Sugar, Sugar
The ‘I Quit Sugar’ movement is in full swing: Cut the sugar and reduce inflammation, stabilise key hormones, reduce cravings, lose weight and gain improved health.
That’s the message from author Sarah Wilson, who quit sugar in January 2011 as an experimental attempt to get control over her autoimmune disease called, Hashimotos – a disease which attacks the thyroid and mostly affects women over 30.
After boosting her energy, clearing up her skin and experiencing a happier state of mind and wellness, Sarah wrote a book that took Australia and other parts of the world, by a sugar free storm.
I have her second one I Quit Sugar For Life
Now, hundreds of thousands are quitting sugar.
In Australia, David Gillespie first created awareness about the dangers of sugar with his 2008 book, Sweet Poison – Why sugar makes us fat.
I have written previously about the studies showing that sugar can be as addictive as cocaine. There are also plenty of studies linking our over-consumption of sugar to modern diseases such as heart disease, type-2 diabetes and cancer.
And, of course, we’re all familiar with the links between sugar and obesity.
Since the 1970’s we’ve cut down on fats and increasingly taken out more gym memberships than ever before, but statistics show we’re only getting bigger and bigger.
Foods are divided for nutritional purposes into three basic groups: carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
Each of these food groups is a primary source for different materials essential to the growth, development, and maintenance of the human body; individual foods may contain varying amounts of each of these groups.
Seventy-five percent of the energy derived and stored by the body from carbohydrates is ultimately used by the body to sustain brain function; the balance is divided between muscle function and red blood cell production, essential to the transport of oxygen.
Being the best source of energy for our brains is why some experts argue that we shouldn’t quit sugar completely.
However, quitting sugar isn’t about denying your body and brain the energy they require to function. Rather, it’s about taking out the chemical and artificial sugars that are cheap to produce, highly compromise our health, and are designed to activate our pleasure centre with the hope that we’ll want more.
As our sweet tastebuds occupy a larger area over the front of our tongue, we are indeed wired for pleasure from the food we eat. The problem is when we take in way too much sugar – natural or otherwise.
It spikes our blood sugar, requires greater amounts of the hormone Insulin to sweep it through the blood stream, and elicits a strong reaction from the reward centre in our brains that requires more and more sugar to satisfy it (hence, the addictive qualities).
Quitting sugar is hardest for those who truly do have an appetite for it due to far too many products where various forms of sugar are hidden – usually processed and refined foods, or nearly anything that comes in a box or packet.
Initially in this instance, going cold turkey is often recommended; with the first three to ten days being the hardest as your body experiences withdrawals and detoxes.
If you think reducing your daily consumption of sugar could improve your health, you’ll find it much easier when you know how to substitute sugar for natural sweeteners that actually do provide nutrients, won’t escalate blood sugar, and will help to satiate your cells sooner to eventually reduce your cravings and appetite for it.
Will quitting sugar be the answer to all your health problems?
Maybe not, but it certainly wouldn’t hinder them either.
You’ll find a list of my top 6 natural sweeteners HERE.
Take care of your sweet tooth!
Viki xo
About Viki
Viki Thondley is a Mind-Body Wellness Specialist and qualified Holistic Counsellor, Food, Stress & Lifestyle Coach, Meditation Therapist, and Eating Disorder Recovery Coach who inspires women to shift from dieting and restriction to whole-self nourishment, self-care and healing. Recovered from bulimia nervosa and the many years of hormonal imbalances, food prison and self-sabotaging behaviours’, Viki is an inspiring coach, speaker and event host who also provides personalised holistic programs, workshops and retreats to instil self-love, happiness, body confidence and real food freedom. She is author of “Achieving Your Wellness: Create a Life You Love” and “Healthy Chocolate Delights: Real Food Sweet Treats”.
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