Parents and (ab)normality when it comes to food

Every fall the discussion on daycare food flares up in media. Since I started to care, it has become more intense every year and each year more parents join the battle. Right now the Finnish daycare parents are starting to wake up about the crap that is being served to their children, it is not only about the sugar but also the additives, the margarine, the food-like products that are nothing more than a cheap cover-up for the real thing; served to our children every day in kindergartens across the country. What surprises me the most is the reaction of other parents. It shouldn't really, I once was the target of the angry outcry of fellow parents myself. But still it does. You would think that when parents try to improve the food situation and daycare other parents who will equally benefit from these efforts would be supportive, or at least not try to destroy the efforts. But they do. Time and time again.

I ask myself why? Is it the feeling of not wanting to admit that the place that is taking care of their child does not necessary have the same nutritional standards as yourself? The feeling of not wanting to cause problem, everything seems so fine; the daycare personnel is reporting that your child is eating well, your child is growing and you see no reason to worry, so why start a conflict? When other parents start digging in the daycare food you become upset, not with what they find but with the fact that everything is maybe not alright and you just do not want to deal with the arising conflicts. Or is it because of what you yourself  are feeding your children: way to much artificial juices, sugary yogurts, sugary berry creams, ice creams and you have convinced yourself that the amount of sugar that your child is getting  through your own hands is completely harmless? So when somebody starts questioning those juices and those yogurts  it is not the fact that they are trying to improve the food that your child is getting while you are working that bothers you, but the feeling of guilt in yourself. You know sugar is bad for your child but without it your child will not eat at home. Or at least you think so. You have tricked yourself into believing that "a little bit" won't hurt. Now that these hysterical and crazy anti-sugar freaky parents start making a lot of noise you become just a tiny bit uncomfortable about your own choices in the food isles in the supermarkets. And so you react. You react not by doing what would be in the best interest of your child, supporting the efforts of getting them better food in daycare, but by attacking the other parents accusing them of being fanatic, crazy and out of control.

As long as these sugar-parents are the loudest nothing will change. Luckily everyday there are more parents that find sugar coated daycare institutions unacceptable. Soon, they are louder. By that time the parents who say "a little won't hurt" will have to revise their stand on what they mean by "a little". Soon normal is something else than the normal of the past. I have hope. I see change coming. Keep on fighting parents!  Dare to speak up! Dare making noise at those parents' meeting coming up soon at your daycare. It is in everyone's interest!Together we can make a difference in our children's current well-being and future health! Let's make real and organic food the norm in every place where children are served food in this country!

Sugar is hot stuff!

Now we are talking! Sugar is no longer only hot stuff out in the food isles... people have started to react to the absurdity of us consuming so much sugar, often without even knowing about it.

Here are some updates.

Today there was a long program on Finnish state owned channel YLE5 about the hidden sugar. Ann Fernholm, the Swedish expert that I blogged about here (hell hour) and here (when tides turn), and who we invited to Vaasa not so long ago to a full house seminar in the old cinema, was one of the experts being interviewed about harms of sugar.

You can see the program here (in Swedish with Finnish subtitles):Det dolda sockret

Then there is this incredible couple that has set out to row from California to Hawaii to raise awareness about how sugar is killing us. You can support their cause here: Fat chance row. The good thing is that the guy is Finnish - so he will be getting a lot of media attention here. And we do need all the help we can get in debunking old myths about the fat free but high in sugar diet that the authorities are recommending to the people!

And here is a video clip on them:

And on their website, I found these youtube videos that I hadn't seen before:

First "Sugar is killing us":

 And then, how it affects the brain:

The other ones (CBS and Robert Lustig) have been referred to several times before on this blog.



In Finland we also have a new book that was released just the other day. It is called "the Food Pyramide Scam" (Ruokapyramidihuijaus). I haven't read the book yet, but looking forward to getting my hands on it. Maybe this is the book that makes the tides turn also in our country? At least you could hope so!

When tides turn

It is my experience from studying newspaper coverage of conflict situation that once the business/economics pages start writing about "the other side", that is when the tides turn. Might be that the marginalized part of the conflict get visibility through letters to the editor, through newspaper day-today reporting, but that is still not enough. It doesn't matter how much sensational news is writing about the stuff, but once the economics pages are in, we're talking business. Things get serious and we can talk about a real shift in the perception of what is considered legitimate and what not. Or at least we can see a serious debate getting started on the two different side, which means that the once marginalized now have a real voice to make an influence.

This is happening now in Sweden, at least partly. After having read Ann Fernholm's book "A Sweeter blood", I was convinced this book is serious stuff. Scientific evidence is killed with other scientific evidence. She is talking the language of the experts. I also saw an interview with her on telly, really convincing stuff. Sugar is bad, in so many ways that you can't even imagine, and she makes the case clear, as said, in expert language.

The problem? It was "only" a book (only those who are really interested tend to read it without widespread reviews) and the tv outlet was a marginal channel. Thus, the effects might also be  marginal.

But what happened? Just today I read a column in the Swedish weekly business magazine magazine "Veckans Affärer" where the book is brought forward by a columnist stating: 

"The fact is that the high bloodsugar levels have negative impacts also on healthy organisms. For example, tests have shown that sugar stimulate growth in the cancer cells, which could explain the increased amounts of cancer... A number of studies on diabetics shows clear results: diabetes can be fought with the right diet. Goodbye insulin shots." (Emanuel Sidea, my translation). 

Well well, if my observations of what happens when news focus shifts from being something trivial, everyday to being of economic importance, then my friends, we are in for the big one soon! Soon we can start taking the harms of sugar seriously, also outside the health fanatics personal blog pages!

But it still needs to make it out of the "opinion" pages into the real business news. I am still waiting for articles on how much society could save by doctors making good dietary recommendations. How much we could save in tax payers money if the children at day care were fed real food. How much less ADHD medication society would need, if the food we feed our children would be less triggering... These are the stories I am waiting to see. Not hearing on the radio like today that ADHD medication has doubled in the past 5 years, and that this has brought on problems with people faking ADHD because the med includes amfetamin-like substances. I just... doooh! What is happening in society?!?! Why are we drugging kids with amfetamin-like substances when they are already high on sugar? What about first have the kids detox from sugar and other triggering foods and then see how much of the problems are left...

