Real fast think of your favorite childhood holiday. Ok now real fast think of the one thing your favorite childhood holiday has in common with most other holidays. Is candy your answer? It should be. That’s what almost all holiday’s have in common. Yep that tasty sugar filled candy. It can be chocolate, caramel, marshmallow or any of those wonderful sugary treats every child and admit it every adult loves about their favorite holiday.

The reason we are looking at a single holiday event is because, due to the excess of candy ingested, it is easier to see the effects that take place. Most candy is made up of two dangerous ingredients – hydrogenated fat (trans-fatty acids) and sugar. We saw the removal of trans fats from almost all restaurants because they were finding a direct link to heart disease, type 2 diabetes and even Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have shown that trans fats don’t allow for any safe level of intake.

Ok but what about that sugar? The common denominator with almost every jaw-breaking, teeth-rotting, incredibly tasty piece of candy out there that has it’s spell on us, urging us to satisfy that one last sweet tooth addiction. Leaving the kids out of it, consider this fun fact; the typical adult consumes 15 to 20 teaspoons a day – we definitely have a lot to learn.

Sugar Plain and Simple

Sugar comes in many forms including white sugar (sucrose, aka table sugar), brown sugar, cane sugar, sugar in the raw, high fructose corn syrup, maple syrup, candies, pop, jams, ketchup, baked goods, juice, several packaged foods and many low-fat products for added taste. Refined flour, chips, pretzels, muffins, white rice and pasta also end up as sugar in our body. Although sugars are safest in their natural, unprocessed forms such as maple syrup, honey or sugar in the raw – all forms of sugar possess similar health risks.

The Highs and Lows of Sugar

When we consume foods high in sugar, the glucose enters the bloodstream, quickly causing blood sugar to rise. Insulin is then secreted by the pancreas, which causes the sugars to enter the cells. This sugar is either used as immediate energy or stored as fat to be used by the body later. Once the sugar is used up for energy, the levels in the blood quickly fall back to normal or even below normal.

During the holidays this ebb and flow is quite evident in children. They get all wound up, running around like crazy, then crash out on the floor amidst their toys, where they are found lying asleep in a ball and chaos all around. This drop then triggers another craving for sugar to restore the balance that once was, causing the process to start all over again.

Sugar and Immunity

In the early 1970s, studies were done – and again in 1997 – that showed a suppression of white blood cells after sugar was consumed. White blood cells act as the body’s first line of defense against a virus or bacterial infection. This leaves our immune system weakened and compromised, and to top it all off, this process increases exponentially with the regular consumption of sugar. Many doctors have noted that adults who snack on sweets at their desk are usually the ones admitted with the flu, shingles and other illnesses.

Sugar and Our Aging Process

Glycation is a process where sugar molecules abnormally attach themselves to cells in the body. This imbalance of sugar causes the cells to begin to shrink, dehydrate and wrinkle. When this occurs, tissue elasticity reduces and causes sagging of the skin, stiffening of the arteries and organ function goes out the window. Sugar also has an effect on the brain, eyes and nervous system, and don’t forget about what it does to your teeth.

Reducing your sugar intake is a great step to take if you want to avoid the highs and lows, keep your immunity up and prevent aging. Of course, cutting out sugar all together is the best way, but start by taking it one step at a time and eventually you will get there. Make sure you consult your physician before making any drastic changes to your diet and keep an eye on your insulin levels at all times. The next time you go to grab for that delightful piece of chocolate-covered caramel, think about the kids you see during the holiday season – then opt for a more nutritious snack.