9 Ways to Conquer Sugar Cravings

Sugar is a sizzling hot topic right now with the release of the new documentaries “The Men Who Made Us Fat” and “Fed Up.”  I saw the latter, which was a great compilation of things I’ve seen before about the great sugar excess, and some material that was new to me.  It’s a great film, narrated by Katie Couric, and I hop you’ll all try to see it.  It’s very well done, and shines a bright, bright light on the relationship between the food industry and the epidemic rise of obesity and diabetes among American children.  Powerful film, I tell you!

While it’s easy to blame the food industry for much that  is wrong with the  food we eat in this country, (and much of that blame is well deserved!), one of the invitations of this documentary is for individuals like you and me to take a look at our own sugar intake, and how we, as consumers, are complicit, albeit indirectly, in the problem of sugar excess.  I have often said that each bite we take makes us either part of the solution or part of the problem.  Even if our sugar intake has reduced gradually in the last few years, as it well may have, it doesn’t hurt for us to look again, to do a review, lest we get complacent….

Sugar has been shown to increase the risk of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.  It’s a leading factor in excessive weight gain, inflammation, and unhealthy skin conditions.  It is also associated with mood swings, bulging middle sections, bloating, and afternoon energy slumps.

We are genetically programmed to enjoy sweet foods.  In their natural state fruit, for example, has many vitamins, minerals, and plenty of fiber.  The problem is that the highly processed granules and syrups that are added to much of the food that  we buy are highly addictive.  Following are some ways to manage our relationship with sugar, so that it is not in the driver’s seat of our lives, always beckoning us to have more and more of it.  Consider these helpful tactics to gain better control over the sneaky stuff.

1.  Eat lots of nourishing foods, particularly in their raw state.  Increase the amount of dark leafy greens and other vegetables.   When your body is truly nourished, that is, receiving all the nutrients that it is searching, the voice of sugar will not be nearly as demanding when it calls.  Sugar cravings can be eliminated by a more nutrient dense diet.

2.  Drink more water.  Soft drinks, soda, energy drinks, and packaged fruit drinks are typically loaded with sugar.  Additionally, sometimes sweet cravings are simply a sign of dehydration.  Before you reach fro the sweets, drink a glass of water and wait a few minutes.  The craving may just disappear.

3.  Reduce caffeine consumption.  The ups and downs of caffeine include dehydration and blood sugar swings, which can cause sugar cravings to become more frequent, more pronounced.

4.  Eat sweet vegetables.  Pumpkin, corn, beets, carrots, and sweet potatoes are naturally sweet, healthy, and delicious.  Packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber, they’ll keep you satisfied for longer, and will help to curb your cravings.  Also, try some coriander, mint, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom.

5.  Use natural forms of sugar.  When the idea of a “real” dessert is irresistible, you’ll do yourself a big favor by avoiding artificial sweeteners and foods with added sugar.  Enjoy some fresh fruit, or foods sweetened with dates, organic maple syrup, or coconut sugar or syrup.  The less refined sugars you eat, the less sugar you will crave.

6.  Avoid the fat-free and low-fat labeled foods.  They compensate for the lack of flavor from fat with high quantities of sugar, which will assure you a seat on the roller coaster ride of sugar highs and lows.  Foods high in natural fat, such as coconut, avocado, nuts, and seeds actually reduce sugar cravings while they balance hormones and feed the brain and skin.  Don’t believe the marketing ploys and make better friends with whole foods, which are much better life companions anyway.

7.  Get moving.  Even ten minutes of walking or yoga a day to begin with will help  to balance blood sugar levels, boost energy, clear the mind, and reduce tension.  All of these things will eliminate the need to self-medicate with sugar.

8.  Get more sleep, rest, and relaxation.  Simple carbohydrates, such as sugar, are the most readily usable forms of energy for an exhausted body and mind.  Sugar is a quick form of energy in a chronic state of stress and/or sleep deprivation.  Getting adequate rest will save you from this toxic, never-ending, unhealthy cycle.

