By Bronwyn Ison
Here is your sage sugar tidbit for the holiday. The decadent rich and creamy slice of fudge and other sweet treats you intend indulging in will be with you until April, 2015. Research tells us that America is on sugar overload. The average person consumes 155 pounds of sugar per year, which equals 22 teaspoons per day. Temptation lurks in your office, at social gatherings and holiday party’s. Sugar is omnipresent and it is up to you resist the sweet treat. This naughty little culprit is guaranteed to wreak havoc on your health.
We are cognizant that sugar is consumed in excessive amounts. We also know it contributes to poor health and weight gain. Did you know the more sugar you consume the more sugar your body craves? Leading to an immediate sugar high but then a catastrophic sugar crash. Your body then becomes confused and can experience shock. Studies conducted by Dr. Robert Lustig, a California-based endocrinologist revealed through brain scans, sugar is as addictive as cocaine. He says, “It causes a euphoric effect that triggers dopamine, the chemical that controls pleasure in the brain.” Remember we are what we eat. Our bodies need to process whatever we consume. A paramount problem is how our body metabolizes sugar. When we eat too much of one type of sugar (ie. Sodas), our liver transitions into high gear to process it and converts most of the sugar into fat. This can explain our out of control obesity problem in America. They are interwoven. This very problematic sugar addiction is leading to insulin resistance, as well as obesity, type II diabetes, and heart disease. Soft drinks are the biggest culprits. Sugars, candy, cakes, cookies, pies, fruit drinks, dairy desserts, milk and grains all contribute to America’s sugar addiction. We literally have a burgeoning population of people with major health problems.
How do we curtail our eating habits and resist temptation? It is like anything else. Be disciplined. Easier said than done but you can do it!
Here is how you can get on the right track during the holidays.
1. Curtail your alcohol and caffeine consumption
2. Substitute a sweet treat with fruit or sweet veggies
3. Drink MORE water
4. If you think you can’t eat just one cookie… don’t eat any at all
5. Keep fitness a priority.
6. Get plenty of sleep and find time to relax
Think before your eat. Ask yourself, will my body like this sugar. Sugar places stress on your organs. Be kind to your internals and resist the sweet temptations. Stay focused and vigilant. Set an early New Year’s resolution. Quit the sugar and avoid becoming a statistic.
Bronwyn Ison is the owner of Evolve Yoga. www.e-volveyoga.com or
(760) 564-YOGA (9642) 50-991 Washington Street, La Quinta 92253
