What do you think is the one thing that is as addictive as cocaine? It may quite possibly be in your home, in your kitchen, and your children are at risk of becoming easily addicted to it. Take one guess. You may never think you have an addiction, or at least not one that involves a narcotic.
The answer is sugar.
Sugar lights up the brain the same way cocaine will. And children are the targets for this. Soda, candy, cereals, ice cream, the list goes on and on.
You may think this benign, white substance cannot be that harmful. But in fact it affects everything in your body. The book The Blood Sugar Solution by Dr. Mark Hyman is phenomenal in demonstrating the destruction that sugar has on the body. It can lead to diabetes and don’t be fooled by a normal glucose or sugar level. A fasting blood sugar should be no higher than 87mg/dl. Even artificial sweeteners as well as Stevia raises blood sugar levels which can actually slow down your metabolism and cause you to gain weight.
One of the key tests to get at your next appointment with your specialist is an insulin level. This is typically not routinely checked. High levels can create belly fat, inflammation, as well as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and depression.
We are not perfect beings and neither am I. I just love freshly baked gluten free goodies. While I do not use white sugar in recipes, I have started to steer away from stevia as well. Dates or coconut sugar are my go-to. If I want a little sweetness in my green juice, I will cut up an apple or half an orange.
But I don’t really like the fact that I need something sweet at the end of the day. So just for some added summer fun, to test my will power, and a little prep for my wedding, I am doing the 10 Day Detox Diet by Dr. Mark Hyman, http://10daydetox.com/successfuldetox/
Here is the list of what is eliminated for 10 days:
- Sugar
- Gluten
- Dairy
- All grains (quinoa, millet etc)
- Beans or legumes
- Processed foods ( no additives, artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup or MSG)
- Processed vegetable oils
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
Now this list seems daunting but because I don’t consume gluten, beans/legumes, grains or processed vegetable oils, it may not seem so hard. But truth be told, you know my weaknesses: chocolate gelato, pastries, and an occasional martini, cosmopolitan to be exact. There is also some form of non-dairy ice cream or sorbet in my freezer.
Every one of us has our vices. So 10 days of not having a touch of sweetness or a cocktail just sounds boring to me, especially in the middle of summer. But I am ready for the challenge! I will keep you posted! This list will be replaced by whole foods, nothing out of a box, with lots of vegetables. Recipes are included in the book to make things easier.
The 10 Day Detox also calls for :
- Daily 30 minute of exercise
- Hot salt baths
- Journaling
- Specific vitamin supplementation
- Lots of water
- 7-8 hours of sleep
- Relaxation through breathing
This sugar addiction has become an epidemic.
Here is a trailer for Fed Up, a must watch!
So what small change can you make this summer? Is there something you want to give up? What is your vice? xo
