Sugar
Where to begin
Sugar
Where to begin
We all know that sugar isn't a healthy part of our diet but how bad is it and what can we do about it?
Unfortunately it is everywhere and not that easy to avoid, nearly all packaged and prepared foods in the supermarket contain sugar. It is helpful to become more aware by reading labels. You will be amazed especially when it comes to breakfast cereals, soft drinks, cookies and biscuits, these are some of the worst culprits. Sadly this sweetness we are so hooked on is one of the leading, underlying causes of sickness and disease in society today. If we only stop eating sugar and cut down on meat and dairy our health will be greatly improved.
Simple carbohydrates (commonly referred to as simple sugars) include white sugar, white flour, white rice, honey, corn syrup, and fructose. Simple sugars are absorbed quickly into the bloodstream. This quick absorption gives a burst of energy, but it is followed by an energy 'crash or 'Sugar Blues'. Over time the demand for insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar balance, can stress the pancreas. Insulin is also known as the 'fat storage hormone' so the consumption of sugar demanding the release of insulin is linked to obesity. Sugar not only causes weight gain or obesity but it also depletes our bodies of goodness.
Simple carbohydrates are highly refined processed foods devoid of vitamins and minerals when we eat them, our body, in order to break it down and digest it takes the vitamins, minerals and calcium from our teeth and bones. This is how sugar causes tooth decay!
The good news is that the sugar addiction is not that hard to break, if you can keep yourself off sugar for 10 days the cravings are pretty much gone. I say addiction because our bodies really do get addicted to that quick energy, but if we want real steady more stable energy we can better get our energy from a diet based on complex carbohydrates - i.e. WHOLE GRAINS like brown rice, barley, whole grain pastas and whole grain sourdough bread. Whole grains when properly cooked, chewed and digested give use all the energy and stamina we need to face the challenges of life head on.
I suggest that because sugar is so addictive that it is easier to avoid it all together than to just eat a little. Eventually it is nice to be a little more relaxed and allow yourself to indulge from time to time but to start with it is actually easier to go cold turkey. There are many good sweeteners you can use to enjoy sweetness without compromising your health like rice syrup, barley malt, corn malt and maple syrup. These are fantastic sweeteners for cooking and baking or to simply spread on your bread or drizzle on your breakfast cereal.
The best way to start is by replacing sugar with fresh and dried fruit and then gradually move more in the direction of grain based sweeteners, grains and vegetable based sweets. See the dessert section for some good ideas!