We need more coverage of books like "A sweeter blood". This was a first step. More certainly ahead. Particularly when it is about saving taxpayers $$$!

Interesting indeed!

You can follow Ann's webpage here in Swedish: http://ettsotareblod.se/ and I wrote a blog about the book earlier here: Hell hour.

"Hell hour"

There is a new book out in Swedish on the consumption of sugar. They say it's good. I had it in my hand in February and was about to buy it but thought I have learned enough already from Nancy Appleton, Robert Lustig, Bitten Johnson, and all those others who preach the message regarding the harms of sugar. Anyway, because the book is receiving so much attention in Sweden, and actually influencing media to have a closer look at sugar, I have now decided that I need to read this book. So I am line to get it from the local library.
The book is called "A sweeter blood" and it is written by a biochemist and journalist called Ann Fernholm.

Since I haven't read the book I can't really deal with its inner core here but instead I just wanted to comment on some of her thoughts that have been presented on the blog "Naturlig mat i skolan".

First of all, I have to say that I feel an enormous relief that somebody has done such a thorough job to debunk the prevailing assumption that sugar to kids cause little harm, and that fat would be worse than sugar. I feel such a relief that somebody is writing about those observations I made when we switched diets, as something that is not specific to our family, many others are struggling with the same problems! Take for example what she calls the "hell hour", the hour between when you pick up your child from daycare and when you have dinner on the table. I remember how we were walking home from daycare with one child screaming and crying because she was so exhausted. And how that changed when we started eating breakfast with protein and fat included at home instead of at daycare. Or if I go even further back in memory, I remember that first year of daycare when we had a one year old child who was going crazy in the kitchen while I was trying to as quickly as possible get some food on the dinner table. The stress level was high and I hated cooking just because of that.


Second, she talks about the prestige invested in the faulty dietary recommendations (avoid fat instead of sugar)  and that knowing how the research community works, it will probably take a good while before these faulty assumptions are corrected. She adds that if the politicians get involved, then change might come sooner. Unfortunately, I am more pessimistic than Fernholm. I think the politicians have invested just as much prestige, if not even more, in this cholesterol/fat-scare than the scientists. Besides, much of the funding of political campaigns probably comes from the food industry, and if not in form of direct money to finance the fake smiley faces next to the roads during election times, then at least the politicians have consequences to take when food industry starts making losses and jobs are lost. Instead, I think it is now up to each and everyone of us to decide about our future: do we want to have a healthy future or do we want to continue making ourselves sick by the way we are eating? And then act accordingly. The problem is of course up here in the north the school and daycare food, which is steered by the state dietary recommendations. Here once again, I have little hope that change will come from above. Instead I think that as the consciousness grows among parents, we can start putting pressure on the municipality to do something about the food. Particularly once more real stories of success start raising up to the surface. Change will happen, once those parents who have seen remarkable change in their children by changing their diets start speaking up and making everyone else aware of the health gains to be won by reducing sugars, fast carbs and increasing the amount  real food (and real fat) dare to speak up!

Until now we who have noticed the difference have been met with a lot of skepticism when trying to tell the world about our observations. I think it is the natural resistance to change that produces this reaction. But I also think that books like Fernholm's book can help our message to grow stronger. I think it can help many children suffering from food addictions or behavioral problems categorized as ADHD or hyperactivity once their parents understand the connection between getting rid of the sweet tooth and their children's health. After all, I think we all want what is best for both ourselves and our children. But while the establishment continues preaching the risks of fat and the non-addictiveness of sugars, it is hard to let loose and believe in other contradictory stories.

I also think there might be a big step between realizing that Fernholm's book is right to the point and then actually doing something about it.That is the biggest challenge of them all; the challenge of changing lifestyles! More about that in a later post!

Oh, and I am also happy that Fernholm's book will be published in Finnish soon!Yey, yey, happy happy! :-)

Chris Kresser show

I just happened to see this on my blogroll and read through the show (hubby is working next to me so I had to respect the silence code...)


Gluten triggered IBS and Twisted Food Politics


Anyway the whole thing is REALLY interesting (as his things usually are), both the gluten/wheat stuff and the stuff on how all the nutritionists are paid by Big Food companies (there's a project on studying critically CSR!). But what mostly struck me was his description of a sugar binge that he had experienced with his girl and his reflections on that (he didn't let his girl dig into what the rest of the kids were eating, he said she is gluten-intolerant...haha same ol' ol', I have increasingly heard other parents having this strategy that also we adopted, and we did it for a reason, not only wanting to protect our kid from unhealthy stuff).

Anyway this is his reflection:

What struck me about that is that I’m really convinced that all of those parents want the best for their kids, and as a parent myself, I think that for most parents that’s true.  But what I also was thinking about at that time is that — And I was sitting there going, OK, so what’s happening here?  Do these parents just not even think about it?  Or do they think about it and go:  Oh, yeah.  We know sugar’s not that great, but so what.  It’s not the end of the world, and they’ll live.  You know, just kind of discounting how significant of an issue it will be?  Or do they know it’s an issue but they feel socially awkward about saying no, which I think was maybe the case for some of them?  Or was it some combination of all of that?  I don’t know, but it struck me that it was, I think for at least a significant portion of those people, just not really on their radar.  And when their kid later, like an hour or two later, goes home and is like a complete basket case, they’re not even going to make the connection between the food that their kid was eating and the behavior later on.  My wife used to run a preschool co-op, and she saw this firsthand all the time.  The kids that would eat all of this sugar and flour were just wrecks later, and their parents did not understand that connection.  And she struggled a lot with what was appropriate for her to talk about with them, and I just think it’s still, even with the increased awareness of food and the role of food in health, I think a lot of parents just don’t really get the connection.

I have many many many times thought about this thing. So many times that I almost went crazy for a while reflecting on it. For a while I haven't had to deal with it, maybe because we have been living in our own little bubble for almost half a year now...

