Peter-ko Blog » weight training http://peter-ko.com Tue, 12 Apr 2011 10:31:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 Let Go of Your Poisons Part 1 http://peter-ko.com/let-go-of-your-poisons-part-1 http://peter-ko.com/let-go-of-your-poisons-part-1#comments Sat, 20 Jun 2009 08:13:13 +0000 Admin http://peter-ko.com/?p=277 It’s never become more apparent than in the 21st century that the earth is saturated with poisons. It’s nearly impossible to avoid them, despite our best attempts.  The media, coupled with the “all-knowing experts,” advise us to steer clear of pesticides, household cleaners, processed foods, food additives, preservatives, and gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles. If it were up to them, we would all be living in the mountains of Montana, growing our own food, drinking aquifer-supplied water, and driving a hybrid car (or riding a horse). While this might be an ideal way to live, unfortunately for you and me, it’s likely not possible. That’s why it’s even more important to build up and support our immune systems and make healthy choices when it comes to what we eat, what types of foods we choose to have in our homes, and which foods we provide for our children. I don’t want to sound paranoid. And my desire is not to make you eliminate all of the things that are a part of our everyday lives. I will, however, offer you the following scientific evidence and guidelines for avoiding what I believe to be the most toxic substances to our bodies, which drain our energy!

Sugar and hydrogenated fats. These two toxins, which are consumed by the billions of tons each year, literally drain our mental and physical energy and infect us like a poison.

Here’s a brief explanation of each and how they negatively affect us:
“Sugar makes you irritable, hyperactive, and causes premature aging…”Sugar is the most consumed substance on the planet. Whether it’s in the form of fructose, sucrose, dextrose, corn syrup, maltodextrin, or confectionary sugar—this poison negatively affects our mood and behavior. It makes us want more and leaves us cranky when we don’t have it.

Scientific evidence has shown that sugar, in any form, depletes essential B vitamins and lowers your body’s resistance to bacteria, viruses, and yeasts. Sugar makes you irritable, hyperactive, and causes premature aging through a process called glycosylation (pronounced gly ko si lay shun). And to no surprise, sugar is the number one culprit to adult-onset (Type II) diabetes, which is typically self-induced as a result of a life laden with sugar. At this point, the body is no longer capable of disposing of insulin properly, which becomes a serious risk factor for heart disease.

The Insulin “Roller Coaster” Ride
When you eat sugar, it enters your bloodstream all at once, instead of slowly as it would as part of a whole-food, naturally occurring meal. Insulin is then immediately secreted and shuttles the sugar away into cells within muscle or adipose tissue (fat). Now that there is not enough sugar in your bloodstream, your brain senses that you are in a time of famine and sends a message to the adrenal glands to release adrenaline and cortisol.

Adrenaline releases energy from sugar stored in your liver and muscles, and cortisol begins to break down your own muscle mass into sugar like I shared earlier. This sequence of events is called the insulin -> adrenaline -> cortisol cycle. It’s a vicious “roller coaster” ride for your body, and the worst part is that afterwards, it leaves you feeling lethargic, cranky, and surprisingly, craving even more refined, sugary foods.

Thus, the cycle starts over again. As you can see, it’s a downward spiral to poor health and even poorer energy levels.

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