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Lately, there have been a lot of questions and speculations concerning sugar
consumption and cancer risk. While researchers are working on finding any such
connection between the two, it is important to remember the role sugar plays in the body.
Carbohydrates and sugar break down into glucose, a.k.a. blood sugar.
Carbohydrates come from foods such as fruits, starches, beans/peas, and vegetables.
During times of low carbohydrate intake or intense exercise, glucose can also be made
from fat and protein.
Glucose travels to the cells of the body where it is converted to energy & used to
carry out various functions such as muscle contraction & temperature regulation. While
some organs can also use protein and fat for energy, red blood cells and the brain
exclusively use glucose for energy so a certain amount of carbohydrate intake is necessary
for normal brain and bodily function.
What Role Does Sugar Play in the Body? Healthy Eating Tip of the Month: Does Sugar Feed Cancer?
- Dietary guidelines recommend added sugar intake to be <10% of daily calories.
- The average American consumes over 300 calories per day from sugar. That’s about 20 teaspoons daily.
- Teens and men have the highest sugar intake.
- 1 teaspoon of sugar is equal to 16 calories. Did You Know?
Carbohydrate intake affects blood sugar levels. Simple carbohydrates like table sugar, syrup, honey, jams/jellies, fruit/soft drinks, and candies are rapidly digested and increase blood sugar levels very quickly. Complex carbohydrates are commonly found in foods such as whole grains, starchy or green vegetables, beans, & lentils. These foods take longer to digest and create a slow rise in blood glucose levels, which is preferable. A fast increase in blood sugar causes a rapid increase in insulin, which is the hormone responsible for allowing glucose to enter cells. High insulin levels cause glucose levels to quickly fall, which can then cause you to feel hungry again, prompting you to take in more calories. Consistently high insulin levels can also cause cells to become resistant to insulin, meaning glucose levels stay higher for longer periods. High glucose levels, overweight/obesity, and inactivity can all increase the risk for diabetes and heart disease. Research has linked diabetes and obesity to cancers of the liver, pancreas, endometrium, colon and rectum, and bladder. To help reduce the risk of Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, and help with weight management, studies have shown a benefit to following a low-glycemic index diet, which is described on the next page. Does Type of Carbohydrate Make a Difference?
Many “diet” or “low-calorie” products use non-nutritive artificial sweeteners in place of natural sugar because they don’t contain calories. Artificial sugars have the potential to help with weight control and diabetes since these products are low-calorie and do not raise blood sugar levels. However, some research suggests that consuming artificial sugars may be associated with weight gain because they can cause a pseudo-effect that releases insulin into the blood as the body believes glucose levels will be rising. With no glucose for the uptake, the body may be led to feel hunger and cause you to eat more in order to replenish that glucose. There have also been questions regarding artificial sugars and cancer, but according to the National Cancer Institute, there is no sound scientific evidence linking the two. The Food and Drug Administration regulates artificial sugars and has provided acceptable daily intake levels for safe consumption. References: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/artificial-sweeteners/art- 20046936 http://www.glycemicindex.com/ http://www.glycemicindexlab.com/services/ http://www.eatright.org/resources/food/nutrition/dietary-guidelines-and-myplate http://www.eatright.org/resource/health/diseases-and-conditions/cancer/diet-and-cancer-prevention http://www.eatright.org/resource/food/nutrition/nutrition-facts-and-food-labels/the-inside-scoop-on-artificial-sweeteners http://www.livestrong.com/article/133891-the-importance-glucose/ http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/artificial-sweeteners/art- 20046936 + A Word About Artificial Sugars Pulling It All Together:
- Maintain a healthy weight: Limit excessive abdominal fat to reduce insulin
resistance and risk of diabetes and heart disease.
- Get up and MOVE! Exercise is a great way to decrease insulin resistance and,
when paired with an overall healthy diet, can help you maintain a healthy weight.
Go for a walk, go bike riding, mow the lawn – do something that gets your heart
rate up!
- Balance total carbohydrate intake: Find foods that have a lower GI since these
foods usually have additional nutritional benefits. Pair carbohydrates with lean
protein to help increase satiety and control appetite.
- Try to fill ½ your plate with vegetables and fruit, ¼ with starches (whole grains or
potatoes), and ¼ with lean protein in order to help maintain healthy blood sugar
levels. It is important to note that although fruits do contain natural sugar, they also
come with added benefits of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals, which
make them part of a healthy diet.
Created By: Ana Trivax, Dietetic Intern
Healthy Smoothie
Recipes
Berry Banana Smoothie Ingredients: 1 frozen sliced banana ½ cup fresh orange juice 1 cup hulled strawberries 1 cup blackberries 1 ¾ cups fat free plain Greek yogurt Directions : Place all ingredients in a blender, process until smooth. Nutrition: Calories: 138; Fat: 0.4 g; Carb: 25 g; Fiber: 3.4 g; Protein: 9. g
Apple Pie Smoothie Ingredients: 1 medium apple, cored & chopped 1 cup fat-free milk ⅓ cup oats 2 teaspoons maple sugar ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon Directions: Place all ingredients in a heavy duty blender and blend until desired consistency is achieved. Serve in a glass with additional cinnamon sprinkled on top. Makes 2 servings. Nutrition per serving: Calories: 170; Fat: 1 g; Fiber: 4 g; Carb: 33 g; Protein: 7 g Pear Vanilla Smoothie Ingredients: 1 ripe pear, cored and sliced 1 scoop vanilla protein powder 1 cup fat-free milk 1 - 2 handfuls of ice cubes Additional water to aid blending if necessary Optional: 1 handful of fresh baby spinach Directions: In a blender, combine pear, protein powder, liquid, ice and spinach (if using). If the mixture is too thick, add additional water or ice. Nutrition: Calories: 249; Fat: 2 g; Fiber: 6 g; Carb: 43 g; Protein: 19 g
Mango Sorbet Ingredients: 2 very ripe mangoes (2- 2 ½ pounds), peeled, cut into ½-inch chunks and frozen 2 tbsp unsweetened coconut flakes 1 small line, quartered Honey for drizzling Directions: Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spread the coconut on a baking sheet, and bake until lightly golden and toasted, about 4 minutes, tossing half-way through. Place frozen mango in a food processor. Add ¼ to ½ cup hot water, and process the mango until completely smooth; turn the food processor off and stir with a wooden spoon or spatula as needed. The finished texture should be like creamy sorbet. Scoop the sorbet into 4 bowls, squeeze a quarter of a lime over each, drizzle with honey and sprinkle with toasted coconut. Nutrition per serving : Calories: 120; Fat: 2.5 g; Carb: 26 g; Fiber 3g; Protein: 2 g Mint-Melon Pops Ingredients: 1 - 1/2 cup cantaloupe chunks 1 tbsp orange juice 1 - 1/2 cup honeydew chunks 1 tbsp limeade concentrate, thawed 2 mint leaves Directions: In a blender, puree cantaloupe and orange juice until smooth. Divide the mixture among six pop molds or paper cups. Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes. Puree the honeydew, limeade, and mint. Remove the molds from the freezer and top with honeydew mixture. Cover and freeze until firm. Nutrition per pop : Calories: 36; Fat: 0g; Carb: 9 g; Fiber 1g; Protein: 0 g. These scrumptious desserts are mouth watering and easy on the waistline! References: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/all-fruit-mango-sorbet.html http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/mint-melon-pops Patient Food and Nutrition Services 300 N. Ingalls Street NIB NI8E Ann Arbor, MI 48109- 5407 734 - 936 - 5197 Created By: Ana Trivax, Dietetic
