Sugar Detox

Take sugar consumption seriously as it can have insidious negative effects over time.

It is important to detox from refined sugar. White sugar

Consciously limit your intake of other sweeteners such as sucrose, corn syrup and dextrose. These are some of the "hidden sweeteners"

Other harmful sweeteners include fructose, malt syrup, corn syrup, artificial sweeteners and high-fructose corn syrup.

Limit use of maple syrup and honey.

Fruit is a good source of natural sugar.

Start reading labels and pay attention to the hidden sweeteners.

FOODS THAT HAVE HIDDEN SUGARS:

• Soups
• Breads
• Relish
• Ketchup
• Pickles
• Sausage
• Crackers
• Thai Food
• Chinese Food
• Tartar Sauce
• Baking mixes
• Canned Fruits
• All Fast Food
• Peanut Butter
• Luncheon Meats
• Salad Dressings
• Sweetened Yogurt
• Frozen Vegetables
• Seafood (prepared)

Add the various other types of harmful sugar and sweeteners...

Americans eat about 150 pounds of sugar per year.

That's almost half a pound of sweets, daily!!!

Detoxing from sugar will take effort; it is clearly a positive step towards reducing your body's acidic load and increasing your health and longevity.

How To Overcome a Sweet Tooth

SUGAR DETOX, BREAKING THE ADDICTION:

• Increase your intake of fresh vegetables, whole grains (complex carbohydrates), and protein.
• Increased protein in your diet (animal and/or vegetable) will help reduce your sugar cravings.
• Eat low on the glycemic index
• Eat fruit as a natural source of sugar
• Drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water per day. Ideally, drink half your body weight in ounces of water. For example, if you weigh 140 pounds, drink 70 ounces of water per day.
• Increase your fiber intake, 20-40g adults and 10-20g children
• Again, eat plenty of fresh raw and cooked vegetables. Consider this simple, tasty internal "broom" salad and liver flush dressing recipe.
• Support your body during a sugar detox with extra anti-oxidants. Include vitamin C, magnesium, calcium, chromium, B vitamins, and amino acids especially L-glutamine.
• Chromium is the main molecule in glucose, which assists insulin work more efficiently in removing sugar from the blood and nourishing cells.
• L-glutamine, an amino acid, which the brain can directly use. Also helpful in reducing sugar (and alcohol) cravings.
• Take essential fatty acids, (Omega 3 & 6), Udo Erasmus' "Udo's Choice Oil Blend" is my choice, you can buy it at any health food store.
• Take a form of probiotics (The good form of bacteria found in yogurt). Custom Probiotics is a phenomenal product (5 billion cultures per capsule). Or Great Earth (the store) carries a very good option.
• Take digestive enzymes. Metagenics carries a great product called SpectraZyme (only available through heath practitioners) SpectraZyme supplies a broad spectrum of non-animal derived enzymes.
• Read labels and look for the "hidden sugars" described above such as corn syrup, dextrose, and sucrose (partially refined sugar).
• Limit use of honey and maple syrups.
• Keep a food journal; record what you eat, when, how much and how it makes you feel. Notice how you feel an 30-50 minutes after eating and record it.

For example, do you feel alert? energetic? sleepy? bloated? clear headed? etc... This will help you track your sugar detox, diet and the impact it has on your quality of living.

DO NOT REWARD YOURSELF OR YOUR CHILDREN WITH SUGARY TREATS!!!

We have been conditioned to say "I love you" with candy, cakes and other sugary treats. Be creative in exploring another way to reward yourself and your children.

There is absolutely zero nutrients in sugar or it's derivatives, yet they are high in calories. The ones that are not (the chemical sugar substitutes) are even more toxic to your health.

Tradition Chinese Medicine believes sugar cravings are a form of yin deficiency. A lack of nurturing and a reaching for the mother. A desire for comfort and/or security.

Whereas, the desire for salty or spicy foods (yang) represents the father energy; a looking for power and direction.

We perpetuate the nurturing concept in our society with the way we reward ourselves and our children with sweets.

Find a way to creatively reward and nurture yourself. Like a massage! Making time for a close friend...A long bath...Watch the sunset with your kids...

Start your sugar detox slowly with awareness of what you are consuming by reading every label.

Awareness is the key to change and positive growth. Be diligent and do not give up.

Perhaps starting slowly, for you, means cutting your sugar consumption in half and not all at once.

Persist with courage.

By just giving up one of your favorite sugar treats you will begin the sugar detox process.

Set written, specific goals for yourself and be accountable to them. Learning Healhy Living Skills is a resource to help you change habits and achieve your goals.