9.  Find sweetness in non-food ways.  Cravings – especially for sweets – often have a psychological component.  Is it really more fun, adventure, affection, or freedom that you crave?  Be good to yourself.  Check to see what’s out of balance in your life.  Treat yourself.  Reward yourself in ways that don’t involve food, especially the sugar-sweetened kind.  (Seeing the movies I mentioned above will give you encouragement to become more of the solution to the sugar craze in this country than part of the problem.)  When life is sweet enough, you don’t need sugar additives.

Please feel free to leave comments below  I’d love to hear from you about some of your sweet cravings --- what they are, and how  you’ve managed them.

Have a wonderful July 4^th weekend!

The Wonders of Wheat Grass

Sometimes, people ask me if I drink wheat grass juice.  I do.  Sometimes, people ask me if I grow wheat grass.  I do not.  Sometimes, people ask me if I juice wheat grass.  I do not. So here's my deal. 
I am compelled by the arguments for drinking wheatgrass, phenomenal as it seems to be.  It has the same chemical makeup as human red blood cells (hemoglobin) except that blood contains iron, which makes red.  Wheat grass contains magnesium, which makes it green. It is a complete protein loaded with minerals and enzymes, and long known and apprecieated for its healing properties.  Chlorophyll is partially responsible for those healing abilities.  The green plant pigment aids in red blood cell production, detoxification, boosting the immune system, and alkalizing the body.  Additionally, other reported benefits include Improved digestion, elimination of body odor, anit-viral, anti-fungal, balancing blood sugar, reversal of aging signs, improved dental conditions, improved vision, reduced inflammation, and alleviation of depression.  That's an impressive list of benefits.

In his book Survival into the 21st Century, Kulvinskas praises wheatgrass.  "In therapeutic amounts, it will detoxify the body by increasing the elimination of hardened mucous, crystallized acids, and solidified, decaying fecal matter.  Wheatgrass juice's high enzyme content helps dissolve tumors.  It is the fastest, surest way to eliminate internal waste and provide an optimum nutritional environment.  Wheatgrass juice can also be used as a poltice, wash, douche, or bath, stimulating healthy new cells and fighting infections."

People who are quite ill, and are treated at various natural healthy clinics, are often put on a firm regimen of wheatgrass.  If you are in that category of persons, then  doing more research on wheatgrass would be a very wise thing to do.

I drink wheatgrass when I can.  We have a vegan restaurant in town, The Main Squeeze, who sells it by the shot ,(if you're just starting out, don't drink any more than that!), and I generally order some with my lunches there.  Many people choose to grow their own wheatgrass, which is certainly a more economical way to have it available.  My reason for not even attempting it is that our 3 cats love to nibble on all things green and growing, except for the wheat grass that I can get for them in  the pet store. Go figure.  Also, if it's home grown, it takes more tending to, for the prevention of mold, harvesting, etc., than I am willing to pursue.  If you're game, go for it! However you introduce yourself to wheatgrass, be ready for a taste with lots of personality!  All those nutrients make for a strong flavor that takes a little getting used to.  Once you do, you adjust, you may be quickly persuaded to add it to your overall future heatlh regimen.  It's a good thing.
Regarding juicing wheatgrass, some of the upper end juicers do a good job with it, others, not so much.  There are special juicers for just wheatgrass, some manual, others electric.  I simply have just not gotten into that realm, being fairly content with the number of small appliances in my highly raw kitchen.  If you're inclined, however, talk to some other folks less lazy than I, and look at some of the YouTube videos on the subject.  Should you want to purchase one from Amazon, I appreciate your going through the icon on the right or the option pictured  below to get to it.  I get a small percentage of each sale that way, which helps me to spread the word I am trying to spread, and it's no extra cost to you.  Thanks for that.  And I also appreciate any conversation you care to share about wheat grass or any other of my blog topics.  Be well!