DR. CORY: Does sugar induce disease?

sugarSerious questions and concerns constantly arise in the medical community about dietary recommendations.  Some doctors say, “don’t take sugar” while others say, “when you lack sugar in the body, you end up developing cancer.”  Which one is it?

Every person regardless of health status should be encouraged to improve and modify their diet in order to help control the growing threats of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. The trouble starts when many people seek advice from a doctor, a dietician, a friend or even unqualified individuals.   The recommendations often vary greatly.

Hippocrates is known as the founder of modern medicine and is regarded as the greatest physician of his time. One of his most famous but often forgot about quotes is, “Let food be your medicine and medicine your food.”

Your body needs carbohydrates

The truth is that sugar broken down from carbohydrates is one of the body’s most important fuel sources. It’s readily accessible by most organs and tissues, available in large quantities and a preferred fuel for the brain and muscles. Everyone is different and no one diet is right for everyone.  Be weary of anyone that promotes only one diet regardless of person or condition.

Understanding the sources of carbohydrates is the key to carbohydrate recommendations and a balanced diet.  Sugar is often thought to be only the white, granular substance that you add to cakes, coffees and teas.  Sugar is also found in pasta, rice, breads as well as vegetables and fruits.

Essentially all fruits and vegetables would be classified as bad, if sugar were bad.  General claims that sugar produces disease will create more harm than good.  Healthcare professionals need to be more specific and differentiate good and bad carbohydrates.

High glycemic index carbohydrates like soda, chocolate and cake will enter the bloodstream rapidly and cause blood sugar levels to significantly spike.  This spike in blood sugar is known to elevate insulin, stress hormones and the inflammatory process that is known to produce disease in the body.

Berries, apples and nearly every vegetable are better sources of carbohydrates because they take longer to digest; reducing the time it takes for blood sugar levels to increase.

A food’s ranking on the glycemic index doesn’t solely indicate whether it’s a good or bad choice. As a general rule of thumb, whole foods—such as vegetables—are superior to processed, commercialized carbohydrates regardless of where the items fall on the glycemic index.

You don’t need the glycemic index to make wise choices. Just eat the majority of your calories from whole foods: meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, dairy, and nuts. This will automatically eliminate junk foods and will provide a diet that is rich in vitamins, minerals and other healthful nutrients.

Can I eat junk food and exercise?

Diet is always important regardless of physical activity levels.  One cannot exercise into a good diet.  Eating highly processed, high glycemic index foods will directly inhibit the results being sought by exercise.  Consuming whole foods will enable one to exercise longer, more efficient and allow one to recover faster.

The key to health is selecting the best carbohydrates. Eliminate items that are stored in a can or a box and seek out fresh produce, lean meats and consume a variety of nuts such as walnuts, almonds and pecans.

Dr. Cory Couillard is an international healthcare speaker and columnist for numerous newspapers, magazines, websites and publications throughout the world. He works in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s goals of disease prevention and global healthcare education. Views do not necessarily reflect endorsement.

Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Cory Couillard
Twitter: Cory_Couillard

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10 Comments

  1. April 24, 2014

    Dr. Cory is contributing a gold mine of information.

    Even up here in Canada we are benefiting from his health columns.

    We are just become aware of the dangers of consuming too much sugar. The problem is it is not just the white sugar in the sugar bowel. It is in almost everything on the table. Baked goods, processed foods, canned goods, soda pop, all contain huge amounts of sugar. It has just come to light that food manufacturing companies are ADDING sugar to their products to increase sales. A comparative study was done between cigarette companies and food companies. A few years ago

    • April 24, 2014

      REV. DONALD HILL (CONTINUED) … … …

      Sorry, I accidently posted my comments before I was finished.

      we learned that tobacco companies were spiking their cigarettes to make them more addictive. Now we know that big food companies are adding an inordinate amount of sugar to most of their products to make them sell.

      The World Health Organization (WHO) did a study and was about to release it to the public warning about sugar. The sugar industry in the USA learned at the highest level about the report. They informed WHO that if the report was released to the public the American government would cut its funding to WHO. The report was withheld.

      Sugar is causing obesity, and many other diseases including cancer on a scale we would never have imagined. Last week a watched a documentary on T.V. about BIG SUGAR (the name they give the sugar industry.) It is a difficult foe to combat given its financial and political clout. It is not above using criminal tactics. Working as it does in partnership with the food manufacturers it is going to take an organized effort to push back. Sound medical and health education is our best hope. Governments must be appealed to.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist. Pastoral Counselor, Author.

  2. A joke dat man
    March 14, 2013

    Is the white granular substance sugar or is it trash?
    I think it is trash because it has no substance for the body and it makes you ill because your body is not a mechanical motor Please love your body

  3. March 14, 2013

    CAN DNO EMAIL ME AND LET ME KNOW WHY THEY DONT POST MY COMENTS.I DO LOVE DOMINICA TO.

    ADMIN: If your comments are in all caps they won’t be posted.

  4. healthy
    March 13, 2013

    please eat like our ancestors did……money is not everything ..but showing your children how to live by example is the real money…Your generations will outlive many other generation and you will have a representative in the future…

    Eat and exercise and also cut off watching violent films….be healthy be good …have a wonderful day

    • April 24, 2014

      Healthy:

      I thank you and all the good people who have spoken out.

      What you have said is true. What galls me most is the fact
      that these thing are hurting the children and the next generation. :cry:

      People like Dr. Cory have the education :idea: and station in life to push back against big sugar and the other industries that are so profit driven they do not care the damage they do as long as the fat cats :twisted: at the top get rich and their underlings have a job. You and I should add our voices.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

  5. Kryptonite
    March 13, 2013

    Thank you

  6. H
    March 13, 2013

    everything in moderation

    • Openeyes Observer
      March 13, 2013

      Everything in moderation!! Can I interpret that (like the average person will) to mean; a small burger and chips, 1 piece of chicken and chips – instead of two, 1 small can of diet coke (even though it’s laden with aspartame), half of pint i
      of (mucus forming) milk, and a low fat ice-cream with half a pint of beer, instead of 1 whole pint!! I think we need to educate ourselves about exactly what we are putting in our bodies. Is it food or nourishment. Most of us do not eat enough plant-based foods that nourishes our bodies, then when we get sick we blame it on our age, genes, parents, or worst still, believe it’s just a random act and we played no part in it. Let’s wake up and take responsibility for our health, and stop leaving it to chance and the medical and pharmaceutical industry.

    • April 24, 2014

      Moderation is a must.

      But it is difficult to practice moderation when the big food companies ADD an inordinate amount of sugar to everything they make to boost the sales.

      We in Canada had no idea this was happening until they were forced by government to list the nutritional
      contents on each package or can to show exactly what is inside. When we realized there is eight to ten teaspoons of sugar in a can or bottle of soda pop and six spoons in a bagel, etc. we know we had a problem.

      We must eat. Not all of us can grow or make our own food.

      We need government to step in. Our own Department of Health could do a lot. What is needed is for sensible people to organize and form a lobby to appeal to the government.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.

      This is where governments should step in.

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