One of the #1 causes of excess "baggage" on our bodies is SUGAR. Did you know that if you cut out half of the sugar you currently eat, it's likely that you would make not only a significant impact on your weight, but also in how you feel in general?
A quick look at the negative effects of too much sugar...
- Obesity
- Weight Gain
- Contributes to Osteoporosis
- Can decrease the growth hormone
- Increases Cholesterol
- Causes hyperactivity & anxiety, particularly in children
- Causes food allergies
- Can interfere with the absorption of protein
...and about 135 other reasons that Dr. Nancy Appleton, PhD, lists as to "how sugar is ruining your health" in her book "Lick the Sugar Habit".
Keep in mind that to consume sugar, it doesn't necessarily mean we are eating big doses of the "white stuff". Remember, sugar includes glucose, fructose (as in fruit sugar), lactose (as in
milk), sucrose (as in table sugar), maltose or malts (as in rice malt
and honey), fruit juice or jam (contains concentrated juice, which is high in fruit
sugar), maple syrup, corn syrup, palm sugar (traditionally used in
macrobiotic cooking), and the very deceiving organic brown sugar, which
is not all that different from white sugar.
"But it tastes so good!" you are probably saying. And yes, it does! So even though some people have seen great results cutting sugar almost completely from their diet, I'm saying if you just reduce what you currently eat by half, that's an awesome start. Often times if we cut sugar too dramatically it could invariably lead to cravings and diet imbalances.
Let's talk about a couple of alternatives. See, you don't have to give up the sweetness of sugar in order to be healthy, you just need to replace it with better alternatives. There are two
natural, organic sugar alternatives that are sweet, easy to use and cook
with – stevia and xylitol. They may sound like chemicals but they are completely natural and have
been proven not only safe but beneficial for our well-being.
Stevia is a herb that has been used as a sweetener in South America for hundreds of years. I have heard some people say that it can taste a
little bitter in drinks and in some recipes, but this can actually be overcome by
using xylitol in combination with
stevia for ideal sugar replacement.
Xylitol is a natural substance found in fibrous vegetables and fruit, as
well as in corn cobs and various hardwood trees, like birch. I didn't realize this until I started doing some research on it, but xylitol is so natural that our bodies produce up to 15 grams of it daily during normal metabolism.
For instance, I love oatmeal. But just plain oatmeal is a little hard for me to thoroughly enjoy! So I add a bit of Truvia (branded stevia) to sweeten it up a bit, along with a little cinnamon and pure vanilla extract. This is truly the best option, but if you insist on instant oatmeal from the packets, strive to find a brand that doesn't have a lot of added sugar. Read your label! And if it has zero sugar but is sweetened with artificial sweeteners, what have you really gained??
My main goal for you to incorporate today is to start becoming more aware of the sugar you intake. If you eat a lot of fruit, that awesome! But remember fruit has sugar in it, so you need to avoid excess intake when you have the choice - like what you put in your coffee, the kind of yogurt you eat or what cereal you buy. Be aware of how much sugar you are eating, as well as how much artificial sugar you are taking in. Any "fat free" or "lite" products typically have aspartame or Splenda in them - you aren't doing yourself any favors when you take in too much "fake" stuff either!
As a side note - I do use pure cane sugar in place of white sugar when baking and cooking. Everything in moderation remember! So if you need to use sugar, just do so with caution and make the BEST choices.
Some information taken from Natural News: Natural Health News and Scientific Discoveries
http://www.naturalnews.com/022692.html#
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