But the conclusion I have made can be explained in two hypotheses (except for what Chris mentions above, that are all valid points as well): either parents act as they do because they haven't dealt with their own problematic relation to sugar, or they simply have never ever had a problematic relation to sugar and thus do not understand that others (including their own kids) can develop a problematic relation to sugar. As long as you haven't said goodbye to this harmful product you cannot pass on other values to your kids. And recognizing you yourself have a problem is the first and biggest step of them all....

Lately, I have allowed myself to have some milk in my coffee and have a milk chocolate now and then (today after the crappy lunch for example... I should really bring my own food to work... its so not worth eating there...). Still, I know the risks and so far I have been able to keep it at that. But the day I find myself binging, I'll be sure to cut it all out again, the dark chocolate included!

Sugar statistics

Thought I should share with you this statistic:

Year Kg/sugar consumed per capita, UK
1700 1.8
1725  3.5
1750 3.5
1775 4.9
1800 8.5
1825 8.0
1850 13.0
1875 26.6
1900 40.0
1925 39.0
1950 44.2
1965 48.5
1983 44.5*
2010 53.0
  
*Of which 13.5 kg was sugar added by the consumer, and 31 kg was sugar ‘hidden’in foodstuffs (Cannon, 1987: 111), e.g. tomato soup. cereal bars, biscuits, soft drinks. Adaptedfrom, (Ferguson 1971: 66) (Mathias, 1976: 453) (Johnstone, 1976: 60) (Ponting,1991:.237)



Now, what kind of thoughts come to my mind looking at these figures?

Well, first of all: increased sugar consumption is directly related with the availability of large sugar plantations in Americas. No doubt.

Second, how can these figures have gone unnoticed in the cholesterol-heart attack debate? Wouldn't it be logical to link the rapid increase in sugar consumption with the increase in cronic deseases? Particurlarly as our consumption of fat probably (should be checked) was quite stable until 1950.

The UK is almost consuming the same amount in a week that they used to consume in one year in 1700, per capita that is, average in common English. This means some consume a whole lot more.

Can someone tell me why we are debating fat when all statistics points towards another villain???

On air again, regarding sugar!

Important topic that I participated in today's radioshow:

Familjeliv om socker till barn

 Don't have much time for blogging now. But what you can see is that those that have not read up on this stuff have a non-problematic "let go" principle, while those who know a little bit about the effects of sugar are all for restricting as much as possible. I personally liked Bitten Johnson's part. She has the facts. Listen to her!

Reflections on Gravity - Part 2.

In June I wrote about my own experience and thoughts of this fixation on women's weight. What it does to us to always want to be thinner and smaller (yoyo dieting, never happy with yourself).

Now Paleo Parent Stacey gives her own story online, including pictures. It should be enough to give all of you out there who are not happy about your looks a second thought.

 What losing 135lbs looks like

It is not about your appearance, it it about how you feel! And how you feel is tightly connected to what you eat and how you take care of your body (and soul - stop thinking of your weight and looks and start enjoying life - with good nutrious food!!!).


And by the way, I think the road to a balanced body and soul is by getting rid of bad habits...often related to (food) addiction (read: mostly commonly spelled out sweet-stuff, whatever-bread-you-are-digesting, or hidden-sugar-in-processed-foods).


Have a beautiful day!

Candy Day

Nowadays nowbody that remotely knows us questions our weird policy on (some) food. People know that we are the freaks and I am ok with that. Strange because I used to battle a lot with myself when I stepped out of my mainstream shoes.

So here is the thing. We do not have a candy day. Surprised? Shouldn't be, as we do not eat sugary stuff anyway (do not count my 86% chocolate to candies, but yes it is debatable). I've been awaiting for the day when Kidone would realize that she is missing out on something important. But until just a few weeks back she never noticed. Not even some six months ago when we went to the store and met a daycare friend who was there selecting his "Saturday Candy". Not even though the Radio program for kids (BUU-Klubben) persistantly ask EVERY Saturday EVERY kid that calls in whether they will be eating (Saturday) candy today. Jeees, I always think at that point that is it really necessary to force it on them? Like all those one-year olds that during their first week at day care get introduced to juice, buns, and icecreams...I didn't know about the frequent icecreams at daycare when Kidone started as a one year old... foolish me still thought six months later that she got her first icecream with her granparents in Chile...

I thank hubby for opening up my eyes to the amount of candy that Finnish kids eat. I wouldn't have started to reflect on it, if he hadn't years ago commented the absurdity of eating candy every Saturday. In Chile, (when he was young) kids had candy at parties, nowhere else. And I understand that... because the candy section in Chile is lousy in comparison with what we have in Finland...hey come on, all countries without salmiak/lakrits loose in comparison to the Nordic countries! I'd go for cookies rather than sweets to fill up my sugar cravings there.

Anyway, back to my point. Which is: we do not have a candy day. Someone is starting now to understand because her friends have also become so big that they talk about this magic moment... but so far we have managed without. And as you might understand, we do not eat candy any other day either, but we do eat homemade natural sweetened muffins, or coconut-icecream, or even both as tonight. To celebrate the weekend!

Here my recipe for a very special icecream (just made it up today):

10 dates (soaked)
1/3 pineapple (sweet)
1 can coconut milk
vanilla extract
1 tbsp honey
aprox 2 cm of chopped and peeled fresh ginger
2 leaves of gelatin, dissolved in 0,5 dl hot water
(kefir grain/optional)

Mix all ingredients except gelatin, which you add when it has cooled a bit.
Add to icecream machine and let the machine do its job for a good while. Freeze until to be served.

And as always, ENJOY!

Go Borgå!

I am glad to announce the news from a municipality east of here:

No more sugar at Daycare (in Swedish)

They have decided to stop feeding sugar to kids at daycare. Envy those living in that municipality. Almost a reason to start house hunting... Not too far fetched as not so long ago my anchestors populated the streets of this nice little town, known for its old wooden houses.

Anyway, what is the best part of this note that I linked to is to read the comments... Parents are just so used to having sugar present at b'days that they do not even stop and question what it really does to the kids, and particularly kids who can have a tendency to become addicted to this substance...not only does sugar screw up the whole metabolism but by having sugar present at the afternoon meal also creats associations that sugar always has to present... so that the kids for sure transmit this same myth to their children... and on and on it goes...from one generation to the next.

