Say Goodbye to Sugar

Finding your self coming down with frequent and persistent colds? Try limiting your sugar intake.

This includes soda, cakes, cookies, fruits, breads and pastas. One teaspoon of sugar has been shown to inhibit the response of your immune system for up to 5 hours. Put simply, having fruit juice or a donut for breakfast, white pasta for lunch and a hamburger with a coke for dinner can have a prolonged negative effect on your immune system. Too much sugar throughout the day can cause more frequent and longer-lasting colds and flus.

Also remember that food items that are “fat free” tend to be high in sugar, which eventually turns to fat in the body. High sugar intake is also associated with nutrient deficiencies and correlated health problems. Magnesium deficiency, for example, is implicated in many health conditions such as PMS, chronic headaches, muscle tension, attention deficit disorder and hypertension.

Remember, you really are what you eat! As naturopathic physicians, it is our responsibility to educate patients on the basics of living a healthy life as well as treating and preventing diseases. Without the commitment to change diet and other lifestyle habits, it is difficult to guide patients toward optimal health.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

The contents of this blog, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the counsel of an ALETRIS physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.