31/03/2023
CANDIES/ SWEETS, AND HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES.
“Candy may be sweet, but sugar isn't an ingredient in the recipe for long-term health and disease prevention. Refined sugar goes by many names; high fructose corn syrup, sucrose and dextrose are just a few. It's in many processed and homemade candies and desserts as well as sugary drinks such as soda, which could even be called "liquid candy." While sugar occurring naturally in fruit, vegetables and whole grains is healthy, extracted, refined sugar has many disadvantages to human health. Understanding these may motivate you to reduce your sugar intake and reap the benefits of improved health.” - Karen McCarthy (2018)
EFFECTS:
1. Risk of Disease
According to Harvard School of Public Health, regularly consuming sugary foods and drinks increases your risk of heart disease. Sugar's acid-forming effect increases inflammation in the body, which can lead to gout in the long term. Candy and sweets increase insulin levels, putting you at a greater risk of developing diabetes. Eating candy and sweets as part of your diet adds a lot of empty calories to your daily caloric intake, which can easily cause excess weight gain and lead to obesity.
2. Risk of Cavities
The American Dental Association warns against the consumption of candy and sweets because of the immediate effects they have on the teeth. When plaque from food and sugar from candy, baked goods or sugary drinks make contact in your mouth, an acidic reaction occurs. This acid attacks the teeth, causing them to decay. Over time, this can lead to cavities.
3. Lower Immunity
Candy, baked sweets, soda and other sugary drinks hinder the function of your immune system, making you more susceptible to colds, flus and other viruses. A 1973 study at Loma Linda University showed that sugar suppresses white blood cells from attacking harmful bacteria in the body for at least five hours after consumption.
4. Acne
A 2008 study published in the journal "Molecular Nutrition & Food Research" looked at the effects of low- and high-glycemic diets on the skin of teenage males who had acne. Sugar is a high-glycemic food because the body breaks it down into glucose more quickly, causing a large spike in your blood sugar levels. The study found that participants on a high-glycemic diet had an increase in acne.
Disadvantages to Eating More Sweets & Candy by Karen McCarthy, December 27, 2018.
HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES.
DATES:
“Dates are a fruit that come from the date palm tree, which is native to the Middle East, although they are also now grown in the Mediterranean, Asia, the USA and Mexico.
Dates grow in large clusters which hang from the top of these palm trees. As they ripen, their skins turn brown and wrinkle as more and more moisture leaves the fruit. This is when they are usually harvested by hand, either by someone climbing up the palm or using a mechanical lift.” - Nicola Shubrook
1. Rich in protective antioxidants
Dates are a rich source of protective plant compounds which have antioxidant properties. These include polyphenols, carotenoids and lignans, which have been shown to help manage the risk of chronic disease.
2. May support gut health
Research into fibre continues to support its important role in health, from helping to maintain a healthy gut microbiome to reducing the risk of certain long-term health conditions.
A small 2015 study found that date consumption may reduce colon cancer thanks to its high fibre and polyphenol content, the latter also having useful anti-microbial benefits.
3. May support bone health
Dates are a source of bone-friendly minerals including phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium. They are also a source of vitamin K which is needed for healthy, strong bones.
4. May facilitate a natural birth
Including dates in the diet when in the final few weeks of pregnancy may promote cervical dilation and reduce the need for an induced birth. They are also thought to be helpful in reducing the length of labour. Compounds in the fruit are believed to mimic the effects of oxytocin, a hormone involved in labour contractions.
5. May be a useful sugar replacement
Date syrup is a paste made by blending dates with water. The syrup has a low Glycaemic Index (GI) and a lower fructose content than most other sweeteners.
Top 5 health benefits of dates by Nicola Shubrook.
You can order organic dried pitted dates from Faithful To Nature online store.
Additional healthy item. Mixed berry gums from Simple Truth at Checkers stores.
