Sugar Is The Devil
My name is Katie, and I am a sugarholic. No seriously, I am a full-blown sugar addict. Can you blame me though? Who doesn’t love that instant dopamine hit the moment that sweet, sweet goodness hits your tastebuds?
As delicious as this food tasted, my sweet obsession was turning me into a pre-diabetic. My insulin levels were completely out of control and I needed to eat every couple of hours in order to avoid the inevitable sugar crash. Since I only enjoyed the occasional splurge and didn’t eat cake and cookies at every meal, I was convinced that I was eating healthily. I had limited my carb intake, eliminated dairy, and tried to incorporate fruit and vegetables at every meal. I naively believed that food labeled “dairy free”, “fat-free”, and “organic” made me the epitome of health. Let’s just say I got bitch-slapped when reality set in and I realized everything was a lie.
Pre-survival journey, my main concern was weight loss so I followed all the latest fads and diets in order to get me to my goal weight FAST. I did one very popular diet twice that was calorie restricted (around 1200 calories a day-YIKES), low-fat and relatively high-carb. While I did end up losing the weight, I felt shitty the entire time and gained it all back (and then some) since it wasn’t sustainable. After dissecting my diet with my current doctor, I was shocked to realize that I was consuming a toxic (according to some) substance that was a major contributor to my illness. I was ingesting GRAMS of sugar on a daily basis, most of which were hidden in additives and natural sugar. While all sugar is not created equal, it still has the potential of being detrimental as fuck to your body.
Some shocking facts about sugar:
Sugar is 8 times more addictive than cocaine. This explains why, for me specifically, you can’t stop at just one double stuffed Oreo cookie. You need to eat the entire sleeve.
The average American eats 152 POUNDS of sugar every year. Compare this to 200 years ago, where the average American ate 2 pounds of sugar annually. Yes, people were dying left and right from smallpox and dysentery, but I bet heart disease was down!
Sugar is directly linked to heart disease, type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Kids as young as 13 are developing cirrhosis and are requiring liver transplants. For those wondering, this is not normal or okay.
The Sugar/Inflammation Link
As dumb as this might sound, before starting my health journey, I only attributed inflammation to a sprained ankle or major injury. However, I came to learn that there is a major link between inflammation and autoimmune diseases such as Alzheimer's, inflammatory bowel disease (IBS, Crohn’s), and rheumatoid arthritis. An excess amount of sugar can lead to chronic low grade inflammation which has been shown to trigger these life-threatening ailments.
It’s worth noting that sugar alone does not cause inflammation (but it sure as hell doesn’t help) and there have been no links between natural sugar and inflammation.
I also try my best to be a self-aware bitch and realize that alcohol is filled with SUGAR and not doing me any favors in the wellness department. Even though my staple martini (vodka and fresh lemon juice) is low in sugar, lord knows what it’s doing to my liver. But more on my love-hate relationship with alcohol in the coming weeks.
Quick Cheat-Sheet to Hidden Sugars
If it ends in ‘ose’, it’s no good for you. You should tell fructose, sucrose and dextrose to kindly fuck off.
Any cane or ‘natural’ fruit juices
Agave nectar- major additive in “skinny” cocktails- beware!
Coconut and palm sugar
Honey
How I Finally Broke Up With Sugar
This was no easy task and I did experience withdrawal symptoms. The main way I conquered this delicious beast was by increasing my healthy fat intake. If you had told me this two years ago, I would have thought you were out of your mind. As I’m sure many of you can relate, I was taught to believe that all fat was bad and the main source of weight gain. Little did I know, it was actually essential in the fat-burning process. Who would have thought? Also, many ‘health-foods’ are labeled as “fat-free” but are filled with additives and sugars that do more harm than good. Consuming healthy fat slows the absorption of glucose which helps regulate the sugar spikes. This decreases your cravings, therefore, keeping you more full for longer. Don’t be afraid to eat, or drink, the good fat. It will do noticeable wonders for your overall health.
Some of my Fav Healthy Fats
Avocado- I eat these in moderation since I noticed that they sometimes set off my acid reflux (I realize I’m an 80-year old woman), but are super filling and nutritious nonetheless.
OIL! DOUSE this shit on everything- I use tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil in practically everything I cook.
Chia, hemp and flax seeds- while these have little-to-no taste on their own, they are beyond satiating in overnight oats, smoothies, quinoa bowls, etc. Recipes to follow! Cue the poison control authorities.
Hummus- but READ THE FUCKING INGREDIENTS. Brands like Sabra are loaded with preservatives and sodium. My favorites are Ithaca and Tribe.
Nut butter- I recently discovered this delicious sunflower butter and it honestly tastes like a treat with each spoonful.
Meat- but make sure it’s the basic-AF, grass-fed organic type.
I’m about to share a mantra (kill me) with you but I swear these will be far and few between. When I changed my mindset, I realized that the instant gratification was not worth the damage it was doing to my body.
I still indulge in the occasional treat but will unfortunately, feel pretty sick for a day or two afterward. I have found several alternatives that are low in sugar and satisfy the initial craving. Cacao powder, dark chocolate and dates dipped in almond or sunflower butter have been my go-tos. I’m still working on expanding this list and any other recommendations would be much appreciated.
Has anyone else ghosted sugar for good? I would love to hear your stories in the comments below.
