Do you have sugar cravings? When you eat sugary treats do you find it hard to stop at just one? Do you crave sweets even when you clearly know what it is doing to your body? If you answered yes to these questions you are considered a sugar addict. I know because this was me. I've had a sugar addiction for years. I tried several ways to either manage or stop my sugar cravings, but my battle would always end in defeat against sugar. Only recently I listened to a lecture from Julia Ross, a pioneer in the field of nutritional psychology and the author of The Mood Cure and The Diet Cure and it changed my life!
My moment of truth came when Julia describe sugar as a drug. Yes, a Drug! This triggered something in my brain. Julia said that sugar affects the body in the same way as cocaine and heroine, but that sugar was four times more addictive than cocaine. Sugar affects the body by raising serotonin and glucose levels. It is tied to heart disease, fatty liver and is a major contributor to the increase of diabetes and obesity in America. How?
We have abandoned traditional foods for sugary and processed foods. Sugar and high fructose corn syrup has crept into nearly all our food supply. From meats such as bacon, sausages, and sandwich meat to crackers, yogurt, ketchup, cereal, bread, you name it. Even worst, the amount of sugar in our foods has increased. Sodas and candy bars especially have twice the amount of sugar than 5 years ago.
The American Heart Association guidelines recommend the following daily sugar limit:
*Women: no more than 100 calories per day which equals 6 teaspoons or 24 grams
*Men: no more than 150 calories per day which equals 9 teaspoons or 36 grams
Be good to your body by paying more attention to the amount of sugar you consume daily. Make a conscious decision to reach for healthier snacks that are nutritious and taste good. Your body will thank you in the long run.
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