I've been battling a lot myself with my conception of healthy food, and how I was taught what was healthy when a kid... Not so long ago my mom also noted the same (she has become enlightened with my propaganda...) saying "well we didn't know anything better back then". That was when I had just told her about the sugar mountains that my brother and I used to make on our morning porridge when I was around the age of fuve...we competed on who could build the highest...

Nope, sugar was not a topic back then. Although Nancy Appleton had already written her first book on the evils of sugar back in the 70's and the "Sugar Trap" had been broadcasted in the US in the 80's - little was known among the masses, not to speak of over here. But then again, sugar (or processed foods) was not so readily available back then as it is now. It's then sad to see that the same misinformation persist still to this date, and that when there are good initiatives, someone tries to destroy them by saying that "that's not really a problem, focus on something that is more important". The municipality is sending out a strong message with this policy, and I really hope it leads to more initiatives like this! Because it is important, and it is a problem, and it is time for us to recognize that already!

Sugar - once again - and this time with license to change!

Its funny. I have been going to a couple of conferences and courses this year and each time I return home not only having expanded my knowledge on my own research, (which is already by itself an incredible experience for someone this knowledge thirsty as I am) but also having expanded my network on like-minded people who are truly interested in food.

Last week I met pedagogics students up north and during lunch, what did we talk about? Yes, sustainable foods, the switch needed (and in progress) in the Finnish countryside, sourdough, nettle soup... you name it, all those fascinating things! It was far more intresting that the theories on teaching (although those are useful as well if you want to get your message through).


This documentary above was shown on BBC a couple of days ago. My Scottish researcher friend sent me a messages telling me this was going to be on telly that night and that she thought it would interest me (noooo, realllllly, how did she know?;-)). I didn't have access since it wasn't broadcasted outside the UK. Then the Diet Doctor posted the link to Youtube some days later. This is truly a well-done documentary on food industry, eating, obesity epidemic, sugar and what it does to our bodies. This is a documentary that needs to be spread out ALL OVER THE WORLD!

Just today there was a Facebook status update by my favorite radio program (Familjeliv)- they are about to do a program on sugar in the daycare diet!!! Somebody had requested it. Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you that parent who brought this up. This is such and important issue. Heh, I even have dedicated almost an entire blog to this topic (blushing). Sugar to kids - deadly - and we let them have it every single day at daycare while we the parents are somewhere else. Well, the documentary above is a starting point for the program makers. I think you kind of get the picture of what sugar is all about ... but hey, with or without this program, we all knew this didn't we? We were just kidding ourselves to keep calm and carry on (with our sweet addictions)! It's easy to convince yourself that sugar isn't bad when fat is made the vilain - and afterall if you let your sweet tooth decide. Butter or the white powder - what do you choose?

The future of the next generation - depends on YOU, woman!

This is so important. All you women about to start preparing to become a parent. Please, please, please, take this advice seriously. Start eating the right food. Cut the crap. Cut your sugar addiction, NOW. Do a detox. Start eating healthy foods!

 

And please WOMEN, please understand (sorry, I'll yell now) : IT'S NOT ONLY ABOUT OBESITY!

 Everything starts from your gut! Get you gut bacteria in balance. If your gut is healthy, chances are that your child will also be healthy... not stuck on sweets, not picky eater, no milk allergy, no ear infections, no ADHD, no autism...and on and on and on! So please, for the health of you future children, cut the crap out of your diet, evict whatever bugs might be residing in your belly and give the little one a higher chance of starting off healthy!

I know there's probably not that many scientific articles on this subject (and if there are, they are probably being hid away) but I just think it is better to be safe than sorry.

14 sweet facts about sugar

This one comes from http://www.thetotalhealthblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/infographic-sugars.jpg,

Thanking a friend for this one!

Seven minutes

Seven minutes is what it takes to watch this clip and get an understanding of why its so hard to follow the doctor's advice on loosing weight.The outlook for those suffering could be different if the medical society would accept this message that Lustig is preaching; the urge to eat unhealthy food is a biochemical drive. The focus is here on sweet sugary stuff, it could just as well be on wheat-based foods such as bread and pizza.

This is what I have been trying to say to those who advoate "eating a balanced (low fat) diet": Such a diet makes it impossible for those with food addictions to overcome their cravings. It's just not possible. And I speak from my own experience...

Robert Lustig is explicit on the issue:
"Nobody chooses obesity, obesity chooses them"  Then he goes on saying "... these are all hormonal driven...What we call behavior is not behavior at all, it is a cognitive inhibition on that biochemical drive, the question is how long do you think you can excert a cognitive inhibition on a biochemical drive that is going on 24-7-365, getting worse every single day that you perform it. Nobody can excert a cognitivie inhibiotion, wil-power, over a biochemical drive that goes on every minute of every day, it's just not possible."

When I was for the first time trying to get rid of my extra kilos back in high school (after a year in high school in the U.S. I got home, hmmm, a little bit swelled...), I remember getting mad at my dad for buying home ice cream while I was trying to loose weight. I gave him a lecture right there, that if I was to succeed, he'd better only buy healthy food for us. He obeyed. And I was back in my normal size in time for graduation.

Later with hubby, or boyfriend at that time, I remember having had a similar conversation regarding, yes, icecream. We used to have the cozy habit of sharing one of those ultra-sweet one-liter packages of icecream (caramel with marshmallows), each with a table spoon in our hand, digging in while watching tv. I wanted us to stop eating that way, he didn't think much of it and said if I wanted to stop it was just a matter of will-power. I said it was not - I could not stop once the ice cream was in front of me. It was impossible. I don't know how many times after that we've gone through this exact discussion again and again, particularly discussing my obsession with (milk) chocolate.

