Article #2 in the 'Hollywood North' issue of TCHAD Quarterly

This article was written in spirit of the Toronto International Film Festival... 

the big clean
the art of the cleanse

Celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Salma Hayek and Beyonce Knowles are advocates for cleansing before big events, like walking the red carpet.  Despite their intention, which often is to lose weight, the stars are also rewarded with a deep cleaning of their bodies.  They look great, but is it the lost inches or the cleanse that gives them their extra glow?  

Cleansing is a celebrity trend that many of us view with suspicion. Some label it as a gimmick, while others are bothered by its association with narcissistic motivation and temporary weight loss.  But purification has been a part of rituals for health maintenance and disease prevention from the Mediterranean to the ancient cultures in India and China. 

For thousands of years, we have known that we need to give our bodies a break and actively eliminate the toxins that have accumulated in our organs and tissues.  Unfortunately, such customs are infrequent in most of our lives despite the heightened levels of exposure to dietary, lifestyle and environmental toxins.  We often maintain our cars better than we do our bodies!

Cleansing comes in many forms but shares two general characteristics:  A reduction in the intake of new toxins and an enhancement of the body’s natural systems for elimination.  Heavily processed foods are replaced by easily-digested, bioactive nutrients that boost metabolism and stimulate detoxification.  Superficially, this method sheds pounds, generates radiant skin and lifts self-confidence. It’s the feel good inside and look great outside phenomenon!  

The methods of cleansing range from fasting, to exclusive consumption or restriction of specific foods.  I have personally found nutrient-rich, liquid cleanses to be effective. They provide “clean calories”, enabling your body to stay out of starvation mode, while allowing your digestive system the time to repair, restore and recharge. You should always consult a specialist if you have any dietary restrictions or health conditions before starting a cleanse.

Treat yourself with some well deserved maintenance so you too can look and feel great!

My first publication in TCHAD Quarterly, North America's ultimate source for unique, edgy and artistic content and design

This is my first article that was published in the Spring/Summer issue of TCHAD Quarterly - Canada's leading metropolitan lifestyle publication. This magazine is unique in that it blends North American popular culture and design. The tagline - Lifestyle in a coffee table book - is a true testament to the diversity and authenticity of the content. The target market is tech savvy, fashionable and forward-thinking and I'm honored and incredibly excited to be part of such a talented team of influential and inspiring individuals.

Without further adieu, here it is -

Fructose - not so sweet

We use the word sweet colloquially to express a level of excitement or happiness—much like our psychological reaction to a decadent dessert. The sweetness in our Western diet, however, arises from more than just desserts and candy. Rather, it is infused within a broad array of products as a buried, addictive and harmful ingredient. 

The ingredient is fructose; a cheap and simple sugar. Fructose has received a considerable amount of negative media attention, mostly related to the prevalence of high-fructose corn syrup. Dietary intake of fructose has grown dramatically since the turn of the last century and evidence suggests that it is more damaging than its other sugar counterparts. Specifically, the overconsumption of fructose overwhelms the liver’s capacity to metabolize it as energy, and instead it is converted to fat. What’s more, fructose is also responsible for stimulating further hunger after a meal and is now shown to be associated with physical and neurochemical dependency. In other words, it’s addictive. Despite being a simple sugar, the upshot of fructose on the human body is actually complex.

The impact of fructose was insignificant and unknown once upon a time, when the main source of fructose was from fruits and vegetables. During these times, dietary fructose averaged a mere fifteen grams per day and was balanced within whole foods. The wide commercial presence of fructose in pre-packaged foods (ingredients labelled as fructose, high-fructose corn syrup, glucose-fructose and often as sugar, glucose syrup or fructose syrup) has since resulted in a five-fold increase in consumption, which places its use at an excessive and dangerous level. To put things in perspective, this volume of fructose is comparable to eating almost three, five-pound bags of table sugar a month. Excess fructose (aka “normal”) consumption in the Western diet is shown to be highly correlated with childhood and adult obesity, and contributes to serious health conditions, such as diabetes and liver disease. 

Unfortunately, the only way to reduce fructose intake is to become more aware and informed about the foods we are eating and to consider substituting the fructose-rich foods we crave with healthier varieties. While it has taken me a long while, I have managed to find alternatives that are truly satisfying and less harmful. One way of raising our awareness is through reading the labels on packaged products. In preparation for this article, I visited a local grocery store and read through dozens of packaged food labels.  Fructose was listed as a major ingredient in over seventy-five percent of the processed foods and beverages. Even those cooking at home are being impacted due to the fructose content in many sauces, dressings and marinades. 

Fructose is the sugar-coated perpetrator of damage to our health. 

By increasing our awareness and understanding of the health implications, we can make better food choices and in turn, lead healthier lives.