How sweet it is…

Our obsession with sugar is a vicious cycle. We eat sugar, our body metabolizes the sugar and then we crave even more. Unlike refined sugars, the fruit we eat has fiber and is metabolized in our bodies at a slower rate. The average American consumes about 130 pounds of sugar per year! I repeat, 130 pounds! That number is ludicrous to me. Can you imagine physically consuming nearly 3 pounds of sugar each week? Neither can I. So what are the main culprits?

1. Soft drinks
2. Actual sugar
3. Cakes, cookies and pies
4. Fruit drinks
5. Dairy, desserts, and milk
6. Other grains

For those denying sugar is addictive, you are greatly mistaken. According to recent brain scans, sugar is as addictive as cocaine and heroin. Why is this a bad thing? Refined sugar has been linked to obesity, diabetes, hypoglycemia, depression, headaches, acne, hypertension, high blood pressure, stiffening of arteries, nervous tension, fatigue, skin irritation, violent behavior, and aching limbs. Not to mention refined sugar offers absolutely no nutritional value.

So why not kick the habit? It takes 21 days to break a habit. If you are looking to rid your life of refined sugar, stay off the stuff for 21 days and consider yourself free. Easier said than done, I know. To help assist in the sugar purge here are some suggestions:

• Avoid processed foods. If you can, try and completely eliminate the processed foods. If you don’t recognize an ingredient on the food label, give it a pass.
• Find ways to naturally increase your serotonin. Sugar releases the same feel-good hormone, but quickly drops creating the withdrawal symptoms. Make sure you are getting enough sleep and regular exercise which keeps hormones in check.
• Drink plenty of water. Sometimes we tend to mistake sleepiness and a foggy brain with the need for a sweet pick-me-up, when all we really need is to hydrate ourselves.
• Satisfy that sweet tooth with the all-natural sugar known as fruit! Mangoes, when in season, are more delicious than any candy if you ask me.
• Manage your blood sugar. The best way to do this is to have regular, balanced, and healthy meals. Try not to skip meals, no matter what your day looks like.
• Eat your greens! Vegetables give life to your body and detoxify. We already know the importance of chlorophyll.
• Try some sea vegetables. Because sugar completely depletes all minerals from your body, we need to replace those minerals, and sea veggies are the most efficient way to do so.
• Give fermented food and drinks a try. The tangy, sour taste will completely eliminate the desire for sugar.
• Learn to reduce your stress with meditation techniques. Stress releases cortisol and this hormone messes with your blood sugar.
• Be mindful of your emotions and possible triggers to the cravings.

The best advice I could give to start eliminating sugar from your diet is to first identify where sugar is hiding and the different pseudo-names. Look for high-fructose corn syrup, cane juice, dextrose, sucrose, and many others. Get rid of the sugars in your home and replace those items with whole, real food like brown rice, quinoa, fruit, and veggies. Decipher hunger cravings versus thirst cravings. You have to treat this as an addiction, it can’t be done gradually. If you want to be successful the transition must be immediate. Be positive and prepared. I am sure you have stronger will power than you thought! Good luck!