When you think of foods that lead to hear attacks and heart disease, the first word that pops into your head is probably ‘cholesterol’. Guess again. It should be ‘sugar’.
Really? Sugar?
Yes. Eggs and meat are not killing us, soda is! And, did you know that it’s one of the most addictive substances we humans consume.
The research shows that this is more than just one more reason to avoid sugar, and eat low carb, high protein, high fat, high fiber meals.
THE FACTS ON SUGAR: CONSUMPTION AND ADDICTION
A recent study has demonstrated that one 20-ounce soda per day increases your risk of heart attack by 30%, and that those individuals that have the highest sugar intake had four times the likelihood of having a heart attack compared with those with the lowest intakes of sugar. Four times!!
This study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, included over 40,000 people and accounted for all of the other potential risk factors that could influence this equation: obesity, high blood pressure, total calories and overall diet, cholesterol, and alcohol consumption.
Furthermore, the study showed that your risk of heart attack doubles if sugar makes up 20% of your total consumed calories. Incidentally, more than 70% of Americans consume 10% of their daily calories from sugar, and as much as 10% of Americans consume 25% of their calories from sugar. That’s one in four calories from sugar!
Here’s the worst part: sugar is highly addictive. Shockingly, it is as much as eight times more addictive than cocaine. You should know that it’s not just sugar… it’s also white flour, which triggers increased blood sugar levels – even higher than eating sugar itself – because it metabolizes quickly after we eat it.
DIETARY CHANGES FOR LONGEVITY
Following a low carb diet and sugar free diet provides a long-term way to kick the sugar addiction and set the course for a long and healthy life. What are the best choices to make when it comes to meals? High fiber, fat, and protein and low carb meals are plentiful and provide the essential building blocks for your body at a cellular level.
A low carb, low sugar diet may initially be an attractive option for shedding a few extra pounds. Changing the way that you eat, and your overall relationship with food may just be essential to ensure a long life.