I always knew it was an addiction. The problem was that my surrounding did not understand the severity of my cravings. Today, I thank hubby and others around me for being supportive on this issue. Not having had any of this junk food around at home for the past year has saved me from temptations. On those few occassion when it has been around, my conviction that one bite of the wrong kind of food could spark a series of serious cravings has kept me from even trying. It's just not worth it. Actually, now coming to think of it, there has been milkchocolate in our cupboard several times, and although I am home alone during the day I never touch it anymore...still, I do not consider myself cured, for me, overcoming my sweet tooth will be a lifetime battle, one that I am planning to win.

So for all of those out there who are in the position of giving advice to fat people on how to eat; give this video clip seven minutes of your time. And if you understand Swedish, and have another 60 minutes to spare, then I'd suggest you watch Bitten Johnsons lecture on the different levels of sugar cravings and how to work on sugar (on any) addiction. Well spent time I'd say.

Sugar is not an allergy, but...

Sugar is not an allergy, nor is the effect of sugar on a child's body so harmful that it could be considered adviceable to restrict intake. This is the conclusion I make based on two significant observations. First, when we first eliminated sugar from the diet of Kidone and saw astonishing results in both growth curves and behaviour, the reaction of our nurse at the health center was this: "why sugar?". She could to a certain extent accept the elimination of wheat but she did not understand at all why on earth we would limit the intake of sugar. This is a nurse with decades of experience controlling children's physical and psychological growth. I was astonished by this reaction. I have the greatest respect this nurse and she is excellent in her profession and I have to say, she was not saying that sugar is good for you, but neither she pinpoint to the exact harms of sugar. This is why my conclusion that sugar is not consider harmful by society stands out even more. Second, filling in the form for daycare kitchen about allergies (yes, finally!) I go through two pages of all kinds of food commonly causing allergic reaction (even 'safe-bets' such as potatoes and sweet potatoes are on the list) but sugar is nowhere to be found. Yes, there is the condition of diabetes  (Heaven forbid that they now start filling her food with tons of toxic artificial sweetners!) and there is the allergy to honey (honey is actually the sweetner that I would think is quite ok to use in our situation).

However, the response to our now legitimate concerns about our child's health (we have a doctor's statement) has been excellent. This is where you see that we live in a bureaucratic society where medical authority is extremely high regarded. For informed people concerned about their health, the way to make the surrounding community understand is not by providing information but by first presenting a medical statement, and only then informing.  I had to go out "shopping doctors" to achieve this. Because my first visits only resulted in negative test results, discrediting my concerns, and an appointment at the mainstream dietist because "eliminating wheat from a child's diet is dangerous".

I myself am mostly concerned about how this elimination of sugar at daycare will affect my child's socialization and view of herself as an outsider. This is why it made my day to hear that today the daycare chef had prepared an afternoon snack starting from our daughter's needs, so that everybody eats the same. I cannot express how much that meant for me. Yesterday I had almost a nervous breakdown thinking of the effect this one-sheet paper with the signature of a licensed physician would do to my daughters self-esteem. I was actually ready to call back to the doctor asking for a new statement, not restricting sugars....Today hearing about this it really makes me feel so much better!

Now that I have a statement, I go on and inform the public...Maybe sugar is or is not an allergy, by definition. But it certainly has some very nasty impacts on the human body. And I am surprised that our society is not ready to grasp this information (addiction blindness?). Borrowing from Nancy Appleton, who has researched sugars's effect on the body for over 30 years, here you can see the 143 effects sugar has been found to have on the body (she bases her list on published articles from scientific research):

