Sugar Confusion – Mom’s Dilemma

Did you know that some foods that are called healthy by advertisers and media are anything but healthy? Some foods are loaded with carbs and sugar – sugar called by other names e.g.

• Corn sweetener
• Corn syrup, or corn syrup solids
• Dehydrated Cane Juice
• Dextrin
• Dextrose
• Evaporated Cane Juice
• Fruit juice concentrate
• High-fructose corn syrup
• Sorghum or sorghum syrup

(http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/whattoeat/a/sugars.htm)

We know a lot more now than we did years ago, before the internet was available. Knowing what I know now, in hindsight I feel terrible about my attitude toward my mom’s struggle. It was ignorance really – not knowing anything about what she was going through. Trying to eat right is a real challenge. I remember my mom calling me one day upset because one of her doctors saw her eating yogurt while she was waiting for an appointment. He stormed up to her, snatched it out of her hand, and yelled at her for eating the sugar-filled yogurt. She had no idea that the yogurt she was eating was ‘bad’ because all we ever hear about is how healthy it is to eat yogurt. You almost need a PhD in nutrition to realize some foods called ‘healthy’ are loaded with sugar.

The insulin makes some folks hungry. Although I didn’t complain too much when she would ‘cheat’ on occasion and have a slice of cake at an event or a couple of cookies, I would ask her sometimes, “Should you eat that?” I remember she began saying things like she had to ‘feed’ the insulin. I wonder how she ever got that idea.

What I now know is that it takes education about diabetes, good monitoring and self-control to master living with the condition. It helps when family and friends know more and can assist with compassion – not yelling or belittling, but with understanding because we recognize how hard it is to be strictly eating good, healthy foods just to lose weight. The struggle with cravings is real! Feeling deprived leads to mood swings, binges, etc.

• Learn to recognize all the different names of sugar
• Just because the label says healthy doesn’t automatically mean it is healthy
• Advise with compassion
• Provide alternatives (especially during holidays and celebrations)

by Cyndie Webster Beacham

About Rev. Cynthia Jackson

Rev. Cynthia Jackson is the administrator of the Rhema4U Blog and Innovations Ministries Director. Rev. Jackson is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was licensed and ordained under the tutelage of Bishop David G. Evans. She is an associate minister at Bethany Baptist Church located in Lindenwold, New Jersey. Rev. Jackson founded Innovations Ministries in 2001. Innovations Ministries provides dynamic and innovative programs and services for individuals and families dealing with various health-related issues. She is a gifted teacher, preacher, conference speaker and writer. God has anointed Rev. Jackson to be a spiritual midwife with a passion to empower others to birth God's vision for their lives. Rev. Jackson holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Organizational Management from Eastern University, a Master of Science Degree in Health Administration from Saint Joseph's University and a Master of Science Degree in Christian Counseling from Cairn University.