June 7, 2012 - How Sweet It Is

Now if you've been following my blog for any time, you know I advocate limiting or eliminating sugar, in all 101 forms, if at all possible. At the beginning of time, there was NO sugar as we know it. The craving for something sweet was satisfied with natural things like fruit. And yes, fruit has a natural sugar and can also contribute to diabetic reactions if consumed in HUGE quantities, but there is the counter balance of the fiber. I was doing some research on xylitol (which I use for cooking, etc) and found this article on sugar and its relationship to depression. I am posting one section as a reminder of some of the things we need to keep in front of our memory card as we plan our meals and weekly activities. Just How Bad Is Sugar? Pretty bad. Research hasn't come up with a whole lot of benefits for sugar, but it has found sugar implicated in a host of medical problems, including depression. That's one important reason to limit sugar in your diet. Also, that sugar high that kicks in shortly after you've consumed a sweet soon dissipates, leaving you feeling tired and spent. Sugar raises the levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. Sugar can lower the amount of Vitamin E (alpha-ocopherol) in the blood. Sugar can interfere with the absorption of protein. Sugar can increase the body's fluid retention. Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance; some hormones become underactive, and others become overactive. The body changes sugar into two to five times more fat in the bloodstream than it does starch. The rapid absorption of sugar promotes excessive food intake in obese subjects. Sugar induces salt and water retention. What to do? Reducing your consumption of sugar and products containing refined sugars is one giant step forward in relieving the symptoms of depression. You'll feel less tired and more able to exert control over your depression. It's also better for your teeth! Now, I'm not saying that if you eat sugar - you will be depressed. But when I read things like this, it reminds me of the WONDERFUL reasons to limit sugar in our diet. I will tell you that sugar, and again all it's 101 "hidden names" are found in almost anything. I challenge you to really do your research and keep looking at what is being said about things we, AND OUR FAMILIES, ingest. And you can count on this - SUGAR is addictive. Ask anyone, including myself, who has deleted sugar from their diets and they will tell you - it's NOT easy. Some researchers say it takes 40 days for it to clear your body. YIKES! But for those who are mourning and saying, "I cannot give up sweets," there are plenty of recipes that allow you to satisfy that craving in a more natural and healthy way. My recipe and devotional book will hopefully be out by the end of the year and it will have lots to choose from. :) Until then, here are tips from the fam: 1. Jenny V has started ordering Omaha Steaks - they bring to your door, are less expensive than store bought and are WONDERFUL in quality 2. Helen uses rosemary as an herb when she makes lamb 3. Danny, who manages ABetterway Cafe in PTC, created a "honey" mustard dressing with no honey and it is FABULOUS! He uses stevia as the sweetner. WE CAN DO THIS! YEA! Keep sending your encouragement to the fam and your tips for us all. Have a fabulous Thursday and at the end of the day thank Father God for helping you today to make all the right choices. PK