The Ten Week Challenge Syllabus

I walked people through a ten week challenge, using the following syllabus.

Week 1 - Sugar-free
Week 2 - Whole grains
Week 3 - Wild-caught fish and grass-fed meats
Week 4 - Raw dairy
Week 5 - The microwave
Week 6 - Fats and oils
Week 7 - Cultured and fermented foods
Week 8 - Local and organic produce
Week 9 - Processed foods
Week 10 - Implementing lifestyle changes

Visit my Recipe Index over at Going Green in a Pink World.

Friday, January 9, 2009

Sugar Breakdown

This doesn't mean I'm having a breakdown from not eating sugar, nor is it a new dance. I'd like to run through the various forms of sugars. Remember what we learned in the last post - even natural sugars cause blood sugar imbalances, so eat in moderation. Avoid consuming sugar by itself, but instead try to make it a part of a healthy meal. If you can't live without your sugar desserts, try to limit them to 3 times a week, and try some cookies made with butter and eggs after a salmon dinner, or some natural ice cream after eating a bowl of soup.

Natural Sugars
Honey - I love honey. I can't lie. I eat Crystal's All Natural straight from the 5 pound jar. It costs $25 for a 5 pounds, and is unrefined, unfiltered, so it contains enzymes, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-microbial and anti-oxidant properties, and minerals and vitamins. It's definitely better for you than regular ol' sugar, as it is full of its own enzymes and doesn't call on the body to produce the enzymes lacking in refined sugar. Honey doesn't call on the body's nutrients to metabolize, so those nutrients are able to be used to metabolize fat and cholesterol, which means less fat on your body! It's also a great remedy for sore throats, or beating any kind of respiratory illness. Just add cayenne pepper, ginger, honey, and raw apple cider vinegar and sip. Does the trick!

Maple Syrup - Maple syrup actually has more trace minerals than honey! It is a good source of zinc and manganese, which together help support a healthy immune system.

Sugars to avoid

From the website Splenda (Sucralose) Toxicity Exposed,
"New chemical sweeteners (like Splenda) and the sweetener blends (aspartame, sucralose and acesulfame K blended together in one product) may be causing users to show signs of weight gain, disruption of sleep patterns, sexual dysfunction, increases in cancer, MS, Lupus, diabetes, and a list of epidemic degenerative diseases." Aspartame breaks the blood barrier entering the brain and wreaking havoc on the nervous system. Not really what you signed up for, huh?

The artificial sweeteners may take on these brands: Sweet'n Low, Equal, NutraSweet, Splenda, Altern etc. Please avoid them at all costs.


Watch this informative video on HFCS - high fructose corn syrup!

Agave Nectar or Syrup - It's a highly refined form of fructose.


Fruit juice
-That's a lot of calories and a lot of sugar for one little drink! Try water instead.

I hope you have been convinced of the dangers and health risks of sugar. I used to be a chocoholic, and I am still known to order a LARGE dessert and polish it off by myself. I understand the addiction. But I like my skin, nervous system, clean teeth, clear arteries, cancer-free body, and on down the line, far more than a momentary treat. Of course I indulge, but the ironic thing is most of the time I wish I hadn't.

Gear up! I'd love to hear from people as to how they're doing with their sugar-free week. My hope is that we will minimize sugar for all ten weeks, but go hard at least for the first one. You'll be surprised at how your taste buds change. You just might reach for a handful of nuts instead of the oreo cookie, come March.

4 comments:

  1. Oh no! I thought Agave was OK. Switched from using sugar to agave in my tea and coffee! I use stevia, too, but like the taste of agave more. HELP!

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  2. I think agave can be *OK* if used in moderation. There's much conflicting evidence about it, but the main issues I see are that 1. it's 90% fructose, and that can be very damaging on our bodies, because fructose doesn't contain any enzymes, so we're taxing our bodies to digest it, and 2. the sources have been a bit sketchy. there are reports of American companies (who import the syrup from Mexico) mixing high fructose corn syrup in there because there is an agave plant shortage, and certainly nothing of a corn shortage in our country. Bottom line: $$. This just might be a really clever marketing gimmick. I trust honey. If God mentions it, it's got to be good. =)

    Check out this article to feel even more confused!

    http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/mar/23/food/chi-0323deardorffmar23

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  3. I would love to do this, I just eat a ton of fruit..
    I think it would be good to see what the outcome is!

    Thanks,

    Amy :)

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