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Everyone knows that toddlers and sugar definitely do not mix. But what
about sugar and adults? We may think sugar is harmless and consuming
large amounts of it cannot possibly harm us.
The average American consumes more than 149 pounds of sugar and
sweeteners every year, according to a California nutrition expert who
maintains that refined sugar is as big a health threat as smoking or
alcohol.
That sure seems like a large amount, considering most people today are
more health-conscious. According to reports, sugar is as addictive as
alcohol or drugs.
I know you're thinking that can't possibly be. Nobody can love sugar
that much!
Children certainly do and if they had their choice that's probably all
they would eat. But adults, they should know better.
The average consumption is the equivalent of eating a five-pound bag of
sugar every two weeks or consuming 35 to 38 teaspoons of sugar a day,
says Nancy Appleton, Ph.D., author of a new book on the dangers of sugar
titled, "Lick the Sugar Habit."
According to her, our bodies need only about two teaspoons of sugar at
any given time to function properly.
I know some of us around the office that use four times that in just
one cup of coffee!
The amount of sugar needed can be obtained easily through the normal
breakdown of carbohydrates, protein and fats.
So I guess there's no need to put all of it in our morning coffee, even
though it just wouldn't be the same.
Each extra teaspoon causes a slow poisoning of the body, a deliberate
sabotage of the bodily functions. Various symptoms can occur relating to
excess sugar.
Some of the illnesses or symptoms related to sugar overdose include
allergies, hypoglycemia, canker sores, falling asleep after meals,
excess gas, boils, headaches, arthritis and pneumonia.
All this from a little sugar?
I thought sugar just made people hyper, such as those toddlers
mentioned earlier. That's the main reason we try to avoid giving
children, and now even adults, too much sugar.
Getting a lot of other illnesses from sugar is something new that
hasn't really been talked about a lot.
In her book, Appleton shares her techniques for getting out of the
sugar rut. The book ends with a chapter of self-help techniques and
recipes for that sweet tooth without sugar.
So next time you reach for that sugar, think twice about it!
EDITOR'S NOTE: Rosie Flores is an Enterprise writer and editor of
Lifestyles and Golden Years. Her column appears each Thursday.
Not that another reason was needed to change the way legislative and
congressional districts are mapped in Texas, but a panel of judges has
provided it nonetheless.
Three federal judges recently drew new lines in response to a Supreme
Court ruling that three congressional districts were unconstitutional
because race was too dominant a factor in their creation. It says much
that most politicians - including those in the Democratic Party, which
got the worst of the deal - were essentially relieved, because the
judges did less damage than had been feared.
Not everyone agrees, though, including many of the more than 3 million
voters affected by the reapportionment who are likely to be confused by
the new voting arrangement.
Though just three districts were declared illegal, changing them also
meant changing those nearby, so 10 other congressional districts were
redrawn as well.
But it won't simply be a re-vote. This will be more like a special
election, which alters the traditional voting pattern and brings the
possibility of political mischief into play.
In these elections, anyone can run, not just those who survived party
primaries. A candidate must receive a majority of the vote to win on
Nov. 5, which means runoff elections are probable. Those will be held
Dec. 10, which is an awful time for politics because of the approaching
Christmas holiday.
The result could be that a small number of votes will be choosing from
among candidates who might not have been in the race had the judges not
intervened.
And the courts certainly didn't have to intervene. They didn't in North
Carolina, where judges decided that since the Legislature will draw new
lines next year anyway - as ours also will do - it wasn't worth the cost
and confusion to change the districts now.
Many state leaders, including Attorney General Dan Morales and state
Sen. Jeff Wentworth, want to create a citizens' commission to draw the
districts. Another proposal is for the Legislature to list priorities -
placing people with common interests in one district, not splitting
communities unnecessarily, etc. - and then let a computer draw the
lines.
Either option would be better than the current system, which gives
greater emphasis to protecting incumbents than meeting citizens' needs -
and then virtually guarantees that the courts will decide whether the
districts stand.