1. Sugar can suppress the immune system
2. Sugar upsets the mineral relationships in the body.
3. Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children.
4. Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.
5. Sugar contributes to the reduction in defense against bacterial infection (infectious diseases).
6. Sugar causes a loss of tissue elasticity and function, the more sugar you eat the more elasticity and function you lose
7. Sugar reduces high density lipoproteins.
8. Sugar leads to chromium deficiency
9. Sugar leads to cancer of the ovaries.
10. Sugar can increase fasting levels of glucose.
11. Sugar causes copper deficiency.
12. Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
13. Sugar can weaken eyesight.
14. Sugar raises the level of a neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.
15. Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.
16. Sugar can produce an acidic digestive tract.
17. Sugar can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline levels in children.
18. Sugar mal-absorption is frequent in patients with functional bowel disease.
19. Sugar can cause premature aging.
20. Sugar can lead to alcoholism.
21. Sugar can cause tooth decay.
22. Sugar contributes to obesity
23. High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.
24. Sugar can cause changes frequently found in person with gastric or duodenal ulcers.
25. Sugar can cause arthritis.
26. Sugar can cause asthma.
27. Sugar greatly assists the uncontrolled growth of Candida Albicans (yeast infections).
28. Sugar can cause gallstones.
29. Sugar can cause heart disease.
30. Sugar can cause appendicitis.
31. Sugar can cause multiple sclerosis.
32. Sugar can cause hemorrhoids.
33. Sugar can cause varicose veins.
34. Sugar can elevate glucose and insulin responses in oral contraceptive users.
35. Sugar can lead to periodontal disease.
36. Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.
37. Sugar contributes to saliva acidity.
38. Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.
39. Sugar can lower the amount of Vitamin E (alpha-Tocopherol in the blood.
40. Sugar can decrease growth hormone.
41. Sugar can increase cholesterol.
42. Sugar can increase the systolic blood pressure.
43. Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children.
44. High sugar intake increases advanced glycation end products (AGEs)(Sugar bound non-enzymatically to protein)
45. Sugar can interfere with the absorption of protein.
46. Sugar causes food allergies.
47. Sugar can contribute to diabetes.
48. Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.
49. Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.
50. Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease.
51. Sugar can impair the structure of DNA
52. Sugar can change the structure of protein.
53. Sugar can make our skin age by changing the structure of collagen.
54. Sugar can cause cataracts.
55. Sugar can cause emphysema.
56. Sugar can cause atherosclerosis.
57. Sugar can promote an elevation of low density lipoproteins (LDL).
58. High sugar intake can impair the physiological homeostasis of many systems in the body.
59. Sugar lowers the enzymes ability to function.
60. Sugar intake is higher in people with Parkinson´s disease.
61. Sugar can cause a permanent altering the way the proteins act in the body.
62. Sugar can increase the size of the liver by making the liver cells divide.
63. Sugar can increase the amount of liver fat.
64. Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney.
65. Sugar can damage the pancreas.
66. Sugar can increase the body's fluid retention.
67. Sugar is enemy #1 of the bowel movement.
68. Sugar can cause myopia (nearsightedness).
69. Sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries.
70. Sugar can make the tendons more brittle.
71. Sugar can cause headaches, including migraine.
72. Sugar plays a role in pancreatic cancer in women.
73. Sugar can adversely affect school children's grades and cause learning disorders..
74. Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha, and theta brain waves.
75. Sugar can cause depression.
76. Sugar increases the risk of gastric cancer.
77. Sugar and cause dyspepsia (indigestion).
78. Sugar can increase your risk of getting gout.
79. Sugar can increase the levels of glucose in an oral glucose tolerance test over the ingestion of complex carbohydrates.
80. Sugar can increase the insulin responses in humans consuming high-sugar diets compared to ow sugar diets.
81. High refined sugar diet reduces learning capacity.
82. Sugar can cause less effective functioning of two blood proteins, albumin, and lipoproteins, which may reduce the body´s ability to handle fat and cholesterol.
83. Sugar can contribute to Alzheimer´s disease.
84. Sugar can cause platelet adhesiveness.
85. Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance; some hormones become underactive and others become overactive.
86. Sugar can lead to the formation of kidney stones.
87. Sugar can lead the hypothalamus to become highly sensitive to a large variety of stimuli.
88. Sugar can lead to dizziness.
89. Diets high in sugar can cause free radicals and oxidative stress.
90. High sucrose diets of subjects with peripheral vascular disease significantly increases platelet adhesion.
91. High sugar diet can lead to biliary tract cancer.
92. Sugar feeds cancer.
93. High sugar consumption of pregnant adolescents is associated with a twofold increased risk for delivering a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infant.
94. High sugar consumption can lead to substantial decrease in gestation duration among adolescents.
95. Sugar slows food's travel time through the gastrointestinal tract.
96. Sugar increases the concentration of bile acids in stools and bacterial enzymes in the colon. This can modify bile to produce cancer-causing compounds and colon cancer.
97. Sugar increases estradiol (the most potent form of naturally occurring estrogen) in men.
98. Sugar combines and destroys phosphatase, an enzyme, which makes the process of digestion more difficult.
99. Sugar can be a risk factor of gallbladder cancer.
100. Sugar is an addictive substance.
101. Sugar can be intoxicating, similar to alcohol.
102. Sugar can exacerbate PMS.
103. Sugar given to premature babies can affect the amount of carbon dioxide they produce.
104. Decrease in sugar intake can increase emotional stability.
105. The body changes sugar into 2 to 5 times more fat in the bloodstream than it does starch.
106. The rapid absorption of sugar promotes excessive food intake in obese subjects.
107. Sugar can worsen the symptoms of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
108. Sugar adversely affects urinary electrolyte composition.
109. Sugar can slow down the ability of the adrenal glands to function.
110. Sugar has the potential of inducing abnormal metabolic processes in a normal healthy individual and to promote chronic degenerative diseases.
111. Intravenous feedings of sugar water can cut off oxygen to the brain.
112. High sucrose intake could be an important risk factor in lung cancer.
113. Sugar increases the risk of polio.
114. High sugar intake can cause epileptic seizures.
115. Sugar causes high blood pressure in obese people.
116. In Intensive Care Units, limiting sugar saves lives.
117. Sugar may induce cell death.
118. Sugar can increase the amount of food that you eat.
119. In juvenile rehabilitation camps, when children were put on a low sugar diet, there was a 44% drop in antisocial behavior.
120. Sugar can lead to prostate cancer.
121. Sugar dehydrates newborns.
122. Sugar increases the estradiol in young men.
123. Sugar can cause low birth weight babies.
124. Greater consumption of refined sugar is associated with a worse outcome of schizophrenia.
125. Sugar can raise homocysteine levels in the blood stream.
126. Sweet food items increase the risk of breast cancer.
127. Sugar is a risk factor in cancer of the small intestine.
128. Sugar may cause laryngeal cancer.
129. Sugar induces salt and water retention.
130. Sugar may contribute to mild memory loss.
131. As sugar increases in the diet of 10 years olds, there is a linear decrease in the intake of many essential nutrients.
132. Sugar can increase the total amount of food consumed.
133. Exposing a newborn to sugar results in a heightened preference for sucrose relative to water at 6 months and 2 years of age.
134. Sugar causes constipation.
135. Sugar causes varicose veins.
136. Sugar can cause brain decay in pre-diabetic and diabetic women.
137. Sugar can increase the risk of stomach cancer.
138. Sugar can cause metabolic syndrome.
139. Sugar ingestion by pregnant women increases neural tube defects in embryos.
140. Sugar can be a factor in asthma.
141. The higher the sugar consumption the more chances of getting irritable bowel syndrome.
142. Sugar could affect central reward systems.
143. Sugar can cause cancer of the rectum.

Sources; http://nancyappleton.com/141-reasons-sugar-ruins-your-health/, http://www.healingnaturallybybee.com/articles/sugar4.php

IS SUGAR REALLY THAT BAD?

I came across an excellent article on what sugar does to our bodies and I really feel like sharing some of what the article is about (in italic). As you might have noticed yesterday, I was about to loose it there for a second, but by googling some information on the dangers of sugar  I am right back on track.

You can always count on Jimmy Moore's Living la vida Low-Carb show - he has had lengthy interviews with both Nancy Appleton and David Gillespie - excellent pieces.

Well, this article that I found is a summary, written by nutritionist Jen Allbritton, and can be found on the Weston Price Foundation web-pages (another excellent source of very balanced information).

So here are the extracts from the Allbritton's article (my comments in red).


A comment I often hear is, “A little won’t hurt!” Sure, a little sugar is a minor challenge for healthy individuals. Unfortunately, dysfunctional blood sugar balance, immune issues, and adrenal fatigue are common, and even a small amount of sugar can send someone with these disturbances into sugar shock. Moreover, most of us already get a little here, a little there, and then a little more over here, and bam! That sugar really adds up. What do I mean by “a lot”? Our ancestors likely indulged in around one tablespoon (60 calories) of honey per day (when available), which is stunningly low compared to today’s average sugar intake of one cup (774 calories) per day!¹ YOWZERS!

