It’s back, that beautiful, exhilarating time of year. Fall is always an uplifting time. It’s when bountiful harvests are reaped and celebrations begin. The first festive event of the season is Halloween. There are masquerade parties for the adults and cute little costumes and adventuresome and rewarding trick or treat outings for the children. What joy!
But why does this joy have to be associated with aggressive moves to kill off our children (or at least cripple their health) with toxic chemicals?
Over 100 years ago knowledgeable observers recognized that sugar is an addictive drug-like chemical substance. It’s negative impact on brain function was easily noticed in 1915 when per capita consumption of sugar was about 50 pounds, up from five pounds in 1820. Today science has come a long way and its indictment of sugar (high fructose corn syrup and other forms of sugar) is well documented that sugar is a serious problem for animal body function. Sugar consumption is now over 100 pounds per capita.
It is common knowledge in all nutritional circles that sugar is a menace. But it’s more than that. To get a slightly better grasp of the dangers of sugar consumption every one should listen or read the advice given by Robert H. Lustig. He is an American pediatric endocrinologist at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) where he is a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics. He practices in the field of neuroendocrinology, with an emphasis on the regulation of energy balance by the central nervous system. He also has a special interest in childhood obesity
Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes are directly linked to sugar consumption. But that’s just two problems. Lustig says, “The negative effects sugar has on our bodies are staggering: sugar alters our hormones so we don’t register hunger the way we normally would, making us eat more; it spikes our dopamine, making us eat more sugar for the same effect; and it affects our liver in the same way that alcohol does.”
There are more issues with sugar and the foods that provide sugar. For instance, sugar “feeds” cancers. Sugar spikes our brains and children exhibit this by rocketing out of control. Then they come crashing back down to earth is depressed lethargic states. Think ADHD.
There is more. Animal bodies are hosts to fungi. When fungi proliferate into colonies mycotoxin levels become high. The existence of mycotoxins was not documented until 1960 so this is rather new. What we now know is that sugar (and foods containing sugar such as dates, honey, grains, potatoes, etc.) feeds fungi. The undesirable result is that mycotoxin output soars.
Soaring mycotoxin levels cause different symptoms in different people depending on where their fungi live within their bodies and the various mycotoxins their fungi produce. Some people have severe rashes, headaches, acne, asthma, toenail fungus, hemorrhoids, and intestinal issues. Others experience mood swings or are diagnosed as bipolar. ADHD is directly linked to mycotoxin surges. High blood pressure and clogging of the arteries are also symptoms. Alcohol is a mycotoxin and people can react to fungi produced mycotoxins in similar ways such as exhibiting uncontrollable rage.
These issues involving sugar are only tips of the iceberg. But for those interested in a healthy lifestyle this should be warning enough to inspire them to cut sugar consumption to the bare bone.
But since Halloween is upon us, there is one additional point that needs to be addressed. It is hydrogenated oils. Hydrogenated oils have been banned by most fast food restaurants. Many huge food processors such as Tyson have banned hydrogenated oils. On the other hand, many products on the shelves of grocery and convenient stores are preserved with hydrogenated oils. Candy bars, energy bars, and nutrition bars come to mind. Also in the list are popular convenience “foods” such as Crisco, margarine, breads, pastries, cookies, doughnuts, crackers, microwaveable popcorn, frozen pizza, coffee creamers, refrigerated dough products, canned frosting, and even some canned seafood products. There are many more.
Why have most of the players in the fast food industry banned hydrogenated oils? Because they are a known to cause cancer, birth defects, heart disease, diabetes and many other fatal diseases. Maybe this should inspire folks to read ingredient labels.
So what are the parents of America doing for this Halloween? They are spending billions of dollars on candy laced with sugar and hydrogenated oils. They will then hand out this toxic concoction called candy to children by the handfuls. During the week following Halloween, millions upon millions of children will be overdosing on sugar and hydrogenated oils.
If that’s not bad enough, many adults will be eating the same things the kids eat. It’s no wonder 18% of our nation’s gross domestic product is for healthcare. Most of that expenditure is for treating chronic diseases.
The first rule of The Real Diet of Man is “Eat low glycemic foods." High glycemic foods are foreign to body function and cause fungal issues that negatively impact the body. That rule is first for a reason. If people can’t shake the sugar and sugary food addiction their ability to control what they eat in order to fulfill the second and third rules are nil.