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Last Updated: Jul 2nd, 2008 - 21:15:22 |
Most people believe that diabetes is caused by excess consumption of sugar.
It is indeed true that diabetics have to be careful in their consumption of sugar and carbohydrates, but sugar does not cause diabetes.
Excessive caloric intake resulting in obesity is a leading cause for diabetes. This does not however mean that one can consume any amount of carbohydrates and sugar. This will certainly result in excess weight and obesity increasing the chances of acquiring diabetes.
Using a little moderation and some common sense, one can find the ideal level of sugar and carbohydrate consumption.
Common sense however seems to be very uncommon these days. We are flooded with media messages on fad diets, high calorie food and drink products and we have a poor understanding of what is good for us and what is not.
The role that sugar plays in modern American foods is under-estimated by us. Americans consume sugar in huge quantities every day. Almost everything we buy has sugar in it. If you see the list of contents on any packaged food, you will see high fructose corn syrup. That is sugar.
Go lower, you will find other sugar items. You will be surprised if you study the contents of your cupboard. Most of the items there will have that one type of sugar and some more. This is why it is so difficult to reduce our intake of sugar.
Life style changes resulting in consumption of home cooked fresh foods decreasing and more of prepackaged foods are the cause of the current epidemic of obesity in the country.
Good quality food is not being consumed due to work pressures and time constraints. Ready to eat foods are being increasingly used in the place of regular meals for the sake of ease and convenience.
These foods may be convenient, but healthy, they are not. Almost all of them will contain more sugar than you would imagine.
If you want to cut out sugars from the food you consume, try cooking all your meals using light sauces and fresh vegetables.
Knead your own dough for baking bread and pizza bases at home. Just by preparing your own food at home, you will eliminate a lot of unwanted stuff from your diet. In case you do not have that kind of time available, shop for simple packaged foods with few additives.
Vegetables in pouches that can be either steamed or micro waved, and other foodstuffs are now available. These turn out to be quite tasty and nutritious.
Organic foods, while very good, have to be carefully studied to ensure that they really are organic and not just called so. Examine the packaging carefully to prevent being taken for a ride.
Too much of anything is bad. Moderation in the consumption of carbohydrates and sugars, combined with physical exercise for about thirty minutes, three to five times a week, will do wonders for you.
Common sense and moderation in both diet and exercise will enable you to avoid becoming obese and perhaps also diabetic.
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