staying healthy in the fast laneCaffeine Conclusions: Controlling This Legal Drug
The reason I have spent so much time on caffeine use and
abuse is because I see its adverse affect on people’s lives on a daily
basis. I have seen it affect mine. For short periods, I have let it get
the best of me. If not controlled, caffeine excess from coffee, tea,
sodas, energy drinks, and some medications can lead you to some
significant health problems treated symptomatically with medica-
tion and unnecessary medical tests. All this suffering, money, and
time might be totally avoided with awareness and control of this
legal drug. Take a caffeine break weekly. Just that can help you be
in control of your health a bit more, which is what this book is all
about.
Sugar—Friend or Foe?
Sugars are the simplest form of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates
are important to all living things with regard to storage and trans-
port of energy and structure. The common term “sugar” refers
mainly to sucrose or table sugar. Sugar primarily comes from sugar
cane and sugar beets, but it also comes from fruit, honey, sorghum,
maple syrup, and other sources.
Sugar in itself can’t be bad. Every cell needs it. We evolved
searching daily for calories and sweet things. More often than not,
there wasn’t enough. Our bodies have evolved to being very effi-
cient at storing energy to be used later (referred to as the “Thrifty
Gene Hypothesis”).^5 The natural sugars we came in contact with
were from fruit mainly, and possibly some honey. Other sugars we
consumed were stored as complex sugars or starches in plants
such as root vegetables or maybe wild grains. All of these sugars
came with protective plant compounds, phytonutrients, antioxi-
dants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and because they were in the
context of the whole food, they were released slower or had what
is called a “lower glycemic response,” which is associated with
greater health.