Health Hazards of White Sugar

Lynne Melcombe
alive Natural Health Guides
64 pages, soft cover, $9.95

It's an undisputed fact that sugar is uncalled for in our diets. Not only is it unnecessary, but our bodies also create blood sugar during the digestion of carbohydrates, rendering sugar consumption absolutely redundant. However, because of its widespread acceptance and its insidious use in the food marketing and manufacturing processes, we tend to live our daily lives unaware of sugar's harmful effects.

Health Hazards of White Sugar takes this dietary bull by the horns and explains what sugar is, how it behaves in the body and the role it plays in modern diseases. Author Lynne Melcombe identifies a long list of sugar-related ailments, including more than just the usual diabetes and tooth decay. Asthma, insomnia, menstrual problems, osteoporosis and addiction are just a few. The in-depth sections on hypoglycemia, depression, high blood pressure and heart disease will prove very valuable to those who suffer from these conditions. Equally pertinent are Melcombe's discussions about sugar-related diseases in children and her examination of the role of sugar in business and government. The book's style is informative and easy to understand. Melcombe makes every page interesting and relevant.

For those who may be at risk of complacency regarding sugar intake, this alive Natural Health Guide includes a list of common sugar "aliases" or "nicknames" to help identify and recognize the hidden sugars on food labels. Also revealing are the artificial sweeteners currently in use and in development, which, the book reveals, have their own set of troublesome and potentially dangerous side-effects.

Yet despite its sober title, Health Hazards of White Sugar gives equal time to exploring the healthy alternatives. For folks who shop in natural food stores, these options are numerous and relatively easy to find. As Melcombe reports, the health benefits associated with the consumption of honey, maple syrup and whole sugars are enough to make the conversion to natural sweeteners an easy one. To complete this guidebook, chef Fred Edrissi provides a full-colour recipe section that makes use of natural sweeteners for diverse breakfast, baking and specialty treats that the whole family will love.

Health Hazards of White Sugar is a thorough yet simple guide to help readers remove harmful sugars from the diet, while maintaining sweetness in life. It is an eye-opening book that enables everyone to take a small but effective step towards better health and improved quality of life.