Sugar: The True Devil of Halloween Festivities!
By Carollyn Mushro
Halloween is just a few weeks away, and the rest of the holidays aren’t far behind. Like it or not-- fall is here! Now, we already know that the sugary snacks that accompany these festivities can lead to excess calories and dental issues. But did you know that sugar can drastically lower your immune function, and cause other health issues, too?
Typically, fall & winter is known as “cold & flu season,” but it would really be more aptly named, “Lack of vitamin D & increased sugar season.” In the fall & winter months, we simply don’t go outside as often, which leads to decreased levels of natural vitamin D from the sun. Then, we eat treats that we wouldn’t normally consume at other times of the year & we fall out of good habits, creating the perfect storm for our immune system to be left vulnerable.
Our gut is our first line of defense against potential bacterial & viral invaders. Consuming sugar allows bacteria & yeast to thrive in our guts. It can even cause infections if left unchecked. If we don’t have a properly balanced gut microbiome with a healthy amount of good bacteria (from a probiotic, for example), our body’s front-line defenders can’t do their job.
Sugar is 7 times more addictive than cocaine. It causes a very similar release of dopamine in the brain. Neuroplasticity studies have shown that users have similar behavioral addictions. Sugar addiction also carries with it an increased risk of depression for the same reason. When we get dopamine hits from sugar on a normal basis, it becomes increasingly difficult to get a natural dopamine fix from everyday activities like listening to music or spending time outdoors.
Additionally, sugar causes our glucose levels to spike and then drop suddenly— leading to mood swings, fatigue, increased stress, headaches and of course, more sugar cravings. It’s a vicious cycle, really!
And to boot, sugar intake increases the risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer. There has been a direct link seen between breast, and colon cancer with sugar consumption. This is likely due to the fact that insulin is one of the key factors behind the growth and multiplication of cells, and sugar spikes insulin to abnormally high levels. Cancer cells quite literally feed on sugar-- this is why PET scans require the patient to utilize glucose to obtain a reading.
As if that wasn’t enough compelling evidence, eating sugar makes us look older. It speeds up aging because it reduces the ability for collagen to repair itself, and therefore, gives us premature wrinkles. Yikes!
Unfortunately, giving up your sugar habit isn’t as easy as deciding to stop adding it to your coffee or passing on dessert. Sugar is hiding where you least expect it—and even masquerading as names you wouldn’t expect. Did you know that sugar is usually one of the top ingredients in your average loaf of bread? Get familiar with reading labels and do a quick search for alternative terms for sugar if you are committed to getting this empty-calorie trickster out of your body temple for good.
Ready to encourage your kids to consume less sugar? This starts, of course, with the foods that are permitted within the doors of your home. In our house, sugary treats are left for very special occasions. For Halloween, try letting them choose their 5 favorite candies from their trick-or-treat bag...and the rest gets traded in for a coveted toy, book or art project.
About the Contributor
Carollyn is a wellness enthusiast living in the Chicago burbs with her husband and two children.
She loves inspiring families to find their own healthy journey through holistic modalities.
She loves kombucha, travel, and questioning the status quo.
You can find her on IG: @carollyn.mushro