Maybe finally even the legislators are so frustrated that they'll opt
for the sensible change.
- The San Angelo Standard-Times
Dear Editor:
This letter is in reference to the meeting of the Pecos Housing
Authority, covered by the Pecos Enterprise on 8-12-96. What that meeting
accomplished was to make me look like the bad guy and a trouble maker,
and my children like wild freaks. I would like to set the record
straight. My kids are by no means angels, no more and no less than other
kids their age, yet Frank Perea sat up there and portrayed them like
kids from hell.
I would like to elaborate on the situation as it came down. First of
all, I never set any kind of fire, nor vandalized anyone's home. The
fact of the matter is that all this was done to us. They threw rocks and
knocked on our doors and windows at odd hours of the day and night. This
is still going on. But of course I don't work for the P.H.A. so it was
all blamed on us.
Frank Perea was aware of all this going on, yet he chose to ignore the
facts and side with his "friend." This man is so full of himself and
power hungry, he is no longer rational in making decisions for others.
As for Ms. Gomez, as manager she should be aware of the proper
procedure in the process to evict someone from their home. In either
case, if you can't do a good job, you have no right to those positions.
Frank Perea should be replaced by someone who is unbiased and can make a
decision on the facts presented and not gossip. The little power he has
has gone to his head.
As for the people who sit on this board, please, screen those you put
on it, not just because you know them, lest we forget that one bad apple
will spoil the whole bunch.
- Cynthia Montoya
Dear Editor:
For the last two months, I have been reviewing our district attorney's
case record from the first day he came into office, Jan. 1, 1993, to
March 1996. I do not need to make any accusations because his records
speak for themselves. Around 70 percent or more of drug cases presented
to our D.A. were either dismissed or given probation, less than 10
percent actually went to jail. The drug dealers in Reeves County are
flourishing and prospering.
One reason I am upset with Mr. Stickels is because the police and
sheriff's deputies risk their lives on drug busts, only to have the D.A.
dismiss their cases. If he does take a case to court, his normal
procedure is to call the officer or deputy the night before the trial
date to go over the case and call witnesses. This is not enough time to
review or correct any problems with the case. As a result, he goes into
court unprepared.
I am also upset about this situation because of the atmosphere it
creates for our children. Our churches, schools and parents are trying
to warn our children of the dangers of drugs and how devastating an
effect it can have on people's lives. But as a result of Mr. Stickels'
case record mentioned above, he has created a situation where I believe
that drugs are more available to our children than they ever have been
in the past.
I know as a citizen of Reeves County that we are not a rich community
and we do not have much political clout, but we still deserve better
treatment than what we are getting. We have a God who loves justice and
fairness, something we are not getting here. And which is worse, the
drug dealer who commits a crime or the person who turns his back and
does nothing about it?
All statements in this letter are my opinion, but I believe they are
based on the facts. Also the district attorney now lives in Austin. How
can he perform his duties?
- Name withheld by request
Those who wish to share their opinions with their elected officials are
urged to contact one of the following:
U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm/ 179 Russell Senate Office Building/ Washington
D.C. 20510. Phone 202-224-2934.
U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison/ 283 Russell Senate Office Building/
Washington D.C. 20510-4304. Phone 202-224-5922.
U.S. Rep. 23rd District, Henry Bonilla/ 1529 Longworth House Office
Building/ Washington D.C. 20005. Phone 202-225-4511.
State Sen. District 19, Frank Madla/ P.O. Box 12068/ Austin TX 78711.
512-463-0119.
State Sen. District 28, (Northern Reeves County) John T.
Montford/ P.O. Box 12068, Austin TX 78711. 512-475-3138.
State Rep. 80th District, Gary L. Walker/ P.O. Box 2910/ Austin TX
78768-2910. Phone 512-463-0678.
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_
Copyright 1996 by Pecos Enterprise
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