Do you have a sweet tooth too? While I love sugary sweetness, (especially chocolate), the effects on health just aren’t worth it. So, instead I try to avoid sweets.
This can be especially hard around the holidays, when it seems like sugar is everywhere you look.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends eating no more than five teaspoons of sugar per day. That’s only about the amount in half a can of soda! Crazy, right?
A few tips for avoiding sugar:
Whole foods prepared from scratch are always best, because you know just what’s in them. But failing that, read labels carefully.
And whenever possible, make healthier substitutions –like stevia.
Still need a little convincing to reduce your sugar intake?
Here are six healthy reasons to keep sweets to a minimum, even during the holidays:
1. You’ll have more energy.
You get a sugar rush from eating sweets, but it is quickly followed by a sugar slump. This is because when your blood sugar crashes, so does your energy. Avoiding sugar and processed foods will help you feel a more even kind of energy all day long.
My Micronized Purple Rice will help with energy, too. Many people feel the energy right away, while for others it takes a little longer. I like to eat an extra tablespoon if my energy starts to lag.
2. Keep mouth bacteria to a minimum.
Before the dawn of agriculture, and the cultivation of grain, people seldom had cavities. But bacteria just love sugar. Even if you brush and floss regularly, just having sugar in your bloodstream gives bacteria a breeding ground to wreak havoc in your mouth.
Especially as we age, it’s important to maintain oral health. A vital part of this is keeping sugars out of our diet.
3. Keep your appetite even.
There’s something to the old advertising slogan, “You can’t eat just one.”
That was about potato chips, but chips are a simple carb that is made into sugar in our bodies. Eating simple carbs makes us want more, more, more. Soon we are eating all day long!
Instead, eat high-quality balanced meals. If you make fresh vegetables a mainstay of your diet, you can’t go wrong. Add in some fresh fruit, some healthy protein, and some healthy fats such as olive oil and coconut oil, and you’re good to go.
When you avoid sugars, you’re not hungry all the time.
4. Your brain will stay healthy longer.
Sugar has been shown to impair memory and cause other neurological problems. A recent UCLA study showed that keeping your blood sugar on an even keel will help you remember things better and even stay sharper as you age.
5. Keep inflammation at bay.
Sugar and other refined carbohydrates have been shown to increase inflammation throughout the body, causing joint pain, heart problems, and many other issues.
6. Your heart will love you for it.
Having a high sugar intake has been shown to double the rate of heart disease, according to the American Heart Association.
Keep your circulatory system healthy by eating healthy whole foods with no sugar added, getting some exercise every day, and making sure you get enough omega-3s (such as fish oil, krill oil, or flaxseed oil if you’re vegetarian).
So, do your heart and your loved ones a favor — keep sugar to a minimum, all year round!
I stay away from sweets as best as I can.But I always buy some sweets.
When I take healthy probiotics, my sugar cravings are minimized. Sugars feed cancer cells so avoiding excess sugar is paramount with the cancer rates we have in America. Eating fresh vegetables is what the body craves so homemade organic raw juice is the best for satisfying your body’s craving for nutrition. As the American Cancer Society has stated for years 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day can help keep the cancer away.
I have found the most effective way for me personally to avoid sugar is to eat something high in good fats. Fat bombs are tasty treats that consist of butter, coconut oil and whatever nuts, nut butters, coconut flakes and healthy sweetener you choose ( my choice is always stevia; zero calories and does not raise blood sugar). Google for recipes and you will be amazed. Another choice is bullet proof coffee or tea. Simply add a pat of butter or coconut oil to your coffee or herb tea. Fats are satiating and part of a very healthy diet.
Been taking the Purple Rice for almost a month now, waiting for my second order to arrive… It gives me the motivation to stay away from sweets and eat healthier, I have lost 12 lbs, with exercise and just eating smaller portions.. Even baking batches of cookies for my family, I ate maybe two , when before I would snack all day long.. I do believe it makes me think before I put a sugary snack in my mouth and that’s the motivation I needed.. At the same time I do not deprive myself of a piece of dark chocolate or something sweet once in a while.. I feel so much better… Thank you for the motivation…
The biggest avoidance of sugar was when I began eating carob in place of chocolate; secondly~~no sodas~~alot of water instead; & I certainly noticed the difference~ sugars made me sleepy & groggy, & lazy feeling..
I am just the opposite. I don’t like sugary treats. But I do love salt! On the occasion of having a dessert, which is very rare, I immediately reach for a green olive or the like to get the sugar taste out of my mouth. I’m so glad I’m not addicted to sugar! And I agree with all that is mentioned in the study. Merry Christmas everyone.
I have to just not have it around. If it is in the house I have no self control. It has to be all or nothing
eating in-between snacks, nuts, fruits, veggies…chewing gum & drinking a lot of water. staying busy also helps. but when I do get an urge I go to our adkins bars…these are the best & already have them minimized in size or proportion to calorie & carb control. they are delicious. If I make desserts, I use honey, coconut sugar or stevia powder. I also use a multi-grain {ezekial flour} which is sprouted too. this takes some getting used to also. MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Thanks for the info. I belong to TOPS and I will share this with my friends.
Sugar is an addiction I never experienced. It’s very easy for me to avoid sugar in the U.S.A., because I always prefer savory flavors (herbs and spices) instead of sweet and I make nearly everything I consume. Living on an island in a very remote area since birth, I was not exposed to sugar and other processed products. I’ve used pink salt in my food preparations ever since I found out how to get it many years ago and organic blue agave nectar. On occasion, I will use a little raw honey from my bees.
Plexus Slim is a miracle for me in helping me get off sodas! It kills my sweet tooth and decreases my appetite!
Dill Pickles!! If you’re hungry for sweets…the last thing you’ll want to eat is a dill pickle, but it works every time. Eat a dill pickle and you won’t even WANT sweets! SWEET!
sometimes I forget to take my pr before my meals, will it have the same effect or am I just throwing it down the drain ?
It will just take a little longer to get into your system. It will still work. <3
How can I order your Purple Rice?
is there any extra information on the product you could send me?
Sherri Reed
http://www.sanctuaryforlife.org
Thank you so much!
Sherri~ You can order by calling 727-798-8764 or online at http://www.karespurplericeproducts.com/order.
As for extra information, you can get a copy of the free ebook at http://www.karespurplericeproducts.com/ebook and hear from others who are eating the rice in the Facebook Group here: http://www.facebook.com/groups/karespurplericeeaters <3