By Skip Chase
CrossFit Mt Vernon

Yummy, aren't they? or are they? What do these products have in common? The box on the left is a 'treat' for our toddlers...the other products are found in almost every refrigerator in this country.
Ok....here I go....Hi, my name is Skip and I am a sugarholic!
I've written that statement on other posts on this blog. I am going to keep saying it. AMERICA IS ADDICTED TO SUGAR!!!!
I am going to keep saying it and continue to attempt to convince you to convince yourself that you are addicted to sugar, and you must change!!
Why are we addicted to sugar? How did we become addicted to sugar?
Article Source: here!
Look at the picture of the products, above. What do they have in common? They are loaded with SUGAR! The food manufacturers have been aware of our 'sugar addictions' for many years and they want to be sure we get our 'fix' every time we consume their products. The result.....we keep purchasing their products.
On the left we have a product with a target market of 'Toddlers'. In the box are small packages of chewy candy. TREATS. In each package are 21 pieces. I have them separated into groups of 3. According to the 'Nutritional Facts', one serving size is one package. Within each package there are 28 grams of carbohydrates(sugar/glucose). There are 4grams of sugar per teaspoon. 28 grams divided by 4 equals 7. Therefor, 3 pieces represents approximately 1 teaspoon of sugar.
Ok...did we get that...do we understand? Look at the picture again. The little chewy pieces are in groups of 3. In each package, there are 21 pieces. 3 pieces equal a teaspoon of sugar. Each package represents 7 teaspoons of sugar!!!
We take it a step further....imagine you are sitting at the kitchen table with your toddler. Smiling, happy, it is a beautiful day...God has blessed you with this precious toddler. You reach across the table for the sugar bowl. You grab a teaspoon....you look into your toddlers eyes and say, "I love you so much!" You dig the spoon into the sugar bowl, and offer your toddler a teaspoon of sugar. "Mommy wants you to have a treat!" Your toddler smiles and opens wide. "Yummy". You repeat the steps 6 more times giving your toddler 7 teaspoons of sugar within a few minutes.
Imagine giving your toddler 2 packages at a time, or sitting at the table while your toddler chokes down 14 teaspoons of sugar. (keep a glass of water handy. I know, I emptied many sugar bowls during childhood) The manufacturer did us one big favor...on the front of the box they write "Easy to chew and swallow." 3 pieces are by far easier to consume than a teaspoon of sugar!
I ask you....would any SANE mom or dad consider giving their toddler 7 teaspoons of sugar at any time? (please say NO!!)
Why did the manufacturer place 7 teaspoons of sugar into one package for your little toddler? Are you getting the picture?
Now, let's look at the yogurt.
As a 'client service', I began entering clients homes in 2001 to look at their refrigerator and pantry and give them nutritional advise. In 2004, if a client chose to hire me as their personal trainer, they had to give me permission to enter their home, unannounced, if I so choose, to look in their fridge. I did not want to waste my time nor their time and money if they were intending on eating poorly while training with me.
I find fruit flavored yogurt in every refrigerator. The yogurt manufacturers spend millions of dollars to entice us to eat their products. You've seen the ads in magazines, TV and on billboards. Cute, sexy gals in tiny bathing suits, and skimpy outfits sending us the marketing message, "If you eat this stuff, you'll be cute, HOT and sexy just like me!! Eat this luscious fruit flavored yogurt!"
Let's look inside this little container. In the picture, on the bottom, we an 8 ounce container of fruit flavored yogurt. Enlarge the picture by clicking on it. The label reads "Low Fat Yogurt". That is one of our purchasing 'hot buttons'. The other container reads, "99% fat free!" Wow, therefor, it HAS to be good, right? Hmmmmm....let's read on.
I looked at the nutritional facts labels. The bottom container has 46 grams of sugar.
Ok... remember....4 grams of sugar equals 1 teaspoon. The manufacturer, without asking us, "How many teaspoons of sugar would you like in this 8 ounce container", placed a little over 11 teaspoons of sugar per container.
Go get your sugar bowl. Get a teaspoon. Get a saucer. Using the teaspoon, place 11 teaspoons of sugar on the saucer. Go into your fridge and get a container of yogurt. (go on...you have yogurt in your fridge) Would you put 11 teaspoons of sugar into that tiny container?
Were you aware of the amount of sugar in your yogurt? How many containers do you eat per day? Per week? How many containers of 'Gogurt' do your children eat per day? Per week? Per month? Have you looked at the amount of sugar in the other foods they are eating on a daily basis?
Do you look at the nutritional facts label? (most people don't...they just shop for what they like) Do you know how to read a nutritional facts label? (most don't)
I have heard many clients say, "Yes, but they have the 'lite' versions." I agree, they do. They still have too much sugar. The next time you go to your local grocery store, go to the cooler with the yogurt. You will see rows and rows of yogurt. You will see, on average, twice as many 'original' style yogurt in the case because of the demand. They maintain a larger inventory of the sugar filled original because that is what we primarily purchase and they know WE ARE ADDICTED TO SUGAR!!! The more sugar, the more we will consume and the more we will purchase!
I am addicted to sugar. However, my fear of diabetes (my brother passed away at 42 due to diabetes. My mom suffers with diabetes)far outweighs my desire to eat it. When I walk into the grocery store, my eyes see all the items filled with sugar and a 'switch of desire' goes off. I've learned to repeat to my self, "Poison, poison, poison!!" and I pass on by, and refuse to pick it up.
So, you ask, "Skip, what's wrong with sugar?" ....to be continued...
also, there is another terrible poison in those luscious little toddler treats and most of the foods targeted to our children....Do you care?
Start reading the nutritional facts labels on EVERYTHING you eat. NO EXCUSES!! It's your life and health.
Posted by Chris on 02/16 at 07:08 AM
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