Code words for sugar

Sugar has become so much a part of our diets that we are unaware of all the places that it lurks. Because sugar has so many different names, we don't really realize how much we consume. Generally, when we think of sugar, we think of the overt sugars - candy, cake, cookies, ice cream, sodas, etc. The other sugars - those in coffee, snack foods, even yogurt - are mostly ignored.

Yogurt always amuses me. Somehow we've been marketed into believing that yogurt is this great food. On a website called "sugarstacks.com," where they compare the sugar content of different foods, yogurt has more sugar in it than a six-pack of donuts! Most of the yogurts no longer have active probiotics in them (the reason yogurt is supposed to be so good for you). I don't want to pick on yogurt necessarily because other foods, ones not generally suspect, also contain sugar.

So what are the names of some of these sugars? Barley malt, beet sugar, cane-juice crystals, cane sugar, caramel, corn syrup, maltol, fruit juice, fruit juice concentrate, malt, galactose, dextrose, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, honey, corn syrup solids, date sugar, maltodextrin, maltose, maple syrup, mannitol, molasses, raw sugar, sorghum, sorbitol, sucrose, succanat, turbinado, treacle, agave - and 21 more!

Don't decide to go to artificial sweeteners, as the problems are worse. Artificial sweeteners are also called by various names: aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal), sucralose (Splenda), saccharin (Sweet-n-Low, Sweet Twin, Necta Sweet), acesulfame-K (Acesulfame Potassium, Ace-K, Sunette, Sweet One), neotame.

Sugar by any name creates havoc in the body. It can disrupt the function of the endocrine system - the system of organs and glands that secrete hormones. Hormones are the messenger system of the body, and to mess with the messenger is bad news!

Some of the organs of the endocrine system include the pancreas, which controls blood sugar as well as sending pancreatic enzymes into the small intestines to complete digestion. Also the adrenal glands, which play a role in blood sugar balance, release hormones which control inflammation, your reaction to stress, and blood pressure, and are responsible for sustained energy throughout the day.

All of the endocrine gland organs are interdependent. When one is affected, there is a ricochet response from other gland organs. Sugar can negatively disrupt endocrine balance, which can affect every system in the body either directly or indirectly.

Sugar intake suppresses immune function, disrupts mineral balance, can raise glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol levels in the blood, causes the body to be more acidic (resulting in more dental caries, digestive disturbances, degenerative disorders), encourages overgrowth of candida, and many other problems!

So what is the answer? It is not easy to avoid sugars, but there is help. Stop by Vital Health at 213 W. Appleway, Ste. 10 in Coeur d'Alene, or visit our website at www.vitalhealthandfitness.com, and ask for our handout, "Techniques to Help Combat Sugar Cravings and Addiction."

Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with more than 32 years of experience. Carling is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health-care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d'Alene clinic. Visit Carling's website at www.vitalhealthandfitness.com to learn more about Carling, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. Carling can be reached at (208) 765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.