If you don’t already, be sure to read the Vitamin Cottage newspaper or visit their stores or check their extensive website NaturalGrocers.com. They are a fabulous resource in your quest for better health.
At my local Vitamin Cottage, I attended the “Freeing Yourself From Sugar Slavery” seminar presented by the delightful Stephanie Small of Three Sisters Nutrition. She’s a psychotherapist and holistic nutritionist with a LOT to say about sugar, sugar substitutes, and sugar addiction. And she comes by it honestly … she is a recovered sugar addict. (I say ‘recovered’ rather than ‘recovering’ because it’s been my experience that once you quit eating sugar, you don’t want it anymore. Any thoughts?)
I took a lot of notes. Here are some highlights:
• The average American consumes 152 pounds of sugar every year … that’s an entire person! And since I hardly eat any, someone else is eating my share too! Yikes. I hope it’s not you.
• Stevia won’t spike your blood sugar; in fact, it actually stabilizes it. (I buy Truvia brand which she gave the thumbs up to. To which she gave the thumbs up. Whatev, grammar police.)
• Stephanie talks about 5 reasons to avoid sugar —
- sugar causes weight gain
- sugar creates gallstones
- sugar weakens your bones
- sugar makes you depressed, and
- sugar is a drug
• But instead of just telling us the problems, or trying to scare us into submission, she gives 5 ways to reduce sugar cravings —
- eat protein
- be sure you’re eating enough calories and getting enough nutrition
- eat natural sweeteners
- get enough sleep, and
- figure out why you’re reaching for sugar when you’re sad, lonely, bored, angry or whatever
• She also said that agave was really high in fructose and it’s not very good for you. Bummer. I bought into the marketing hype and even added it to some of my menus. Not much, however, but still … I feel victimized by the Great Agave Nectar Marketing Machine.
The complete seminar Freeing Yourself From Sugar Slavery is online for your listening pleasure. Stephanie gave a ton of great, practical information, so pour a cup of coffee and treat yourself to some excellent education. Who knows … it may be the beginning of your recovery from sugar addiction!
Are you a sugar addict? What’s your favorite sweet treat? Are you a recovered/ing sugar addict? How do you feel now that you’ve broken the chains of sugar slavery?