Be SUGAR-Free in your Diet and Be SWEET To your Body

Let me tell you this before I continue write this post. I don't have a sugar tooth. My sugar consumption was very minimum. I used to think sugar is bad because it  adds calories (Though I am very slim) apart from that I was not having any clue until I listen to one of Rajiv Dixit's lectures on effects of Sugar on body. I did a small research to understand what is sugar? why it is bad? etc etc. I have made an effort to write everything I have learnt through my research about sugar in this post. 

Bare with me this post is going to be lengthy as I have put in lot of details.

What is Sugar?

C12H22O11 is the chemical formula. It has 12 Carbon, 22 Hydrogen and 11 oxygen atoms.
Refined sugar contains NO fiber, NO minerals, NO proteins, NO fats, NO enzymes, only EMPTY Calories. 

How sugar is made and refined ?

Sugar is commonly made from sugar cane or sugar beets.

Sugar cane and sugar beets are harvested and then chopped into pieces to squeeze out the juice, This liquid is then heated adding lime. Moisture boils away and the fluid is pumped into vacuum pans in order to get the concentrate the juice. By this time, the liquid is starting to crystallize, and is ready to be placed into a centrifuge machine where any remaining residues are spun away. The crystals are then dissolved by heating to the boiling point and passed through charcoal filters. After the crystals condense, they are bleached to get snow-white  usually by the use of pork or cattle bones.

During the process, 64 food elements are destroyed. All the minerals present in the juice like potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, phosphate, and sulfate are removed. The vitamins such as  A, D, and B are destroyed. Amino acids, vital enzymes, unsaturated fats, and all fiber are gone as well. This what makes Sugar "the Deadliest food" on Earth..!!

What happens when you eat sugar? 

• Sugar taken every day produces a continuously over acid condition. More and more minerals are required from deep in the body to rectify the imbalance.
• Sugar also makes the blood very thick and sticky, inhibiting much of the blood flow into the minute capillaries that supply our gums and teeth with vital nutrients. In order to protect the blood, so much calcium is taken from the bones and teeth that decay and general weakening begin.
• Excess sugar eventually affects every organ in the body. Initially, it is stored in the liver in the form of glucose (glycogen). Since the liver's capacity is limited, a daily intake of refined sugar (above the required amount of natural sugar) soon makes the liver expand like a balloon. When the liver is filled to its maximum capacity, the excess glycogen is returned to the blood in the form of fatty acids. These are taken to every part of the body and stored in the most inactive areas like the belly, the buttocks, the breasts and the thighs. 
• When these comparatively harmless places are completely filled, fatty acids are then distributed among active organs, such as the heart and kidneys. These begin to slow down; finally their tissues degenerate and turn to fat. 
• The abnormal blood pressure is created due to reduced abilities of organs because of storage of fatty acids.
• The parasympathetic nervous system is affected; They become inactive or paralyzed.
• The circulatory and lymphatic systems are invaded, and the quality of the red corpuscles starts to change. An overabundance of white cells occurs, and the creation of tissue becomes slower. 
• The body's tolerance and immunizing power becomes more limited, so we cannot respond properly to extreme attacks, whether they be cold, heat etc 
• Excessive sugar has a strong mal-effect on the functioning of the brain. The key to orderly brain function is glutamic acid. The B vitamins play a major role in dividing glutamic acid. B vitamins are also manufactured by symbiotic bacteria which live in our intestines. When refined sugar is taken daily, these bacteria wither and die, and our stock of B vitamins gets very low. 
• Too much sugar makes one sleepy; our ability to calculate and remember is lost.

The list goes on..........and on.... and on...!

In short, sugar is bad for our entire body. Start eliminating sugar from your diet as much as possible for better health and better tomorrow. Before you grab a pastry, chocolate, drink etc just remind yourself. It is not difficult at all, I have done it myself and I am sure you can do it too.

Thanks a lot for reading :)

Courtesy: Internet

Health Benefits of Jaggery

Jaggery is unrefined and pure whole sugar that contains high percentages of sucrose, fructose and glucose. It is rich in various minerals like iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, copper, chromium, selenium and zinc. The advantage of consuming jaggery is that it is low in fat and sodium content. Other nutrients in jaggery include B complex vitamins like riboflavin, thiamin, and niacin.

Health benefits

• Being a rich source of potassium, jaggery helps in maintaining the acid balance in your body and hence is an effective remedy for gas and acidity.
• Jaggery speeds up the digestion process by activating digestive enzymes that aid the process. 
• Jaggery contains high levels of potassium that helps in lowering blood pressure by neutralizing the effects of sodium.
• Jaggery is a rich source of iron which helps in the production of red blood cells, thereby preventing anemia.
• Jaggery helps in expelling phlegm, thus providing relief from cough and cold.
• Eating jaggery is found to help in reducing the frequency of occurrence of migraine attacks.
• Jaggery has been found to be a good remedy for bile disorders and hence is considered to be helpful in treating jaundice.
• The high potassium content in jaggery helps in reducing water retention in your body, thus helping in controlling weight.
• Jaggery contains minerals like calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, all of which contributes to bone health. It promotes the growth and development of bones and also strengthens your bones.

Home Remedies using jaggery

• Anemia: Eat 1 tsp jaggery twice a day. 
• Fatigue/Tiredness/Weakness: Eat 1 tsp Jaggery thrice a day. 
• Common cold and Cough: Mix some black pepper in Gur. Take 1 tsp with warm water.
• Gastritis and indigestion: Eating crushed jaggery with powdered black pepper helps in digestion by increasing the secretion of saliva and gastric juices.
• Acidity: After a meal, keep a small piece of jaggery in your mouth and suck on it slowly. The acidity begins to subside very quickly which is due to the high levels of potassium in jaggery that works to maintain the acid balance in the stomach.

Sources: Wikipedia and other websites