Dr. Christine Davis, ND, is the Health Promotions Manager for Magna International. She obtained her Honours Bachelor of Science from the University
of Toronto before completing the four-year postgraduate program at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. Davis believes in the power of knowledge and promotes health education by holding health seminars, writing articles and leading corporate wellness initiatives at Magna. A strong advocate for preventative medicine and patient-centered care in Ontario, Davis currently practices naturopathic medicine at the P3 Clinic in Toronto, ON and the Magna Health Centre in Aurora, ON. Christine is passionate about health and she encourages and empowers each individual with new skills to achieve their health goals, optimize their
well-being and address the root causes of disease.
Q. I KNOW SUGAR ISN’T GOOD FOR ME, HOW EVER DO YOU FEEL IT’S NECESSARY TO ELIMINATE ALL SUGAR FROM MY DIET TO ACHIEVE OPTIMAL HEALTH? I FIND THE THOUGHT OF GIVING UPSUGAR SO DAUNTING. IS MODERATION THE KEY OR SHOULD I TRY SUGAR SUBSTITUTES?
A. In North America we are overloaded with sugar. Everything from ketchup and pasta sauce to instant oatmeal and yogurt has added sugar. We all know that sugar isn’t healthy for us. It contributes to weight gain (especially belly fat) anddiabetes. What isn’t as obvious is that sugar can also lead toheart disease, liver problems, poor concentration, memory problems, Alzheimer’s and accelerated aging. You should make efforts to reduce sugar as much as possible.
Although eliminating sugar entirely is difficult for most people, I recommend taking a sugar challenge and eliminating all sugar for two weeks. This is enough time for your palate to adapt to reduced sweetness, and you will likely find that
your tastes change.
SUGAR ALTERNATIVES
If you absolutely cannot live without sugar I recommend tryingStevia as a substitute. Stevia is all natural and it doesn’t have the same effect on blood sugar levels as other sweeteners. Coconut sugar and yacon syrup are also sweeteners with lower glycemic indexes, making them good alternatives when you need
something sweet. Raw honey is a good choice too because it has some beneficial health properties. Fruit is also a good choice when it comes to satisfying your
sweet tooth. Fruits have many beneficial qualities including vitamins, antioxidants, phytonutrients, fibre and water. Fruits are high in fructose, a sugar that is processed in our liver to be used for energy, however this natural sugar isn’t harmful unless it is consumed in high quantities. I would recommend two servings of fruits per day for women and three for men. VM
