Author: AJ

Sugar Cravings

We all know how bad sugar is for our bodies. It has the potential of wreaking havoc on our overall health: digestive system, diabetes, high blood pressure, inflammation, Alzheimers, weight gain, fatty liver diease, it fuels cancers, and the list goes on an on.

Why does it have such a hold on us? Why can’t we slay that sugar beast?

Naturally occurring sugars found in fruits and some veggies are carbohydrates that our body uses for energy as well as brain and cellular function. These are good – eat them!

Added sugars found in processed foods don’t influence blood sugar levels in the same way as naturally occurring sugars do, though.

Simple carbohydrates like white bread, potato chips, cake, candy, and alcohol contain few to no necessary nutrients, are digested quickly, spike your sugar levels, and leave you wanting more carbs – creating a vicious cycle. These are bad – avoid them.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could spot sugar easily on any food label? Sadly, it’s never that simple. The food industry is always 10 steps ahead of the consumer. They use savvy descriptors designed to disguise the ultimate enemy’s presence: sugar.

Here are some common and sometimes misleading pseudonyms for sugar:

  • Brown sugar
  • Corn sweetener
  • Corn syrup
  • Fruit juice concentrates
  • High-fructose corn syrup
  • Honey
  • Invert sugar
  • Malt sugar
  • Molasses
  • Raw sugar
  • Sugar molecules ending in -ose (dextrose, fructose, glucose, lactose, maltose, sucrose)
  • Syrup

Why can sugar be addictive?


Happiness and dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical released in our brains, go hand in hand. Typically, the brain releases dopamine when doing activities that we enjoy. Cake anyone?

Sugar also stimulates the dopamine pleasure centers; that’s why eating foods that contain “sugars” (whether real or artificial) feels good … satisfying. And once that shot of happiness begins to wear off, guess what? Your brain will dispatch an SOS alerting you that dopamine (aka: happiness) is dropping and you need to do something about it. Pronto! Enter your BFF to the rescue: Sugar.

How to manage sugar cravings


I would like to assure you that it’ll be an easy fix.

It won’t.

Clearly, the best way to stop this vicious cycle is to just Q-U-I-T!

  1. Opt for foods with natural sugars, like fruit. This is what your body needs
  2. Avoid artificial sweeteners. In case you skipped over the identifier: Artificial. Anything artificial or made in a lab is bad.
  3. Commit to eating a clean diet: proteins, healthy fats, veggies, and real fruits – nothing packaged.

Each person is has different needs: bio-individuality. This means the way your body responds to sugar will be different from the person next to you, and your journey to eating less sugar will depend on many factors.

There is no right or wrong, just trial and error; we are constantly modifying our wellness routines as needed.

Do you need a little extra support in quitting sugar? The 10-Day Sugar and Dairy Detox is absolutely free.

Healthy and Delicious Chocolate Avocado Pudding

Have I got a treat for you today!

When attempting to lose weight, or to just be “healthy,” it is incredibly important to avoid ultra-processed foods because not only do they work against your health and wellness goals due to their ingredients but they’re also designed to make you want to eat more of them.

This might lead you to believe you have to eat boring and dull food from now on. (By the way, that mindset is sure to derail even your most arduous attempts at success.)

It does not have to be so.

Here’s a surprising recipe for all of my chocolate pudding lovers out there.

It doesn’t even require any cooking – just a high-speed blender or food processor.

Tip:
When you make it, be sure your avocados are ripe but not OVERripe because it will affect the consistency.

Healthy and Delicious Chocolate Avocado Pudding

(4 servings)

  • 2 ripe avocados (not over-ripe!)
  • 1 cup (160 g) pitted dates
  • ¼ cup (20 g) raw cocoa powder
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water
  • ½ Tbsp organic honey
  • 1-2 pinches of sea salt

Directions
Remove the peel and pit from the avocado and cut into quarters. Don’t know how?

Slice avocado lengthwise through the middle but around the pit. On thee side of the avocado containing the pit, carefully push the pit out using both thumbs. Then, scoop out remaining flesh with a spoon. Finally, scoop out the flesh of the other half of the avocado.

Place all of the ingredients in a food processor and blend until combined. Scrape out of the processor into a covered container (or individual covered serving dishes). Let it chill for a few hours before eating.

Try not to eat it all at once. Enjoy!

Seriously: SO GOOD.

Eating well and looking great does not have to be a chore.

Start with the basics. Shop around the perimeter of the store. Each meal should include:

  • Protein
  • Healthy Fat
  • Veggies

Breathe deeply. This will help to center and prepare your mind. It will also remind you to slow down.

Let me know in the forum if you tried this recipe.

Carrot-Ginger Soup

Prep Time

10 minutes

Cooking Time

40 minutes

Yields

4 Servings

Ingredients

6–7 large carrots
1 medium onion
½-inch knob of ginger
3 cups vegetable stock
3 tbsps extra virgin coconut oil
Sea salt, to taste

Directions

  1. Wash and pat dry carrots and ginger.
  2. Chop carrots and onions.
  3. Grate ginger.
  4. Bring coconut oil to medium heat in medium-large pot.
  5. Sauté onions until translucent but not browned.
  6. Add ginger and sea salt and cook for another two minutes.
  7. Add carrots and cook for five minutes.
  8. Cover with three cups water.
  9. Bring to a boil then reduce to low heat and simmer for 20–25 minutes, until carrots are tender and soup is fragrant.
  10. Turn off heat, let sit for 10–15 minutes to cool.
  11. Then transfer soup to blender and blend until smooth and creamy. You could also use an immersion blender directly in the pot.

Options

  1. Garnish with cilantro
  2. Add 1 teaspoon curry powder or cinnamon
  3. For a creamier version, add ¼ cup full-fat coconut milk to blender