This is something I even fool myself with from times to times...or in order to have a social life outside the home,  it is more than necessary to follow this "little won't hurt" instinct. However, the more I read up on the issue, the stronger I feel that yes, a little can hurt, and it can hurt a lot. Question is, how to do with just a little as per our own definitions without upsetting all the dear ones around us?!? PArticularly our own kids, they crave sugar just like any kid would do....


About twenty years ago, Nancy Appleton, PhD, began an eye-opening, research-supported list of the ways sugar can ruin your health... Here is a small, yet powerful sampling of reasons to avoid sugar:
• Sugar feeds cancer cells and has been connected with the development of cancer of the breast, ovaries, prostate, rectum, pancreas, lung, gallbladder and stomach.^2-6
• Sugar can increase fasting levels of glucose and can cause reactive hypoglycemia.⁷
• Sugar can cause many problems with the gastrointestinal tract, including an acidic digestive tract, indigestion, malabsorption in patients with functional bowel disease, increased risk of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.^8-12
• Sugar can interfere with your absorption of protein.¹³
• Sugar can cause food allergies.¹⁴
• Sugar contributes to obesity.¹⁵

 Got the picture already? Sugar is not sweet at all - it is dangerous! And sadly enough, it is everywhere you turn these days.

As a mother, I regard sugar’s impact on my children as a top priority; for the kiddos themselves of course, but also for more selfish reasons—my sanity. The more well-mannered and happy my children are, the more smooth is the daily flow. Sugar’s impact on children is more dramatic than it is on adults due to their smaller size and still-developing systems. The connection between sugar consumption and rowdy behavior and weakened immunity is strong.

Yes, I know. I have noticed this myself. Why is it so hard to have others buy into this? Sugar addicted zombies, denial, authorities/media reluctance to admit sugar is a major problem?'


I frequently hear testimonials from other moms who see improvements in their children’s behavior after reducing sugar in their family’s diet. Envision the impact the reduction of sugar consumption could have on an entire school! One such success story is set in a Georgia elementary school, where the principal, Dr. Yvonne Sanders-Butler, recognized the need for dietary changes with her students suffering many modern illnesses— obesity, diabetes and hypertension. In 2005, Browns Mill School became the first sugar-free school in the country, and the results speak for themselves with a 30 percent decrease in nurse visits, a 28 percent drop in teacher referrals for bad behavior, and improved test scores.²⁰ Dr. Sanders-Butler continues to see the difference in the children’s health through weight loss and fewer absences, as well as more frequent everyday positive interactions with happier children.

Where was this place again? We're moving!

At Browns Mill, every parent and child is asked to sign an “Achieving Academic Excellence through Nutrition” commitment contract, outlining the parameters and expectations of the program. Sugary foods are prohibited (even for birthdays) and confiscated if brought to school. School lunch menus were revamped and exercise, breakfast, and good sleep are expected. It goes to show, bold action can lead to sweet rewards!


Oh yes, even birthdays. Definatelly moving!

Then about the chemical balances in the body and the detrimental effect sugar has on this balance:


Minerals work synergistically with one another and have a vast number of functions within the body, including maintaining pH balance, aiding in digestion, and transmitting nerve impulses. Suffice it to say that the consequences of mineral imbalance can lead to many problems, including anxiety, asthma, tooth decay, brittle bones, and poor sleep quality. Here is the kicker: if one mineral is out of balance, so go the others. This is particularly true of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous.

This is where it becomes INTERESTING!!!


Years ago the dentist Melvin E. Page uncovered the significance of calcium’s ratio to phosphorous in regards to bone absorption and tooth decay. Sugar was found to be the driving force behind calcium-phosphorous imbalance; the elimination of this refined food allowed the ratio to recover and glucose levels in the blood to normalize. It was then that factors leading to bone loss and tooth decay (along with a number of other symptoms) vanished.

Hahaha!!! I knew it, its not about consuming half a liter of milk every day!!! It's about eating a balanced diet, free from sugar!!! :-))))))

Sugar taken every day produces a continuously over-acid condition, and more and more minerals are required from deep in the body in the attempt to rectify the imbalance. Finally, in order to protect the blood, so much calcium is taken from the bones and teeth that decay and general weakening begin.


Then the article goes in to the connection with infections.

White blood cells, called neutrophils, are a primary player in the immune system, fending off infection from foreign bacteria and viruses, anything from colds and strep throat to ear and sinus infections. Research shows these “germdestroyers” become much less effective at their job when sugar is consumed (table sugar, fructose and even orange juice), and this immune malfunction can last up to six hours after consumption....Whatever the mechanics, removing excess sugar is a must if you want to reduce the number of illnesses your family suffers.

Yep, yep - isn't this something of interest in this family after having the kids sick at home for the ten past days (by the way, could it be so that this time I did NOT fall ill because of the lack of sugar in my body? Just a hypothesis, I might fall ill tomorrow).

And then we come to the addictive aspects of the substance...


Although socially acceptable, sugar addiction is real.

Can I underline this enough?!?!


As with any addictive substance, more and more sugar is consumed over time, withdrawal symptoms are experienced when it is removed (headaches, low energy, mood swings), and finally strong cravings often lead to relapse. Regardless of the fact that it has been referred to as the “white plague” and rivals cocaine in its addictive strength,sugar remains a socially sanctioned commodity to sell, eat, or use to celebrate and lavish on children.

Yes, cocaine my dear friends. Cocaine. And we voluntarily feed this stuff to our kids. What kind of parents are we?!?! Maybe we should reconsider that it is first joint being the gate into a destructive lifetime addiction... (and yes, I know I sound freaky now, but continue reading please...).

Sugar’s addictive power is three-fold.

First, we have a natural affinity to sugar. It tastes yummy and gives our body fuel. While stumbling upon a beehive or bush of ripe wild berries was quite useful to our foraging ancestors in their endeavors to obtain enough calories, our situation is quite different today. In our developed world of easy access, this added fuel has become overavailable, over-processed and over-consumed, all of which lead to trouble with a capital T.

