Sugar, Sugar, Sugar…. It’s the curse of the 21st Century…
It’s behind obesity, heart disease, anxiety, depression, migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome, mood swings, PMS, Type II Diabetes, inflammation (which of course leads to other significant health conditions), cancer and don’t even get me started on kids behaviour when they’re on a sugar high..
So how do we Kick it?
These days foods are highly processed so there’s sugar in everything we consume and quite often it’s in foods you wouldn’t even think of like the bread you eat or the jar of pasta sauce you use for dinner. The only way to really avoid a lot of sugar in the diet is to avoid processed foods wherever possible and if you are going to have them then make sure you read the labels. If there’s more than 10 grams of sugar per 100 gram serve or if sugar (or one of the over 50 names for sugars and sweeteners) is in the top 3 ingredients then put it back on the shelf.
So for those of you out there who really struggle with sugar cravings and sugar addiction you’re probably wondering what you can do to make the transition off sugar easier.
Probiotics and Probiotic Foods:
Poor gut bacteria feeds on sugars, starch and high carbohydrate foods so the worse your gut health the more you’re going to crave those foods. Taking good quality probiotics and having a variety of probiotic food such as sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, yogurt and kombucha will also support good gut health.
Herbs for your metabolism:
There are a number of great herbs available in liquid or tablet form that can be used to support metabolic syndrome and high insulin and help you avoid that next step to Type II Diabetes when taken with a good diet. These include Gymnema sylvestre, Nigella sativa, Cinnamonum zeylanicum and Gynostemma pentaphyllum just to name a few.
Chromium:
Found in most sugar blends as it improves blood sugar control by helping to normalise blood sugar levels and improve the body’s utilisation of blood sugar therefore reducing the need for insulin in patients with glucose intolerance and insulin resistance.
Alpha-Lipoic-Acid (ALA):
This is a great antioxidant used for a variety of conditions including blood sugar regulation. There are products available that will combine herbs along with chromium and ALA which can support you whilst you’re trying to kick the sugar habit.
My Sneaky Little Tip:
1 teaspoon cold pressed coconut oil
1/4 -1/2 teaspoon raw honey
1/4 teaspoon raw cacao
Mix these together as a little sweet treat when you’re working on coming off sugar. It’ll give you the hit you’re looking for without the sugar spike that normally goes with it.
Like with anything though I would always recommend you see a qualified healthcare practitioner before you start trying products and changing your diet to make sure your doing it in the best way for your body.
Additionally it’s not just about taking a few herbs and supplements, you also need to get into your pantry and throw out all that processed food. Get yourself a walking buddy and get moving or if you’re really motivated get a personal trainer or set a goal, for example, you might want to do a big hike or half marathon. By setting goals you’ll need to work towards them, train and eat well.
Avoid any triggers that would normally send you to the pantry for ‘treats”, simply speaking change your habits, practice in some new ones and get moving towards a healthier you.
From the team at Mumma’s Own.
xx