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So You Can’t Stay Away from Sugar

I have been asked a few times this week about how to curb sugar cravings. It must have been a good summer of indulgence! 🙂

On the tail end of my last post on sugar, lets cover a few points of interest.

resist sugar temptations

First off, sugar cravings are often brought on by stress. Stress depletes the body’s energy so we instinctively crave a “sugar” or glucose boost. Instead of reaching for raw veggies or a boiled egg we go for the comfort foods that make us feel good anything with sugar! Consuming sugar gives us an instant lift because it releases serotonin & endorphins in the brain but then a pretty hard crash after it wears off. This is from “simple” carbs/sugars like pastries, chocolate bars, cookies, etc.

The healthier boost would be from complex carbs like pasta, veggies, and whole grains, they are slower to digest therefore not giving us that quick crash like you would get from the simple carbs.

Also know that the excess sugar after it is burned off is stored in the body as……..you got it….FAT! 🙁

OK so you say well I’ll choose things with artificial sweeteners so I don’t get that extra sugar…..WRONG….never ever consume artificial sweeteners! Your body can burn off sugar, it can’t burn off sweeteners, they are chemical laden ticking time bombs and destroy brain cells over long term! If you want a real eye opener look for the movie “Sweet Misery” on line.

Finally sugar depletes the immune system leaving the body susceptible to colds, flu and other diseases, it also contributes to heart burn.

So in order to avoid the sugar crashes and cravings try some of these foods and habits:

  • Eat regularly – don’t let your blood sugar drop (ideally we should have 3 meals and 2-3 healthy snacks each day) choose protein, and fiber rich foods like whole grains, produce, fruits
  • If you crave sugar drink water or go for a walk, sometimes we are just dehydrated and changing the environment can take your mind off the craving – besides exercise is key to reducing stress!
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily
  • Choose something healthier to eat if you must have something:
    • sunflower seeds, plain yogurt, pistachios, kale chips, popcorn with pecans, a piece of fruit like an apple or pear (these are lower on the glycemic index so won’t spike your blood sugar as much as say a banana or grapes would), have raw veggies cut up in the fridge so they are easy to grab, also hard boiled eggs
  • If you just cannot tame that sugar beast it is entirely possible that you have Candida which is a yeast overgrowth caused from excess sugar consumption. See your health practitioner for ways to treat Candida.

If you’ve never had Kale Chips, try this easy recipe:

Wash and dry fresh kale leaves. Remove the stem down the center and tear up the leaves into bite sized pieces. Toss with olive oil, sea salt, a squeeze of lemon, you could add a pinch of cayenne if you like a bit of spice. Use your hands to massage this oil mixture onto each leaf.

Spread out on a pan and bake at 350 degrees for approx. 15 mins. Happy healthy snacking!

iCare Home health is a boutique, visionary home healthcare agency that leverages creative and innovative solutions to empower Canadians, young or old to recover from medical procedure or age with dignity in the comfort of their homes.

Our services include Friend at Home, Personal Support at Home, Nurse at Home and Advanced foot care at home or at one of our growing clinics sites.

Our Care Plans are individualized to client needs and preferences. Our team is passionate about the care they provide and strive to make a difference wherever the opportunity arises.

For more information, visit our website at www.icarehomehealth.ca or email us at info@icarehomehealth.ca.

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Kim is the owner of Lakeside Natural Therapies, specializing in Nutrition & Reiki. If you have questions for Kim feel free to contact her at Kim@icarehomehealth.ca

Posted in Natural Therapies at Home, Nutrition/ Healthy Living

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