While there is no denying that genetics play a role in the development of some diseases; other factors such as your lifestyle and certain environmental factors can increase your risk of developing disease.

change what you can-your lifestyle

Thus, your goal should be on implementing some lifestyle changes and environmental modifications to help reduce your risk of developing disease, especially if you have a genetic predisposition.

African Americans are at increased risk for some cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, heart attack and stroke).

THE biggest area where you CAN make a change to improve your overall health is in the foods that you eat and stock in your cupboards.

Simple sugars (aka: monosaccharide), are glucose, fructose, and galactose.

Compound sugars are made up of two simple sugars (also known as disaccharides). Examples of compound sugars are sucrose, lactose, and maltose.

Regular table sugar (also known as SUCROSE is an added sugar) is a compound sugar that easily dissolves in liquids and is made up of two simple sugars (GLUCOSE and FRUCTOSE).

How much ADDED sugar A DAY IS RECOMMENDED?

Naturally occurring sugars are not the enemy; however, added sugar is. Added sugar causes problems when eaten in excess (more than 25 grams per day for women and 36 grams per day for men).

Become aware of the amount of added sugar that you are eating daily.  Sugar (natural and processed) is present in just about everything you eat; however, it seems that most of the damage is caused by fructose.  Therefore, you need to pay attention to the source of your sugar.  Is it natural (fruits and plants), or is it processed (added to foods and beverages)? 

FRUCTOSE IS ADDICTIVE, CAUSING YOU TO DESIRE MORE

1. One of the reasons why FRUCTOSE is so addictive, is because it is very sweet, which makes it very enticing to your taste buds. 
2. This increased palatability may increase your feeding behavior and encourage your overeating. 
3. Fructose also stimulates dopaminergic pathways, inducing the addiction-like behaviors of binging and sugar dependence.
4. To further compound the issue, fructose induces leptin resistance. Fructose also disrupts hypothalamic blood flow and the signals to the brain telling you that your stomach is full.

hfcs is an added sugar in many of the foods you eat

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) came onto the market in the 1970s as a cheaper way to sweeten food products.  Unfortunately, the way that fructose is broken down by the body may be a significant cause of the rising obesity in the USA.  Increased consumption of sugar increases dyslipidemia (hypertriglyceridemia), increased risk of developing coronary heart disease, increased body weight, hypertension, increased adiposity, fatty liver, insulin resistance, and diabetes.

MORAL OF THE STORY:  try to cut as much added sugar out of your diet as possible and remember to watch your portion size and your total number of calories consumed daily.