Hot Topic on a Sweet Substance…

There’s a substance out there. It’s tempting, it’s addictive, and it’s more common than you think. What is it??? It’s sugar. Plain and simple sugar.

Recently, my town was dubbed “The Birthplace of Sweet Tea”.  The town will hold a festival to honor sweet tea, as well as a “sweet tea trail” where you can stop at shops and sample all kinds of sweet tea along your way. Now, this sounds harmless to most people. It sounds like a great way to honor the history of the town.  It also sounds like a great chance to educate on the true effects of sugar.

Now, I’m no saint. I was the kid you licked frosting off the cupcakes and loved cookie dough. I still love sweets once in awhile. But it’s not all cupcakes, lollipops, and rainbows. Sugar can have devastating effects on health, which most people are generally aware of, but not truly educated on.  Sugar can lead to blood sugar issues, leading to diabetes, and even heart disease. Here is a brief eye opener for you.

We eat WAY too much sugar everyday. And not only are we eating too much, we are eating the WRONG kind – processed white sugar. And the more we eat, the more we feel we need. This is where the “addiction” comes in.

Think about it: You wake up, grab a pop-tart/muffin and a sweet latté for breakfast. You feel a little buzz and head out for your day. Around mid-morning you feel a little sluggish and tired, so you grab an energy bar or some crackers. You perk up. Lunch time comes. You grab a soda (diet or not) and your lunch, topping it off with a little piece of candy. Around mid-afternoon, you are craving a snack – you feel tired, grumpy, and bit sluggish again. You see some cupcakes nearby and you decide to treat yourself. You have a simple dinner and top it off with a glass of wine and a bit of chocolate. Sounds like you? Even if it’s not this extreme, is this you? Then you may have a sugar addiction.

Sugar causes our blood sugar to rise and fall, crashing down and causing us to need a pick-me-up.  When our blood sugar crashes, we feel cranky, tired, and unable to focus. So we give in and start the cycle all over again. With processed white sugar, this is even worse. Because it is stripped of virtually ALL nutrients, you are only getting sugar. There is no real benefit to eating it. There is no nutritional factor.

So what to do? Try cutting back. Eat fruits such as berries, bananas, and apples when you are craving a snack. Yes, there is sugar in these, but it is natural and also contains nutrients – your body will know what to do with these and they will give you a steady boost, rather than a lift and crash.

Try Stevia Extract or Agave Nectar. Stevia is an all-natural no-calorie sweetener. It contains no sugar, it’s just naturally sweet. Agave nectar does contain sugar, but the body processes it slowly, so there is no crash.

Give it a try. Step away from the cycle slowly. Start replacing and adding in healthier foods. Drink water. Eat fruits. Substitute with NATURAL sweeteners that are good for you. You’ll feel better. Your energy will stay steady and strong. And you might just save your own life.

What is your favorite way to reduce sugar? What are your sugar cravings? Leave a comment below and let’s discuss.

For more information on how to sugar affects the body and mind, contact today, houseofhealthy@yahoo.com.  Workshops are available in the Charleston, SC area or through Skype/teleseminar.

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Peace and Love,

Jessi