Thursday, May 12, 2011

Oh Happy Day: 'Singing the Sugar Blues'/P. 2

Satisfy the next sugar craving with sweet vegetables such as parsnips, carrots & rutabaga. Photo from Whole Foods Market.

By Janet Cook, NYC HEALTHY CHICK

THERE’S
no doubt about it – you have a sugar addiction and it has triggered the sugar blues.

The checklist in yesterday’s article confirmed it; it’s official. (www.vevlynspen.com/2011/05/name-that-tune-singing-sugar-blues.html) The next step is rehab, NYC Healthy Chick style.

Starting today, you can break free from your sugar addition and create a healthier and vibrant new you with NYC Healthy Chick's “10 STEPS to Sugar Addiction Management”:

1. Reduce or eliminate caffeine. It causes dehydration, blood-sugar swings and frequent sugar cravings.

2. Drink water. Before trying something sweet, have water instead and see what happens. Sweet cravings can be a sign of dehydration.

3. Eat sweet vegetables and fruits. These are the earth's best sweet, healthy, delicious treats. Consider this – the more you eat, the less you crave sugar. A word of caution: limit intake of fruit to one to two pieces a day because some are high in sugar, even though it is a natural form.

4. Consume gentle sweets. Gentle sweeteners are maple syrup, brown rice syrup, dried fruit, stevia, barley, malt and agave nectar. Avoid anything chemicalized and avoid artificial sweeteners. Yes, this includes those cute little blue, pink and yellow packets.

Managing sugar addiction is like climbing a ladder. Each step gets you closer to freedom from addiction and closer to optimal health. Photo from Badger Ladders.


5. Indulge in physical activity. Start simple with something like yoga or walking for 10 minutes a day while gradually increasing the time. This will balance blood sugar levels, boost energy, reduce tension and, eliminate the need for sugar!

6. Get more sleep, rest and relaxation. Fatigue and stress causes the body to crave energy in the form of sugar. Sleep deprivation going to bed late and waking too early cause these cravings for months and years on end.

7. Evaluate the amount of animal proteins you consume. Eating too much or too little can lead to cravings for sweets. The most effective way to learn how much is right for you is to experiment.

8. Eliminate fat-free or low-fat foods from your diet. These foods contain high quantities of sugar to compensate for lack of flavor and fat. This will send you on the roller-coaster ride of sugar highs and lows.

9. Experiment with spices. Coriander, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom will naturally sweeten your foods and reduce cravings.

10. Slow down and find sweetness in non-food ways! Believe it or not, your body does not biologically need sugar, but it does long for hugs, time with friends, outside time, workouts, massages, etc. When your life is sweet enough itself, no additives are needed.

A healthy way to indulge your sweet tooth is to use naturally sweetened pure maple syrup on foods such as yams. Photo from All Recipes.

Henceforth and evermore when you are hit with a sweet craving, keep the NYC Healthy Chick 10-step program in mind. Also, try the following NYC Healthy Chick favorites. They will hit the spot and satisfy even the sweetest tooth. And they are easy to prepare.

Sweet root veggies are a great way to soothe the body's internal organs, energize the mind and are energetically grounding. Dig in deep with a roasted root vegetable trio of parsnips, carrots & rutabaga (www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/1403).

Instead of reaching for those unhealthy french fries, try roasted yams. You'll swear you are having a sinful dessert instead of a sweet healthy treat. (http://www.allrecipes.com/Recipe/Roasted-Yams/Detail.aspx)

For more ideas for removing sugar from your diet, check out “Get the Sugar Out: 501 Simple Ways to Cut Sugar Out of Any Diet” by Ann Louise Gittleman.

In closing, remember that you and your life are sweet enough to overcome any craving. Especially remember this the next time your face is pressed against a vending machine at 4 p.m. and you are salivating over those sugary, chemicalized, processed treats.

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