LET'S DO THE MATH

     Research has shown that the average American consumes - are you ready? - 130 pounds of sugar each year.  Of course, WE'RE not average, but be aware that sugar in its myriad forms is found in almost everything we eat.  Yes, even carrots or cauliflower or onions and in all fruits.  

     If we stuck to veggies and fruit they would provide us with all the sugar we require, and the accompanying nutrients and fiber are just (excuse the pun) the icing on the cake.  But what is life without an occasional scoop of ice cream or a slice of birthday cake?  Man - or woman - does not live by produce alone.

     Back to sugar, let's do the math.  If the average person does indeed consume 130 pounds of sugar each year, then

               I pound of sugar = 2 cups, so 130 pounds = 260 cups/year (WOW)
               365 days into 260 cups =.71 cup/day or a little less than 3/4 cup
               1 cup of sugar = 768 calories
               768 calories x .71 = 545 calories/day
               545 calories/day x 365 days = 198,925 calories/year
               Since 3500 calories = l pound of body weight
               3500 calories into 198,925 = 56.84 pounds of weight/year

                                                HOLY FLAB, BATMAN

     Too much sugar causes the pancreas to produce too much insulin which leads to insulin resistance (cells cannot absorb any more insulin) and here comes diabetes.

     At almost 57 additional pounds per year, how come we're not all grossly obese?  This is 57 pounds if you never moved a muscle.  This is 57 pounds if you ate nothing but sugar.  This is 57 pounds if you never (ahem) used the bathroom facilities (and then you'd have a lot more than 57 extra pounds to worry about). 

    Fortunately, most of us are active enough and eat enough protein, fat, fiber, etc to offset such a huge weight gain.  But next week when you bite off "just the ears" of that chocolate Easter  bunny, think twice before you follow it up with a handful of jelly beans.  Remember, dinner is coming soon - and that luscious Key Lime pie.

     

DEFTINITIONS

 AMNESIA

     A condition that enables a woman who has gone through labor to have sex again.

CONFIDENCE

     The feeling you have before you understand the situation.

DIPLOMAT

     A person who tells you to go to Hell in such a way that you look forward to the trip.

EYEDROPPER

A clumsy ophthalmologist

 FLABBYGASTED

     Appalled over how much weight you have gained.

INTOXICATION

     Euphoria at getting a tax refund which lasts until you realize it was your money to begin with.

POLYGON
  A dead parrot.

STERILIZE

     What you do to your first baby's pacifier by boiling it and your last baby's pacifier by blowing on it.

                                                                        

I reviewed this book over a year ago in our (now defunct) magazine Life-Style.  Since it has been on the best seller list for months now, I thought it was worth repeating here.

WHEAT BELLY

William Davis, MD

A gluten-free diet, once prescribed only for sufferers of celiac disease, is now the new darling of celebrities and doctors alike.

Dr. William Davis, a cardiologist, has put thousands of his patients on a wheat-free diet and has concluded that it is not fat, nor sugar, nor a sedentary lifestyle that has caused the burgeoning obesity epidemic - it is wheat.

The sturdy grain which used to provide our daily bread has been genetically altered to give processed food manufacturers the highest yield at the lowest cost.  This has changed this once wholesome grain into a nutritionally bankrupt ingredient that causes blood sugar to spike faster than eating pure sugar, and has addictive qualities that cause hunger, overeating and fatigue.

Dr. Davis claims that not only will a diet divested of wheat cause weight loss, particularly in the abdomen (hence the title of the book), it is also associated with other significant benefits, including:

• Alleviation of metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes.
• Recovery from intestinal problems, such as ulcerative colitis and celiac disease.
• An improvement in cholesterol and LDL counts.
• Improvement in bone density and reversal of osteopenia.
• Helping skin conditions from psoriasis to oral ulcers and hair loss.
• A reduction in inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis pain.

While this all seemed too good to be true, I was intrigued enough to give a wheat (and gluten) free diet a chance.  While I didn't have significant weight loss since I had little weight to lose, I did notice many small things that changed for the better.  I am sleeping more soundly than before.  I seem to be solving crossword and other problems more easily.  My hair appears to be getting thicker and my skin is less dry.  These are small differences, but enough to make me continue with this regimen.  It is easier than I thought it would be.

I recommend Wheat Belly for anyone who suspects that wheat might be causing a problem for them.  It's an interesting read and a fascinating look into how a simple diet change can affect how you feel.