel for the body, it is only stored as fat if you eat too much of it.  So grabbing that afternoon candy bar might be a good thing on occasion. Sugar is in everything and we often add more sugar to our already sweeten foods and beverages.  The problem isn’t with sugar, the problem is with consuming too much of it.  If you stop eating sugar I’m sure some people will see results in their bodies, they might feel and look better but I guarantee you it’s because you were consuming too much sugar in the first place.  Just like all food sugar is addicting so consume it in moderation.

Let’s talk sugar:

Refined Sugar:  This has no nutritional value although it does come from the sugar cane.  However, calcium, iron, magnesium, & potassium just to name a few of the nutrients that are removed while processing.

Unrefined Sugar aka Raw Sugar: This sugar is packed with nutrition because the process is minimal.  Raw honey (which is also a super food) and raw maple are great sugar substitutes.   Have you every tried honey in your tea when you’re sick and not sugar?  Why?  The reason we use honey in our tea when we are sick is because honey is packed with antioxidants and anti-bacterial properties which help boost your immune system and your digestive system.   Honey has so many health benefits it will be covered in another article.  However, did you know honey can help with a hang over!  If you’re a coffee and/or tea drinker I challenge you to substitute honey for 1 week and see if you notice changes in your daily activities.

Natural Sugar: This sugar is the best sugar.  It comes from fresh fruits and vegetables.  We all know the benefits of eating healthy foods like fruits and vegetable so I won’t bore you with the details.

If you ever need a boost of energy all of these sugars can help with that.  By eating them in moderation you will enjoy the energy boost that they offer.  However, if you want something with more nutritional value while still giving you that energy boost stick with the unrefined and natural sugars.

Here is a short list of other super foods:

• Oranges

• Blueberries

• Broccoli

• Oats

• Salmon

• Spinach

• Tea (green or black)

• Tomatoes

• Turkey

• Walnuts

• Yogurt

• Beans

• Kale

Eat Healthy – Live Healthy – Be Healthy