Coaches Nutrition Tip #13 – Sugar the white devil

A recent study published in Nature by researchers at the University of California reveals that sugar when over-consumed is just as dangerous as tobacco and alcohol. The researchers point out that sugar is a major contributing factor in the rise of obesity rates and obesity can be accounted for 35 million deaths per year world wide from other health problems such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. The intake of sugar over the last 50 years has tripled, and is now thought to be the number one cause for the rise in obesity. The researchers do mention that 40% of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease sufferers are not obese, which shows that sugar has much more disastrous health benefits than just obesity. Currently it is estimated that 75% of health care dollars are spent on diseases related to obesity which is more prevalent than infectious disease.
These researchers state that sugar is not simply empty calories, but it has the potential to raise blood pressure, change metabolism, increase weight, mix hormone signalling, and cause liver damage – these are all rapidly increasing health problems in the world today. All the problems found in excessive sugar consumption are similar to the problems found with excessive alcohol consumption.
I look at multiple food logs a week and find that just like alcohol sugar is addictive and many people I work with are sugaroholics, as they simply are addicted to sugar and its effects. Most people laugh at the thought of being addicted to sugar, but I believe this is the case. Have you ever tried to give it up cold turkey? Tough to do right. It is important to understand that sugar is detrimental to your health and it is detrimental to your performance as well. Take a look at the Synergy Strength Food Pyramid – the top of it is sugars and they are only used for overfeeding and carb loading – otherwise there is not room for sugar in your diets. As you know there is also a ban on sugars within the facility – a sugar free zone.
Sugar is the devil and we should begin to recognize it – start looking at sugar with a better understanding of its disastrous health effects and move forward in your health and performance.