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Eliminating Sugar for a Healthier Life
By: Scottsdale Weight Loss Center
Published: November 7, 2015
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Throughout Scottsdale Phoenix, and Glendale, people are cutting sugar in the name of healthy living. Now there is further evidence that suggests this might be exactly the right thing to do.
A newly published study reports that reducing sugar from a child’s diet can actually deliver health benefits in as few as 10 days. This comes out as a slew of research gains publicity concerning the level of sugar in the average American diet, and the many health consequences that are associated with consuming a diet that is overloaded with sugar.
There has been a long standing discussion across medical weight loss programs surrounding the best practices of calorie consumption. While the basic rule of weight loss is to eat less and move more, there are many who argue that simply eating less isn’t the true answer. The answer rests in making smarter choices in the foods that you do eat. Researchers from the University of California at San Francisco are of this mindset, and set out to prove the idea that all calories are not equal—especially when placed in the mouth of a child.
The Problem with Sugar
Not all unhealthy foods are loaded with sugar. There are plenty of junk foods, including processed foods and fast food that are low in sugar but high in cholesterol, sodium, or fat content. Yet sugar often stands out in the area of eating healthy, and there is a good reason why. The body reacts to sugar in ways that it does not typically react to other nutrients. For example, while sugar seems to give us a surge of energy, it actually increases fatigue, stimulates hunger, and will even prompt sudden mood swings.
In children, the effects of sugar are amplified. Unfortunately, the issues listed above are just the tip of the iceberg in regards to health concerns connected to sugar consumption.
In a recent study, researchers replaced added sugar with starchy foods. Calorie to calorie, the diets were very similar. The only difference was that the starchy foods were free of added sugars. The diet did not eliminate naturally produced sugars like fructose, which are found in fruits and vegetables. The subjects followed the prescribed diets and researchers watched for health factors like blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.
What makes this study stand out from others of its kind is that the subjects that followed the healthier diets were children between the age of 9 and 18.
After only 10 days, the health benefits were profound. Kids showed LDL cholesterol levels an average of 10% lower than prior to the diet change, blood pressure decreased by five points and triglycerides fell by an average of 33 points. Blood sugar and insulin levels also saw drastic improvements. This was all without any weight loss.
Researchers at the University of California are already looking into duplicating the study while focusing on adults, but the information already at hand showcases the importance of making healthy changes to your eating habits. Simply adjusting your diet for added sugar can help you overcome chronic health problems and will support your weight loss goals.
Nick
Nick's Story
"I wish I would have come here first. We spend all our time reacting to the next great weight loss tip or program. It might work for a while, but does not last and we end up yo-yoing from one fad to the next – as we gain more weight." Read More
Gina
Lost 44.5 lbs
"I had no trouble adhering to the meals and they really helped catapult my progress! The classes were so beneficial to me because they helped change my thinking about how I viewed health, nutrition, and fitness.
I will always have my relationship with Scottsdale Weight Loss Center. They truly helped me change my life forever." Read More
Lauren
Lost 60 lbs
"Dr. Ziltzer and everyone who I have come in contact with at the Scottsdale Weight Loss office have been so encouraging and I look forward to seeing them each week. It is now a year and 2 months later since I started. I am down 60 lbs., which is the average amount a 9-year-old weighs, it is crazy to think I lost a whole person! I feel amazing, I hit my goal weight in November 2021 just before Thanksgiving. Nothing on my body hurts anymore..." Read More
Chuck
Lost 66 lbs
"The best thing I did was call the Scottsdale Weight Loss Center. I have a lot more energy, I'm not hungry, and it feels great.
You can take it from me that this is a program that produces results. The staff is always positive, supportive, and never judgmental.
Your visits always result in positive reinforcement, no matter if you had a good week or a bad week." Read More
Emily
Lost 101 lbs
"Here I am at the lowest I have been since high school weighing in at 155lbs. I have lost 101 lbs, BMI of 39 when I started, to 21.6, and of course at body fat % of 47.1 to 26.5%. I told myself by my 30th birthday I wanted to be confident in the way I look and I owe it all to SWLC. The entire staff is so welcoming and they are rooting for you just as much as you are rooting for yourself...." Read More
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Meet Our Team
Robert Ziltzer, MD, FACP, FAAP, FOMA
Obesity Medicine Certified Physician
Diana Bone, FNP-C
Specializing in Obesity Medicine
Craig Primack, MD, FACP, FAAP, MFOMA
Obesity Medicine Certified Physician
Kristen Ash, FNP-C, FNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner
Alicia Earley, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner
