Take Charge of Your Health ~ Break the Sugar Habit

If you’re like most of us, you ate too many holiday cookies and sweets, and you may have put on a few pounds. Holidays tend to be a stressful time of year, and that causes sugar cravings. Sugar tastes sooo good, but it does hurt our bodies internally and externally.   To name a few of the negatives, sugar causes inflammation, acne, an imbalance in our gut bacteria, depression and too much sugar in all of its forms can lead to many chronic diseases.  And, this is only a partial list! 

If you have a seemingly insatiable sweet tooth, it is not your fault.  It is often caused by an imbalance in your gut bacteria. It’s difficult to correct, since sugar is highly addictive, and the food industry knows it.  According to one estimate, sugar is an ingredient in over two thirds of processed foods on the market. The more sugar is added, the more people will buy the items.  This isn't just candy and cakes, but almost everything you can imagine: salad dressing, soup, bread, seasoning mixes, all refined grains, and the list goes on and on.  Eating whole foods goes a long way toward eliminating sugar cravings.

Now is the time to break the habit.  You can do it!  It takes 3 days to begin to eliminate sugar cravings. Here are some tips to try.

  1.     Eat nutrient dense foods such as leafy green vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains.   Deficiency in these nutrients can cause cravings.
  2.     Make sure your meals are balanced, including a quality protein, healthy fats and a lot of vegetables in all colors. Healthy fats include nuts, seeds, avocado, olive oil, and salmon.
  3.     Manage stress. Regular exercise, meditation and deep breathing lower stress and reduces cravings. Also, this improves sleep and if you’re well rested, you don’t crave sugar as much.
  4.     When you feel a craving coming on, have a plan. Phone a friend. Take a walk. Do something you enjoy. Focus on non-sugary sweetness in life!! If you need to eat, try fruit or sweet vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, and squash. You’ll be surprised to see how these things curb the craving.

Support of a group can be a huge help in weight loss and creating healthy habits that last for life.   Consider the Synergy3 Cleanse and Wellness Program, which kicks off on January 28th.  This group program focuses on eating whole food meals that are delicious and filling without deprivation. It’s not just about food, but also focuses on stress reduction, exercise and tips and tricks for a healthy life. The support is top notch. It’s a life changing experience! Consider giving yourself this gift. Now’s the time to take charge of your health.

Stacy Hendrie is the Chief Flavor Officer at FitStop Delivers. FitStop provides meals for the Synergy3 Wellness Program and also delivers to homes and offices in Westchester and bordering towns.

FitStop Delivers – www.fitstopdelivers.com - 915-620-2228


HamletHub Health & Wellness Series: Get Healthy in 2019 

Over the next few months, you will be treated to a series of articles from local experts in the health and wellness field.

Topics will include physical health, mental wellness, fitness, nutrition, financial well-being, and more.

Search #GetHealthyin2019 for other articles

 

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Submitted by New Fairfield, CT

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