Sugar. For some a great friend, for others the enemy. Because it’s a delicious goodness, who doesn’t love cake, chocolate and other sweets? And let that be precisely the pitfall: because no matter how delicious it is, it certainly does not make your body happy. Thus, sugar is the causative agent of all kinds of health complaints and problems.
Building up reserves
When you eat sugar or starch (a form of sugar), you make insulin. Insulin causes your increased sugar level to drop again. Insulin is also a so-called growth factor. Too much of this increases the risk of obesity, diabetes and cancer. Insulin also causes sugars in your body to be stored as body fat and fat in the liver and muscles. The function of this is to build up reserves for times of scarcity, when little food is available to you. In today’s Western society, however, this almost never occurs, so those reserves are rarely tapped. Sugar thus becomes a fattening agent, and the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver increases, with all the associated risks.
Inflammation in the body
But that is not the only consequence. Sugars work pro-inflammatior. That means it causes (chronic) inflammation in our bodies. Those inflammations result in the body becoming stressed and producing cortisol and adrenaline. These two hormones, in turn, cause your insulin levels to skyrocket, with all the aforementioned risks.
Genius body, if you feed it well
Moreover, the amount of starch and sugar in our diet is excessive. Add to that a lack of exercise, and the result is a faulty turnover mechanism. In fact, our body is a subtly balanced and ingenious design. But it functions at its best only when you feed your body properly.
Do you need sugar from food?
Yet many people think they need sugar from food to get energy from. But did you know that this is not the case at all? In fact, your body is entirely capable of making sugar (aka: glucose) on its own from proteins and fats, for example. That process is called gluconeogesis. It is very convenient that we are designed this way, because this way your body can always get out of what it takes in. Also, the body can create energy from burning your fat reserves. So all those sugars and starches are not necessary for anything.
So what is the right nutrition?
But what is the right nutrition? A healthy diet consists of few carbohydrates and sufficient protein and fats. When doing so, be sure to choose healthy fats such as olive oil, fish, nuts and seeds. Prefer to leave grains such as wheat, barley, spelt and rye, as well as dairy, as these also have a pro-inflammatory effect. It can sometimes take some time for your body to get “re-adjusted”. But don’t worry, your body is made for this.
Less risk of diseases of affluence
So, fewer sugars, periodic fasting and regular exercise will make you feel fitter and healthier. In doing so, there is less chance of getting affluent diseases. These are diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. A keto or paleo diet better fits these guidelines. These are eating patterns that avoid grains, dairy and legumes. Your body does not miss the sugars from carbohydrates because it gets energy from the reserve fuel (ketones), or so your body produces its own glucose.
More anti-inflammatory foods
Foods that fight inflammation and that your body can process well include: unsprayed fruits and vegetables (these contain lots of polyphenols that inhibit inflammation), herbs and spices such as turmeric, ginger, garlic, oregano, cloves, and so on. It is important to choose unprocessed foods where the path from the land to the plate is as short as possible.
On the right track!
If the adjustments don’t feel right for whatever reason, or you get tummy troubles, itching or other unwanted reactions, there may be other issues at play. For example, disturbances in the intestinal flora that cause digestive problems, or food intolerances. If you get stuck for any reason and can’t figure it out yourself, feel free to make an appointment at my practice BodySwitch Heemskerk. Then I’ll help you get back on track, just like the more than a thousand people I’ve already helped!
– Frank Jonkers –
DO YOU NEED HELP?
If so, please contact my practice:
Frank Jonkers
BodySwitch Heemskerk
heemskerk@bodyswitch.nl
0251 – 234 000
Website of my practice (BodySwitch Heemskerk):
