Leader in Integrative Medicine to Restore Health and Prevent Disease Dec 2014

Seasons Greetings from Markham Integrative Medicine.

Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy Holiday Season and a Healthy New Year.

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Dr. John Gannage MD CCFP

Medicine Professional Corporation

300 Main St. Markham N. Markham, ON L3P1Y8

905.294.2335 www.integrative-medicine.ca

The Sugar Stakes By Drs. Natasha Klemm & John Gannage

Eggnog, candy canes, fruitcake…What do these have in common? Yes, they are synonymous with the winter holidays, but also a part of the billion-dollar confectionery industry whose sole purpose is to make money, not health. At Markham Integrative Medicine, we stress the importance of a whole foods diet, knowing that added sugars, artificial sweeteners, preservatives and dyes, which are abundant in our food, lead to the tremendous prevalence of chronic disease. Inflammation, oxidative stress, dysbiosis, (aka hallmarks of any chronic disease) all result from a diet that is chemical-rich and nutrient-poor.

But you already know that. You have chosen to take an active role in your health and have probably come to a better understanding about the impact of food on human illness. So why do we still eat foods that we know are wreaking havoc on our bodies?

Did you know??

Dr. Gannage is a peer

assessor for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of

Ontario.

When the CPSO requires an expert opinion on CAM

practice, based on a public complaint or standards of

care, Dr Gannage is retained to act

as a medical investigator.

Yet another way Dr. Gannage assists the profession in

moving integrative medicine forward, while also ensuring public protection and safety.

Leader in Integrative Medicine to Restore Health and Prevent Disease

Dec 2014

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The answer lies beyond just your willpower. It relates to the science and business of food; more specifically, to sugar.

Remember that every 4 grams = one teaspoon of sugar.

An individual cup of Activia vanilla-flavored yogurt contains over 4 teaspoons. But you probably guessed it had sugar—it tastes sweet!

What about a can of tomato soup? It contains 7 teaspoons of sugar! You may not even realize that you are consuming sugar because it has very effectively been hidden in non-assuming foods—salad dressings, pasta sauce, soups, ketchup and prepared forms of meat like sausages. This is in addition to the fat-free and low-fat options Canadians consume in an effort to lose weight. These all contain high amounts of sugar. Hence, the average Canadian consumes 26 teaspoons of sugar a day (even if is/her coffee is black). But packaged foods are just so &@*% yummy…That’s because mathematics is used to make a processed food delicious by calculating the perfect ratio of sugar to fat to salt. Usually the equation asks for more sugar. With an increasing requirement for sweeteners to sell products, government subsidies favoring corn crops and their refinement have made the production of High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), which is found in candies, baked goods, pop etc. very, very cheap. Between 1970 and 1990, the consumption of HFCS rose 1000%. No other food group consumption rose to that extent, but what else has risen?…cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity and Alzheimer’s. HFCS is a huge problem because fructose interferes with the hormone that tells you to stop eating: leptin. The result: you want more food. A tactic taken by the food industry is to control the message about the impact of sugar. Many “experts” go on record to say that the research is not conclusive regarding the impact of sugar on your health. The major problem continues with the organizations that we look to for education and guidance. A tale of mixed messages and ambiguity. Only recently have limits on sugar consumption been promoted, but in Canada have they been enough? The American Heart Association limits sugar consumption in men and women to 9 and 6 teaspoons a day, respectively, whereas Canada’s Heart and Stroke Foundation limits sugar to 12 teaspoons a day. The WHO wants sugar to be 5% or less of your daily calories, meanwhile Canada’s Food Guide ambiguously tells us to “limit” consumption, without providing specific guidelines. Does this mean that one chocolate bar a day is okay, but two is really a no-no? Because sugar is found everywhere and information is often misleading, the best strategy is to consume a diet that doesn’t come from a box or bag, but is grown or raised right before it hits your table. This holiday season strive to make everything from scratch. And make a proverbial toast to your health!

Stay Connected…

www.integrative-medicine.ca Twitter: @DrJGannageMD

Facebook: /markhamintegrativemedicine Skype: gannage300

Dr. John Gannage MD, CCFP