So Long *I mean Good Riddance, sweet tooth

As of late I have been attempting to be more conscientious of my sugar intake, that is, reducing it (not counting those that occur naturally in fruits & veggies). It's been really tough trying to consume less chocolate (I eat it every day, & Easter sure as heck did not help my case)(& I am unfortunately not talking about the good-for-you organic dark chocolate), but as I am becoming more educated as to the consequences of regular consumption of processed/refined sugars (which my chocolate is loaded with, not to mention the outrageous fat content), the war in my thought process which is prompted by sweet goodies is becoming an easier one to fight.

Food Sugar for thought: At the end of the 19th Century the average American consumed 5lbs of sugar per year. Today the average American consumes 2-3lbs of sugar per WEEK. (Sorry I don't have Canadian stats, boo.) Along with our sky-rocketing sugar intakes, so to have our statistics for occurrences of heart disease & many other ailments soared.

Did ya know that sugar is actually addictive? Fo realz, it causes changes in your brain similar to that of drug use. Dopamine (a "feel good" neurotransmitter in your brain) levels jump when you consume foods containing sugar, which makes your body jump for joy. And so your brain ends up in a cycle which points you back to sugar again & again because it enjoys being in that happy feel good zone. (Sidestory: in college my Psychology of Drugs & Behaviour professor regularly wrote letters to the author of our course textbook recommending sugar be included in the content, right alongside cocaine & heroin.) This sugar-induced dopamine cycle is not a good one to be stuck in considering all the negative effects sugar can have on your health.

Sugar decreases your body's ability to absorb many minerals & vitamins - nutrients key to your body performing optimally, along with good bone health. It also has a negative affect on your immune system (your body's ability to fight off bad guys like cold bugs or the flu, also your body's defense against occasional flaws in cell reproduction... abnormal cell growth can result in cancer). Sugar increases free radical damage, such as the aging of your skin. Sugar increases fats in the blood & decreases 'good' cholesterol. Sugar causes cavities (when combined with the acid in the mouth, chemicals are formed which dissolve enamel). Excessive sugar intake can result in Type 2 Diabetes. Considering how it affects the brain (not only does it alter the production of Dopamine, but of Serotonin & Norepinephrine, too), it could play a role in mood disorders such as depression (in fact decreasing sugar intake can increase emotional stability). Why expose yourself to all of these risks just for a brief analgesic sugar hit? There are tons of other ways to get those feel good neurotransmitters high, without the negative side effects - try walking or running, stretching, a heart-to-heart with a friend.

Here are some ways sugar can be disguised on a label: sucrose, fructose, maple syrup, molasses, dextrose, turbinade, amazake, sorbitol, carob powder, glucose, high fructose corn syrup.

Next time you're jonesin' for a sugar hit, reach for an apple or some other natural source of sugars (carrots, peppers, bananas, strawberries, grapes... most fruits & veggies!) instead of processed nasties (dress up your veggies with yummy tzatziki or hummus). Avoid fake sweeteners like aspartame which imitate sugar and leave your body craving more sweetness. If you're going to indulge in a treat, making homemade goodies instead of purchasing them prepackaged helps you to see & control how much sugar you & your family are consuming.

Love your body & take care of yourself by limiting your crappy sugar intake - even if it's just a little baby step (like eating a chocolate treat every other day instead of every day or limiting your indulgence in sour candies to girls movie nights in); this can have HUGE effects on your health as the years go by. You'll be absorbing & storing nutrients better and your body will be able to function more optimally, resulting in a happier healthier you, & contributing to keeping diseases & ailments at bay.