WHAT DO Salt Lake City SENIORS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SUGAR?
Our Director of Nursing, Deborah Parker, wants you to know your Sugar Facts!
Do you know that the average American consumes about 150 pounds of sugar every year! In addition to the risk for diabetes, consuming a high sugar diet can:
- Lead to obesity which in turn leads to the development of Type II diabetes and many other problems.
- Weaken the immune system.
- Make the body less able to fight off bacterial infections.
- Increase the risk for hypoglycemia—low blood sugar!
- Heighten the risk for developing coronary heart disease.
- Speed up the aging process, promoting grey hair and wrinkles!
- Promote tooth decay.
- Increase blood cholesterol levels.
- Lead to an increase in the systolic blood pressure.
- Provoke cardiovascular disease.
- Increase the amount of fat in a person’s liver.
- Put an extreme amount of stress on the pancreas.
- Lead to headaches, including painful and persistent migraines.
- Cause depression.
- Increase the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease.
- Eat your calories, don’t drink them. Most of us consume between 300-400+ calories per day in the form of smoothies, soda, juices, milk drinks, alcohol, etc. Sweet drinks such as smoothies and juices once for once are more sugar dense than soda and should be avoided. Nature packaged oranges with the pulp and rind for a reason: the fiber in the orange helps the sugar in the orange absorb more slowly which is much better for the body. Smoothies have great foods in them but the fiber is pulverized and the net result is that the sugar rush from the smoothie is as hard on the pancreas as a can of soda.
- Once in a while most folks want a treat. It is very easy to lower the sugar in baked goods by following the ½ is enough practice. If the cookie recipe calls for a cup of sugar put in ½ cup instead. You will not taste the difference and you will lower your sugar intake significantly.
- Avoid using processed foods whenever possible. Most of them have hidden sugars.
- Remember that all carbs turn into sugar in the body. Help carbs digest slowly by increasing fiber. Balance all carbs with fiber. Choose high fiber breads, cereals, pasta, grains etc.
- Remember that a sugar is a sugar is a sugar. Agave, honey, brown sugar, corn syrup, fructose, molasses, dextrin, maltose, rice syrup, etc. are all sugars and any of these are processed in the same way by the body.
Dr. Lustig says that heart disease, hypertension, obesity and diabetes (all of which are at epidemic proportions in 21st century America) are much more related to the amount of sugar in our diet than the amount of fat. Cut the sugar and live healthy!!
BrightStar Care of Salt Lake City proudly provides Home Care and Support for Seniors, including 24 hour in home care, and support in independent and assisted living communities. We provide all levels of home care from companion services to Skilled Nursing. Medical Staffing, Home care, In-Home Skilled Nursing, In-Home Physical Therapy for pediatric, adult and geriatric patients, Companion and Personal Care for Elders with Alzheimer’s or Dementia. We also provide Home Child Care, Sitter and Nanny services for Children and Support for New Mothers. We Support Veterans as a partner of the VA/Veterans administration provider network and are a Home Care Provider for U.S. Department of Labor, Division of Energy Employees and Occupational Illness Compensation. We Accept most Long Term Care Insurance benefits, provide Hospice care, Live-in care, CNA, Caregiver, RN, LPN, RN Supervision, Compassionate Care, and Compatibility Guarantees. We are an ALS Society partner, Alzheimer Association member, and provide care for developmentally disabled and individuals of all ages with mental health and behavioral health diagnosis. Other services include safe discharge and transportation from the hospital or rehab facility, Post Op care both short and long term, Pre-Operation and preparation help and assistance, client monitoring for out of town family members. Proudly serving Sandy, Draper, Midvale, Salt Lake City, Park City, South Salt Lake, Mill Creek, Holladay, and Murray in UT.