ar. It was published in 1972. But his findings were discredited and ridiculed because he also argued that dietary and saturated fat were harmless.
But now it looks like Yudkin was right.
Dr. Lustig tells us that American consumption of fat has dropped significantly over the past few decades. But sugar intake has increased. The average American now eats 92 grams of sugar per day, while the body only needs 8 grams per day for energy. At the same time, the incidence of diseases like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are growing.
So the problem in our diet does, indeed, seem to be sugar, not fat.
Life after Sugar
So it’s clear. You need to drastically reduce sugar from your diet. But how do you start? First, you need to know that some sugars are worse than others. It depends on how they are converted to glucose in the body. The Glycemic Index (GI) ranks carbohydrates based on that rate of conversion. And it helps you determine which foods cause the most rapid rise in blood sugar. High GI foods put you in the danger zone. They lead to insulin resistance, diabetes, and heart disease.
It’s clear you should keep your sugar intake to a minimum. The best way is to get your sugar from natural sources like fruits and vegetables. But make sure you keep an eye on the Glycemic Index even when eating fruits and vegetables. Dates and watermelon, for example, score high on the GI. Cherries, grapes, and prunes are low. You’re better off eating broccoli or cabbage than carrots or fresh corn, which rank much higher.
Added sugar is found heavily in processed foods, drinks, alcohol, and desserts. So make sure you steer clear of boxed and bagged foods.
Stay away from artificial sweeteners, too. They are made of toxic chemicals, and can lead to weight gain. That defeats the purpose for why people use them in the first place. So what’s the point? It’s best to avoid them entirely. Our independent research team is working on a full report on artificial sweeteners. Keep reading for more details.
So how do you satisfy your sweet tooth? There are plenty of natural, healthy alternatives. Here are just a few:
Stevia is non-caloric herb extracted from a plant native to Paraguay and other parts of South America. It is 200-300 times sweeter than table sugar, but has a Glycemic Index rating of less than 1. So it doesn’t lead to sugar-related health issues.
Coconut palm sugar is made from the sap of the Palmyra palm, date palms, or coconut palms. It has a relatively low GI score.
Barley malt syrup is a very healthy alternative to sugar. The barley is soaked and sprouted to make a malt. It’s mixed with more barley and cooked until the starch is converted to sugar. Then the syrup is dried into powder.
If you’re diabetic, make sure to check with your doctor before using any sugar in your diet, whether natural or manufactured.
NHD will keep you informed as news develops around this issue. In fact, we think this topic is so vital to your health, our health research team is putting together an in-depth report called 30 Days to Sugar Independence. It will reveal a protocol for getting freeing yourself from sugar addiction and enjoying life without it.