Flu Season?

In the 70s, there was a study on refined sugar at Loma Linda University. (Refined sugar is any sugar where vital minerals are removed, such as white, brown, powdered, cane, or turbinado sugar, or corn syrup.) In the study, five groups were given different amounts of sugar ranging from no sugar to 60 teaspoons. Across all groups, white blood cell efficacy decreased as sugar consumption increased. (If you’re new to immune-system biology: white blood cells help fight infection.) The group that was given the largest quantity of refined sugar showed a 50 percent decrease in white blood cells over the course of five hours. 

Refined sugar decreases immunity, immediately. 

My son’s martial arts studio hands out Kool-Aid on Friday evening events. My daughter’s ballet class is going to celebrate her going away with Mini Oreos. These are freaking athletic institutions! It happens at school too—and everywhere else we turn. Lollipops at the doctor’s office. Junk food at playdates. Candy at the neighbors. The number of times each week I have to decide whether to speak up or suck it up around others feeding my kids refined sugar is insane. And sure enough, after three days in a row of birthday parties and desserts with friends, my daughter is down with some bug. 

One thing that happens when you remove refined sugar from your diet is that you notice what it does when it creeps back in. My family used to get sick every time there was a bug going around. But since I’ve started being mindful about our refined sugar intake, we are getting sick about half as much as we used to, and are often the last ones to get a virus if we do. Refined sugar is straight-up poison and yet, it’s a Herculean task to try and avoid it, to go against social norms when raising kids. I recognize that I have to relax and let things go sometimes, or it could backfire from a parenting standpoint. But what if people were handing out heroin on Halloween? Turns out refined sugar is more addictive. 

Generally speaking, there are no bad foods. Only different bodies that can or cannot process these foods. But refined sugar is the one exception—it's harmful to everyone. As I’ve learned in nutrition school, it isn’t simply “unbeneficial,” it actually depletes our already low mineral supplies just so the body can process it.  According to a joint study with Harvard and the Institute of Public Health in Mexico City, a steady amount in your diet is shown to increase chances of breast cancer. It can also impact mental health by reducing serotonin, essential to good mood and sound sleep. 

We are far from collective understanding here.  

If you want to keep yourself and your family healthy this holiday season, the number one thing to do is avoid white sugar. It’s possible. I’ve converted all our favorite baking recipes to use unrefined sugars like maple syrup, honey, and coconut sugar. You don’t need to deprive yourselves or miss out on traditions, you just need to find desserts or dishes that use these healthier sweeteners—or better yet, make them yourself.