Second, sugar has the ability to increase pleasure-yielding opioids in the brain, similar to morphine and heroin, making one’s sugar cravings often too strong to ignore. Julia Ross tells us in The Diet Cure, “For some of us, certain foods, particularly ones that are sweet and starchy, can have a drug-like effect, altering our brains’ mood chemistry and fooling us into a false calm, or a temporary energy surge. We can eventually become dependent on these drug-like foods for continued mood lifts.

Third, sugar begets more sugar. Eating sugar clearly throws one’s body chemistry into a tailspin. Tag on poor sleep habits, adrenal fatigue, and an overload of distress, intense cravings for sugar (or other substance like alcohol or drugs) can easily develop. Insulin imbalances and a lack of the happy-brain chemical called serotonin are often the underlying culprits. Essentially, the sugar being consumed perpetuates the vicious cycle of more intense sugar cravings.


The article is longer. But I think I stated the basics here already. For those that are interested in the scientific proof of the claims, please turn to the origininal. I have no intentions to start referring scientifically on this blog....

But my final message is: People be aware!!! Get a hold of your own sweet tooth and turn then to see how you can cure the sweet tooth of your children. You will be thanking yourself in retrospect. Promise!

Nancy Appleton - Genius!

Don't upset your homestasis (chemistry balances in your body)!

This is an excellent video. If you have the time, you should give it a look. It is as balanced as it can get - reffering to tons of scientific articles - and I think when the information she presents here is digested, it explains both A, B, and C. For example, why drinking milk doesn't guarantee healthy bones (maybe the opposite). Or, how allergies can be directly linked to the consumption of sugar (in all forms my friends, including honey and agave - basically, if its sweet, is bad for you - sweet dreams, so long, auf wiedersehen, good bye!). It also explains why our body is suseptible to infections by consumption of sugars.

So this video of 45 minutes makes it shining clear that nobody, absolutely nobody, should be digesting sugar as we do today, not even small amounts are safe (on a daily basis). And this goes particularly for growing children.

I get so upset when I see these very informative seminars. Because once again they confirm to me exactly how bad the mainstream diet is for our body.  I would say the majority of people today eat as a minimum moderate amounts of sugar (not even small, but moderate) every day. Many way too much. And as a mother I feel so HELPLESS! Both my kids would benefit for a sugarfree diet. But how? I can give them breakfast at home, they'll have to do with the lunch at daycare... and I cannot pick them up before afternoon snack (usually including some sort of sugar). Thus lunch + afternoon snack with potential sugars, that screws up their bodily chemistry for the rest of the day - no matter how well I try to feed them for dinner or evening snack, their body won't yet be in balance and that will affect how to food is digested and used in their bodies.

Yesterday we saw the movie "The last Excorcist" with hubby (do not recommend). The dad had taken out his daughter from school for homeschooling, because he felt the school wasn't teaching the right stuff... well guess who felt hit by that message.. me considering daycare is not feeding the right stuff. My goodness, this parenting thing is way heavier than I ever imagined! Once again, after a couple of days on main street I am off to freak street again.

Thank you Nancy Appleton for bringing these insights, although they cause anxiety, I wouldn't like to be without them either.

The sweetest poison of all

Ok, so after having digested the message of the Wheat Belly book for about a month, I am ready to take on a new mind blowing experience.

I am quite aware of the ups and mostly downs of sugar (I thank Dr Lustig's bitter truth for that), but I am still missing the whole picture. Ok, so I know that sugar has a dark history of slavery and cutting down rainforests (read a little bit on the colonial history of Brazil and you'll be amazed).  Today sugar is one of the mostly subsidized products in Europe. Regarding the subsidies, I ask myself why? If Europe is to subsidize something, why not subsidize something that contribute to human health, not destroy it. What use do we have of sugar in case we could not get other foods?  And one more point, I am not so sure the recent tax on sugar is only about saving our health. The state is desperate to get its tax incomes, just as desperate as the population is to get its sugar. Easy and quick fix: reduce income tax (people presumably happy with more money in their pocket) and increase sugar tax (you know they'll continue buying, just as they do with the alcohol... but the income reduction won't be as obvious...the state is not stupid).

Anyways, back to the topic. I found a new book today. Correction, I found a very old book today. Published already back in 1975! And this is a book I'd like to read, at some point. Sugar Blues by William Dufty. A classic. If you have the time and are interested in the topic have a look at his extract in the link below.


Sugar, the sweetest poison of all


And while you're at it, you might like to see how brown sugar became refined sugar, have a look below.
And let's give Norbert Rillieux a big cozy hug! Not only for saving the lives of millions of slaves, but because he facilitated sugar consumption and made the white stuff the most demanded drug on our planet! Hooray for the greatest invetions in our history!

White desire - in English

I guess the equivalent in English to the recent Swedish book "White Desire" would be this one:


Suicide by Sugar


Here is the description of the book:

"

It is a dangerous, addictive white powder that can be found in abundance throughout this country. It is not illegal. In fact, it is available near playgrounds, schools, and workplaces. It is in practically everything we eat and drink, and once we are hooked on it, the cravings can be overwhelming. This white substance of abuse is sugar.

Over two decades ago, Nancy Appleton’s Lick the Sugar Habit exposed the health dangers of America’s high-sugar diet. Now, in Suicide by Sugar, Appleton, along with journalist G.N. Jacobs, presents a broader view of the problems caused by our favorite ingredient. The authors offer startling facts that link a range of disorders—from dementia and hypoglycemia to obesity and cancer—to our growing sugar addiction. Rounding out the book is a sound diet plan along with a number of recipes for sweet, easy-to prepare dishes—all made without sugar or fruit.

"

I was about to buy it but decided not to. I kind of get the message from having last summer watched Dr. Robert Lustig's 90 minutes lecture on "the bitter truth about sugar" (check the side bar) and having read "Wheat  Belly"...Instead I put my efforts into other dense reading - more in line with my main interests...remember, this is only a hobby...while cooking food for my family is basically about - staying alive.