Consider your sugar smacked!

February 16th, 2010

sugar1 Consider your sugar smacked!

There are more dietary theories out there than most of us know what to do with. Vegetarian? Vegan? Raw Vegan? Or is meat good? Low carb? Low fat? The Zone? South Beach?

As with anything in life, there are many ways to approach diet and nutrition. My belief has always been that you can learn what works for you by being open to all systems. And the real sweet spot is where they overlap. Where do all these different theories agree?

Well, I’ll tell you where. I’ve never seen a single diet that promotes eating sugar. Sure, maybe the low-fat craze had us eating more sugar incidentally. But no diet I’ve ever seen has come out and said “Sugar is key to good health.”

Because, well, it isn’t. Sugar stinks. Recently Dr. Oz was quoted as saying that sugar activates our brains much in the same way cocaine does. Hmmm.

This is the message I spread every time I hold my Sugar Smackdown workshop. Sugar is addictive. It’s not a matter of willpower to simply keep that tub of Ben & Jerry’s out of your hand – sugar is more of a drug than a food. Breaking out of sugar addiction means taking a hard look at your lifestyle and the causes behind your cravings.

Recently I held this workshop in Cambridge, MA and had a full house of participants eager to quell their sugar cravings. Weight loss, energy levels, fear of diabetes – everyone had their reasons for being interested in quitting sugar. What’s yours?

sugar2 Consider your sugar smacked!

One of the resources I shared with the group was a list of names sugar often goes by. One effective way to cut back your cravings is to identify sugar in your every day foods. You may be eating a lot more of this addictive substance than you think! Read labels and get to know the names of sugar so you can bring awareness to this dangerous habit. Getting sugar out of my pantry was one of the first big steps I took when I cleaned up my diet. It wasn’t so much about the cookies though – I was surprised to find sugar in my soups, rice mixes, ketchup, soymilk, etc. Yikes!

To help all of you take this same step, please download the handout from my workshop, The Many Faces of Sugar. This pdf is something you can print and share with anyone you know who is struggling with sugar addiciton. But it will only be available for the next 30 days so download it now!

Simply put, eliminating refined sugar from your diet will lead you towards more energy, a clear mind, more strength and greater immune function. It was a major change in my life that helped me get where I am today. And that’s not to say I don’t occasionally eat a piece of cake (or two…) but it does mean that I’m in control of my cravings.

How sweet is that?

This post is part of Real Food Wednesdays.

11 Comments public health, Sugar

  • http://www.isyogalegal.blogspot.com Rebecca

    I try to tell everyone I know that sugar acts in much the same way as cocaine. No one ever believes me. Thank you for validating it and for this post. I am going to print your PDF and share it. More and more your posts help me know that I am not the only person who thinks the way I do, especially because I know that there are days when you (and I) sometimes still eat sugar. And that is definitely okay! Thanks so much.

  • http://www.mplsrealfoodlover.com emily

    yes, i read a study that found rats actually prefer sugar to cocaine! it is really crap for our bodies in soooo many ways. the hidden sources of sugar are often overlooked in supposedly healthy diets. the fact is, even lovely apples, bananas ect. have a lotof sugar/fructose, up to 20 grams in one apple! apples and the like have been bred by humans to be sweeter and less tart but this isnt good for us. an occaisional treat? sure,but fruit is still sugar-laden.

  • http://itzyskitchen.blogspot.com Erica

    Great list! Thank you for this! Def printing this baby out! Sounds you like you had a really awesome Valentine’s day :)

  • http://www.fakefoodfree.com Lori

    Love what you said about finding what works by being open to all systems. I completely agree. I’m trying to reduce sugar overall, but one thing I have found by switching to lesser refined sugars is that they are much more complex. You can get away with using a lot less than most recipes call for. It actually makes the flavor of more natural baked goods taste better.

  • http://www.tobeluminous.blogspot.com Heidi Lyn

    Great list, a perfect sugar-beating resource. Thanks!

  • http://www.niccisniftyeats.com Nicci@NiftyEats

    I’ve decided to eliminate all sugar from my diet for lent. thanks for this info on hidden sugars!

  • http://askdzign.com Ashley

    I don’t see Agave Nectar ?

  • http://www.fertilehealthy.com/blog Hanlie

    Most forms of sugar have a devastating effect on the hormonal, immune and central nervous systems, yet we consume up to 150 pounds of it a year. The worst for me is, however, when people add fruit in the “dangerous” list. Fruit is vital for our health and while we can and should avoid those other sugars, we should still eat fruit in abundance.

  • http://spilledingredients.com Niki @ Spilled Ingredients

    Your site is a great find for me; I can’t take advantage of your yoga here in MN, but your posts like this sugar one are great reminders for me. And I have a blog about healthy ingredients!! Sugar is truly addictive and the devil, I reiterate. I found you on bogged and look forward to more health-first posts, thanks!

  • http://www.wix.com/artoftheland/portfolio/ Tamara

    I agree with Hanlie completely. There’s a reason why there are GOOD sugars on the list here. Because not all sugars are bad. Fruit is packed with vitamins, fiber, water and is a low calorie sweet option for those of us who want to lose weight or just eat healthier. I hate when people preach about how they eat only vegetables, because sugar is bad and therefore fruit is bad. You have to look at the other things the food is offering you. Chocolate cake? Probably not a lot of vitamins or other good things. So that would be a bad sugar vehicle. But using up your quota for sugar in it’s most natural form while getting hundreds of other healthy things? Priceless.

  • http://fitnessajourneynotadestination.blogspot.com/ karen@fitnessjourney

    I couldn’t agree more. It is frustrating to me when people complain that they “need” their sugar fix and think that the best way to get it is through some low-fat offering. In fact, my post for tomorrow is on this very topic.

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