Dr. Chauncey Crandall, in his Heart Healthy Report for October 2014, contained an article regarding refined sugar. Here is what Dr. Crandall had to say to a reader who submits the following question:
“I am trying to wean myself off of refined sugar. What is your feeling on using agave syrup or other natural sweeteners instead?" - Corliss L., Southlake, Texas Refined sugar is dangerous to the heart and should be avoided. You’ve taken a step in the right direction there. In fact, a recent study conducted by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the more sugar a person eats, the greater his or her risk of dying from heart disease – even if that person is not obese. Agave syrup, which comes from the agave cactus plant, is a healthier choice. So are honey and maple syrup, both of which are also natural sweeteners. But these sweeteners, like sugar, are high in calories, so even though they are healthier choices, you shouldn’t overdo them.Here’s another interesting article concerning sugar from the October issue of The Blaylock Wellness Report titled “Coca-Cola and Cancer Risk”:
Coca-Cola is one of the most widely consumed soft drinks in the world, especially among the young. Today, it is sold in more than 200 countries. Concern over the heavy consumption of the drink led to a study of the effects of Coca-Cola consumption in Sprague-Dawley rats over a prolonged period. The results were published in the “Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.” What the researchers found was shocking – but not altogether unexpected, as high consumption of sugar alone is associated with a higher cancer rate in animals. Of the animals consuming Coca-Cola, researchers found a significant increase in incidence of breast cancer in females, and in their offspring as well. They also saw a statistically significant increase in noncancerous tumors in the pancreas in both males and females – and their offspring. While not statistically significant, they did find a higher incidence of cancer of the pancreas in the cola drinkers. The researchers noted that cancer of the pancreas is extremely rare in this species of rats. Statistical significance is not necessary to show a connection. With a dramatic increase in pancreatic cancer, parents and the public in general should cease drinking sweetened drinks.
