Is It Just Me, or Is Food Getting Sweeter?

If you’ve gotten the impression that more and more sugar is being added to common supermarket foods – you’re right.

A report in the May 6, 2007 London Sunday Times, based on an examination of an industry handbook on food composition, found that food companies have doubled the amount of sugar they add to their more popular products since 1978.

For example, in 1978, Kellogg’s Special K cereal had 9.6 grams of sugar per 100 grams. This has now nearly doubled to 17 grams. Some canned soups have shown a similar increase.

Interestingly, even fruits and vegetables are now sweeter, probably due to market pressures forcing growers to breed hybrids with higher sugar content. Between 1978 and 2002, the sugar in a banana rose from 16.2 grams per 100 grams to 20.9 grams; pears and carrots got sweeter by a similar percentage.

Is it any wonder that obesity and diabetes are becoming worldwide epidemics?

The only rational response to this situation is to bypass the industrial food complex as much as possible.

1) Buy unprocessed foods from farmer’s markets and health food stores, and, if possible, select non-hybrid, heirloom varieties of fruits and vegetables over modern hybrids, which are quickly becoming analogs of sugar beets.

2) Best choice of all: grow as much of your own food as you can.

Thank you, Dr. Weil, for these important points on my favorite subject - food!

The night before you compete in a Body Building show, they hold an Athlete's meeting. All of the athlete's that plan on showing up for the show the next morning must be there to register.

What a sight; buff, tanned, and gorgeous, about 150 athletes showed up for the meeting in November. And one of the most notable features of body builders, each athlete had, in tow, their food cooler! I love body builders!

Anyhow, the couple sitting next to me had elaborate salads, with fancy dressings and toppings. Me, the Natural Nutritionist, could be seen eating green salad right out of the bag, stringless snap peas, and mini-carrots, without dressing.

They asked me how I could stand all those veggies with nothing on them...I replied that I didn't even notice that I was missing anything. I have learned to love the taste of raw veggies, chopped and munched on the spot!

After reading Dr. Weil's words above, you may just want to give it a try.

Take control, people, before the food industry, completely takes control of you!