Good things about sugar

Sugar has always come under flak for being a high-calorie food. Considered as taboo for the diabetics, it has also been associated with the risks of causing obesity, hypoglycemia, hardening of arteries ,fatigue, violent behavior, hyperactivity, aching extremities, tooth decay and many other ailments, of which some could well be just over-hyped.

Dr Fredric Brandt, popularly known as ‘The Baron of Botox’ has denounced it further, hitting exactly where it hurts, especially, for women who are fond of sugar but too obsessed with their looks. He has said, "In a nutshell, sugar hastens the degradation of elastin and collagen, both key skin proteins. In other words, it actively ages you." He believes that by simply reducing your sugar intake, you can turn back the clock by ten years and improve the texture, tone and radiance of your skin. Hardly has this news sizzled out, there is another report linking it to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a top cause of vision loss.

But some of us have a sweet tooth and just can’t resist the cravings for those sweet dishes laden with sugar and oozing of desi ghee. Jaggery, which has loads of iron in it, is considered as a better substitute for sugar, though, some wouldn’t prefer the altered taste and look of the dishes prepared with it. Is sugar so bad that you have you avoid it completely? Or would you like to go by the dictum ‘Anything in moderation is not bad.’?

Even, eating too much of the same kind of the so called healthy food is considered unhealthy by nutritionists. Besides, there is little evidence to prove that sugar alone is specifically putting you at the risk of all kinds of diseases. Sedentary lifestyle, heredity, stress, frequent bingeing, an over-ambitious and a high-strung nature –a deadly combination of some or all these factors could also be at work. So it’s a change in your lifestyle, habits, and diet that you have to concentrate upon rather than blaming only ‘sugar’ for your ills. Here's one home remedy with sugar.

Halt Hiccups with sugar

For sweet relief from this often annoying, somethimes painful and alwyas embarrassing problem, swallow a spoonful of sugar. Hiccups occur when hte nerve that controls your diaphragm becomes irritated, sending the muscle into spasm. Delivering glucose to messenger nerves at the back of the throat may shock the main nerve into quieting down.

By the way here are a few nice things about sugar. (Courtesy: Sweet by Nature)

Good Things About Sugar

A teaspoon of sugar has just 15 calories.

Sweet by Nature^® and perfected in sugar beets and sugar cane, sugar is called the "gold standard of sweeteners." Often imitated, never duplicated!

Sugar is brain food.

Sugar-and carbohydrates in general-are converted to blood glucose, the fundamental fuel needed by the brain.

Sugar makes nutritious foods tasty enough to eat.

Just imagine what healthy foods like oatmeal, grapefruit and bran muffins would taste like without a sprinkle of sugar.

Sugar helps heal wounds.

Sugar has been used for centuries to successfully aid in the healing of wounds. Sugar dries the wound thus preventing the growth of bacteria.

Sugar inhibits mold and yeast growth.

Sugar increases the useful life of jams and jellies by binding the water needed by mold and yeast for growth.

Sugar is used in Gulkand, a healthy Rose Petal Jam

In Gulkand or rose petal preserve, sugar is extensively used as a preservative. Gulkand is a health food. It is a coolant and provides great relief from acidity, constipation, bloodshot eyes, dark circles etc. Read more about it in Homemade Gulkand - Rose Petal Preserve To Cool Your Body.

Pic credits: istockphoto.com

The ache of acne (pimples)

Acne is often the bane of a pretty face. It is painful more emotionally than physically, for the scar that it leaves behind can last for a lifetime, adding to one’s miserable look & feeling. No doubt many expensive skin care clinics have mushroomed in ever nook & corner, offering to clear all the scars & blemishes on the face, but they are very expensive & charge exorbitant price for each sitting; not everyone can afford them. So why not try out this simple skin care regimen to minimize the damage caused by acne & as far as possible prevent its eruption.

Natural remedies for dark circles around your eyes

Dark circles around your eyes. How unsightly they look and even your best dress and layers of make-up sometimes does not quite succeed in concealing them! Blame it on your genes or your lifestyle, but, you cannot deny the fact that these are a blot on your beauty . And they become more prominent as you age. Let’s just debunk some of the myths as well as unearth some of the facts about the causes of these ‘ panda eyes ’. Dark circles under eyes usually are temporary and not a medical concern. You may be surprised to learn that fatigue usually isn't the cause of dark circles. Instead, the most common cause is nasal congestion. When your nose is congested, veins that usually drain from your eyes into your nose become widened (dilated) and darker.

Home remedies for common cold

Common cold is a very common malady which affects people during monsoons. (Also see the post Beauty and body care in monsoon for a monsoon beauty regimen.) It can be caused by any one of more than 200 viruses. Normally it is confined to the nose and throat although the virus can infect the larynx and lungs. It is said that there is no particular cure for colds, they are naturally relieved within a week. Treatment is just an attempt to relieve its symptoms such as headache, stuffy nose, sore-throat and congestion. Paracetamol tablets are generally taken to get relief from these symptoms.

Beating stress – some tips

It is very difficult to come across a happy, contented face in a crowd these days. Stress has become a way of life with people these days. Sure, we all need to be a little tense once in a blue moon. After all it acts as a positive force and helps us get things done. But when tension becomes a habit with us and we are unable to cope up with it, we say we are undergoing stress. Some people are simply born more tense than others. Children of over-anxious parents generally grow up to be more anxious than the others.

For a good night's sleep

Everyone of us, at one time or the other has been pestered by sleep problems. Sleeplessness could be transient and short-term or chronic. When it becomes a chronic problem it takes the form of insomnia and requires special attention. The first noticeable signs of poor sleeping habits are dark circles under the eyes pale skin, hair loss. Getting enough sleep is a must. Without proper sleep, your mind does not work as clearly and efficiently. You feel drained physically and mentally. Exactly how much you need to sleep depends on your own individual internal system. While some can do with 4-5 hours; most of us need 7 to 9 hours of sleep. But instead of reaching for a pill or a glass of wine, it’s wise to try out these time-honoured remedies and lifestyle changes.

Comments

unknown10:29 AM
Your brain uses sugar so it is a quick fix for the sleepy student - it is the slump both mentally and physically that comes afterward that is the problem
Prajna10:40 AM
The only benefit that sugar has is that it does kill bacteria when applied to an open wound.
On the opposite side, sugar decreases the activity of the immune system. The main source of sugar consumption among young people is in the form of soft drinks, which are related to weight gain. Childhood obesity is the fastest growing (no pun intended, but it works) health problem among teens. Also more and more teens are becoming diabetics, and many of them will require medications for the rest of their lives which will be shorter than if they have good health. Some doctors speculate that if sugar had to be approved by the USFDA, it would not receive approval because it causes more harm than good.
Uma5:34 PM
processed and refined sugar is not good.
The only benefit that sugar has is that it does kill bacteria when applied to an open wound.
On the opposite side, sugar decreases the activity of the immune system. The main source of sugar consumption among young people is in the form of soft drinks, which are related to weight gain. Childhood obesity is the fastest growing (no pun intended, but it works) health problem among teens. Also more and more teens are becoming diabetics, and many of them will require medications for the rest of their lives which will be shorter than if they have good health. Some doctors speculate that if sugar had to be approved by the USFDA, it would not receive approval because it causes more harm than good.
unknown9:49 AM
I AGREE that obesity is definitely a problem.