The learn something new for me wasn't just learning about this over the weekend, but has been a dabble throughout the week. The research is vast!
I have been doing some reading / sourcing information on sugar addiction as I am trying once again, (but for the last time), reducing to eliminating as much sugar as I can in my diet. The worse are the hidden or disguised sugars. Science & medicine now agree that sugar is an addiction & is even more addictive than cocaine or heroin. WOW! A reason not an excuse.
This searching out information has also lead me to learn about "leaky gut" syndrome, which for years was on the fringe of alternative health care, but in the last 2 days science has backed up the truth about leaky gut, it is a real medical problem. Another WOW! I do not believe I have a leaky gut.
Combine that sugar is an addiction, add in stress & day to day living where we are inundated with commercials for all the sugary treats that we think we deserve, it's a hard battle. I will continue on with the "choice" I make each day to a better me, although truthfully, it will probably be each hour I will have to make mindful better choices. Saturday at Costco, bags & bags of my favourite - Jube Jubes was difficult in making better choices. Valentine candy is already on the shelves in the stores - oh Lord have mercy. Repeat after me, better choices, better choices ...
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Oh & I said I was OK without a specific Word for 2016, but Choice has come to visit me in my thinking & doing, so for now it is a casual relationship ...I exercised choice while Sunday sorting of scrapping paper.
Sugar is a huge issue over here in the UK too and there's a lot in the papers about introducing a 'sugary drink tax'! I try to cut back on sugars but am even more dubious about some of the artificial sweeteners - especially aspartame.
ReplyDeleteI think I can only 'cut back' not 'cut out'!
I agree with you Deb about cutting back, not cutting out, I could never long term succeed in that. In my ongoing "research" there are SO many names for the hidden sugars & some products use multiples of them all!! It's hard work being healthy.
DeleteWell you know that I'm with you on this one! And I'm intrigued by your use of the word "jube jubes" My Grandma used to talk about jube jubes, though I never knew what they were and I certainly didn't know where to buy any. I wonder is it one of those words which has travelled to Canada from over here?
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Sian I think Jube Jubes are unique but some may say they are similar to wine gums but not quite as tart. My American relatives say "our" Jube Jubes are nothing like theirs, so maybe regional taste & texture?? Wikapedia is not much help sorting out.
DeleteHello. My name is Louise and I am a sugar addict .... mainly that found in cake, biscuits or chocolate. I try to do all things in moderation - except exercise, which i really need to start doing a LOT more of. Have a lovely week Mary-Lou, and good luck avoiding the sugar!
ReplyDeleteAh yes the move more, eat less philosophy - Mr Man commented last night that being healthy takes ALOT of work & knowledge - we struggle on.
DeleteGood luck to you Mary Lou. i am sure a lot of us would be a lot better off with less sugar.
ReplyDeleteThanks Maggie. I think we all need to be more aware of what we eat - all we can do is try.
DeleteI started an eating plan (I hesitate to use the word "diet") today that allow NO sugar, NO wheat products and NO potatoes. For the first two weeks, there's no wine, either. We'll see how strong I really am.
ReplyDeleteI like eating plan - I am going to borrow that. Good luck with yours. In my "research" the experts talk about "will power" is not the cause or success against sugar reduction as it is an addiction. That made me feel less a failure. But to help I am posting motivation notes on the frig, stove & at my work desk.
DeleteIt's a tricky one. There is sugar in one form or another in pretty much everything. I only use sugar when I'm baking. I don't add it to anything else. Most of what we eat has been cooked from scratch so I know what's in there. I've heard of "leaky gut" but only in relation to my cousin's Crohn's disease. I didn't know it was related to sugar consumption. Good luck with your quest Mary Lou.
ReplyDeleteOh your poor cousin, Crohn's disease is a really horrible disease. From what I read, there is still lots of knowledge required about "leaky gut", probably first is to get the medical profession to recognize & diagnose. I have become a much more from scratch cook in the last few years. Knowledge is powerful.
DeleteSince I gave up sugar for a month last year, my intake has been worse than ever. I didn't actually find it so hard to give up but I do find it hard to eat in moderation. I wonder if the deprivation sparked something in the reward centres of the brain! One thing is true: it does not make me feel good. Well good luck with it. (I agree with Debs - some of those substitutes are even worse for you. From what little I know, stevia is the best of a bad bunch.)
ReplyDeleteIt was your month long adventure last year that got my attention to really look at sugar & especially all the hidden ones. It's dam hard to stop, for sure it's the lite up parts of my brain which I think dulls the reasoning parts. Just a theory (lol).
DeleteI'm trying hard to cut my sugar addiction down. I know it won't happen overnight but I hope by the end of the year, I've achieved something. I wish you lot of luck with it
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your adventure - it's hard because it tastes SOOOO good. But I guess the best we can do is be aware & try.
DeleteGood Luck with your plan, it is so hard if you have a sweet tooth. One of my friends has a serious sugar problem but with will power and a supportive husband who makes and bakes for her she has lost an incredible 4 stones during 2015. For me it is will power, a positive state of mind, you know, all that stuff. Its the only thing that works for me.
ReplyDeleteYeah Miriam - I admire your will power. I have decided to use some better self talk as I "battle" this foe.
DeleteSugar and I have a close relationship, although I am trying to limit some of the time I spend with it this year!
ReplyDeleteOh Melissa I think I have a love/hate relationship with sugar, it's like when you're a teenage girl, the bad boys are so attractive.
DeleteWishing you every success with this and hoping this is the year you will be able to tackle what you feel you need to. There is lots out there about leaky gut syndrome, sugars, carbohydrates and grains - I find that if I add 'Pub Med' to any Google search, it delivers good quality research. Cheering you on!
ReplyDeleteAlexa thanks for the tip about Google searches, I will definitely be using that information.
DeleteGood luck, there are lots of us who could benefit from better choices. I need to watch both sugar and salt - sigh!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the reducing and eliminating sugar. We hardly use sugar at all in our house but like you said its those hidden ones.
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