SUGAR: Is it worth it?

A little sugar for your coffee? A mid-afternoon treat? We know many people have a sweet tooth, but most don’t know that added sugar not only leads to rapid weight gain, but it also increases your risk of many preventable diseases. 

An influx of sugar into the bloodstream upsets the body’s blood-sugar balance, triggering the release of insulin. Increased insulin promotes the body’s storage of fat & depresses the immune system. A diet high in sugar has been shown to lead to cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, gout & high blood pressure.

The American Heart Association recommends that we limit our intake of added sugars to 100 calories per day for women and 150 calories per day for men.

In an effort to save calories, many people turn to artificial sweeteners like Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal) and Sucralose (Splenda). It’s really not worth it to ‘save’ a few calories, because artificial sweeteners actually increase your appetite, stimulate your sweet tooth & lead to overindulging in other foods. More importantly, they are not healthy substances to put in your body!

TIPS TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION

EAT SMALL & FREQUENTLY Small meals & snacks throughout the day will keep you more satisfied & less likely to turn to unhealthful foods.

WATER! WATER! WATER! Drink at least 8 cups of water per day. Staying properly hydrated keeps your energy up and relieves false hunger pangs.

HIDE THE SUGAR Keep tempting foods out of sight & out of reach. Be mindful of emotional triggers that you may have and find ways to avoid the situations that are causing them.

RETRAIN YOUR TASTE BUDS Eat an abundance of natural, unprocessed food. Your taste buds will soon adapt to the natural flavors of food, rather than craving the salty, sweet or chemical tastes in processed foods.

• The best way to get your sweets is with fresh fruit. It's delicious, naturally low in calories, and high in vitamins, minerals & fiber.
• You can also try some natural sweeteners. Because they are lower on the glycemic index than refined sugar, they are slightly better for you when used in moderation. (Used in excess, they will cause the same problems as sugar.)
• Natural sweeteners include: agave nectar, barley malt, coconut sugar, date sugar, honey, maple syrup, molasses, rice syrup, stevia & turbinado sugar. 

THE BOTTOM LINE: It's not worth it! Don't pour toxins into your body just to save a few calories. If you want something sweet, your first choice should be fruit.