Anyone out there admit to having a sweet tooth? I’ll stand up and say, “I’m Donna and I have a sweet tooth.” Did you all applaud for me making that bold declaration? I have known that for several years now. I come by it naturally, my dad had a sweet tooth. Most people appreciate the flavor of sweets, it is just that some have better self-discipline at controlling their portions. I have been making changes in my sweet consumption for about four years now.
It started with my elimination diet. I was diagnosed with a pretty severe infestation of candida yeast in my digestive tract. Pretty gross to think about something in there alive but the truth is we have an awful lot of good AND bad bacteria in our bodies, many of them residing in our digestive tracts. The challenge with candida is that it causes a lot of irritation and swelling as well as headaches, bloating, and other digestive problems. It is pretty remarkable how many symptoms a candida overgrowth (or infestation as I prefer to call it for shock value) has.
When this was first diagnosed I met with a woman my doctor recommended to work through my elimination diet because part of the goal was to not only kill these guys but to also determine what else my be going on in my system. She was coaching me on the process of eliminating them and she warned me that as I went “cold turkey” on ALL sugars (even fruits) they would crank up their sugar demands like nothing I had ever experienced. She was right! I remember seeing people eating a piece of fruit and salivating. I may have been a bit cranky for that week too…I have blocked the memories, you can ask Keith.
So starting off, one thing I want you to know is that if you have serious sugar cravings, you may have a problem with candida. The next question is usually, “How does someone contract candida?” That part is surprisingly easy. I believe one of the most common is when we are on antibiotics they kill off the bacteria in our digestive tracts, all of them. The bad bugs grow back at a faster rate then the good and suddenly no one wants to live in your neighborhood anymore.
There is a lot more to share about this but I want to cover some additional information on avoiding sugar. If you would like an information sheet on the symptoms and treatments for candida, please drop me a comment.
After that initial burst of getting sugar out of my diet (for over six weeks!) I vowed I would never become that addicted again. I have succeeded in that pledge. It helped that I immediately went “gluten-free” and some of my favorite sweets evaporated before my eyes. Especially licorice (which contains wheat). After my dad was diagnosed with cancer I learned that cancer cells feed on sugar. That gave me some good motivation to keep my own consumption of sugar in check. For example, previously I only liked coffee if it had cream AND sugar in it. I have since decided that I like coffee just fine with just cream.
These little eliminations add up. I do avoid all artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, sucrolose, and sacchrine. I am concerned about the affect of these man-made chemicals on my health and I figure safer to avoid then deal with the consequences later. If I want something sweet (and I do still bake and eat candy from time to time) I use the “real thing”. I am a fan of natural plant-based sugars like xylitol (excellent in gum, mints, and toothpaste – proven to kill strep bacteria) and stevia. I also love agave nectar (very sweet, metabolizes slower then honey or other sugars-see http://stayinghealthytips.com/17/agave-concerns/ post which brings up concerns around agave nectar production) and brown rice syrup (also metabolizes slower-cook it on the stove with your favorite nut butter and chocolate chips then add in a cereal of your choice for a healthier alternative to Rice Krispie Treats).
That is it for today. We will discuss in the future some of the other considerations when changing ones’ sugar habits. In the meantime, look for a place in your life today that you can reduce or eliminate sugar. I guarantee you will still find that enjoyment and sweetness in each moment of your life.
Donna Copeland is an Independent Shaklee Distributor that has found the soy protein products to be a tremendous help in managing her own sugar issues. You can also check out the Cinch products and Glucose Regulation Complex which also help to balance sugar cravings. Go to: www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com for more information or to purchase products. Donna is paid for purchases made through her or her website.
