The Power of Sugar

I recently attended a health conference in Long Beach where I was absolutely shocked to learn from one of the speakers that sugar is actually 4 times as addictive as cocaine.  What?  Four times more addictive than what!?!  I couldn't believe it but the proof literally is in the pudding.  With Diabetes escalating every day and waistlines ever expanding, it is not only clear in research experiments but also to the naked eye, that we have an addiction to sugar in the U.S.  

One of the quickest ways to get control of your weight and balance your body's blood sugar/insulin processes again is by cutting sugar out of your diet.  Even if you only eat "natural" sugars from fruit, honey, agave nectar, etc., you could be ingesting an enormous amount of sugar per day.  Now, I am not saying to cut sugar out of your diet forever.  Fruits definitely have some health benefits as does raw honey but by eliminating sugar from your diet for a short period of time, you let your body learn to regulate your blood sugar levels, get a better sense of when you're actually hungry, increase your immune system's ability to fight off illness and ward off Candida infections. 

Sugar is pervasive in our American diet.  All kinds of foods that you would not associate with sugar have been processed with this other "white powder." Did you know that taco seasoning and tomato sauce contain added sugars?  Can you see the hidden sugar in the picture above? In her step-by-step e-book, "I Quit Sugar," Sarah Wilson surprises herself by discovering how much sugar she actually consumed in a day.

A year ago, I quit sugar.  My health improved immediately.  Once you quit sugar, you don't crave sweets as much and when you do take a bite of dessert, a bite is all you actually need to feel satiated.  However, Valentine's Day was just a few weeks ago.  My husband wanted to be sweet and brought home a small tub of coconut macaroons for me.  It's really the only treat I can eat without having a reaction due to all of my food sensitivities.  It started out as one bite of one macaroon.  At first I thought they were too sweet.  I went back for another bite then another macaroon and then another. 

During the next few days, I was exhausted.  I started adding caffeine and more sugar to my diet to cope.  Within the week, my face had broken out with acne, I was severely dehydrated and I had a systemic Candida infection.  All of this from one bite of an ultra sugary macaroon.  Can you say addictive?  That's right, say it with me again - "4 times as addictive as cocaine!"  I was addicted.  And like most addictions, I had withdrawal symptoms for days after I decided to stop the sugar roller-coaster madness.  I've now been sugar-free for a week.  My acne and Candida have subsided, I'm able to sleep better and I'm full of energy.  Plus, I lost a few pounds off of the tummy tire I had acquired during my sugar binge.  

Well, I learned my lesson!  I'm not perfect.  I'm a Health Coach who fell prey to the siren call of sugar but at least I had the tools and knowledge to reign it back in quickly.  It's amazing the power sugar can have over your mind. Want to come out of your sugar fog?  Try my 30-day kick sugar program at The Healthy Plate. 

Have you ever quit sugar before?  Are you still sugar-free?  What were the results?  Join the discussion below.  I'd love to hear from you!

Yogurt: Rich, Creamy Goodness With A Probiotic Kick

A few weeks ago, I purchased a yogurt maker.  Ever since I read, "French Women Don't Get Fat," I've wanted to make my own yogurt.  The author describes a method for making yogurt in a warm oven all night but I liked the idea of getting a yogurt maker that holds the temperature consistently.  So, I purchased the Euro Cuisine Yogurt Maker, 42 oz. of Raw Milk and a packet of yogurt starter.  You can also make homemade yogurt with organic, pasteurized milk.  All I had to do was heat the milk up to the correct temperature, add the packet of yogurt starter, pour the warm milk into the jars and let the yogurt maker do its job for the next few hours.  It only took 15 minutes to make the milk mixture. Easy peasy!

Fresh, homemade yogurt is unparalleled in taste and health benefits.  This rich, creamy concoction is a probiotic powerhouse to soothe your gut.  Many commercial yogurts have loads of sugar and additives to extend shelf life.  Yogurt made at home, where you control the ingredients is delicious and pure and it doesn't take much work at all.  Why don't you give it a try? 

*A note on raw milk - I never imagined I'd ever drink raw milk.  Many years ago, for a short period of time, I moved to an area surrounded by farms and became active in the Slow Food movement.  At one of our meetings at a dairy farm, the farmer brought out raw milk for us to try.  I was hesitant but to be polite, I tried it.  Wow!  It blew me away.  It was like no milk I had ever tasted.  As I drank it, I felt my body being nourished and I didn't have any of the tummy troubles I've often had with commercial dairy.  For that reason, when I do have dairy, I try to get raw milk cheeses and yogurts.  In California, we are lucky to be able to purchase raw milk at several groceries.  I prefer Claravale Farms Raw Milk but there are many other delicious brands.  There is even a Raw Milk Challenge going on at The Healthy Home Economist.  Give raw milk a try....you might be surprised. 

Who out there has made homemade yogurt?  Which type of milk do you prefer?  Join the discussion!

Welcome to The Healthy Plate!

It's nice to have you here.  The Healthy Plate brings energy, balance and joy into your life by sharing my experiences and what I've learned through my own quest for health and balance. In our busy world, our plates tend to be too full.  Too much work, not enough time for play and rest, and poor eating habits lead us feeling unbalanced and unfulfilled. The Healthy Plate is about adding nourishment to your plate whether it be with food, fun or fitness.

I believe deeply in the body's ability to heal itself given the right combination of food, exercise and personal nourishment.  As a mom and a trained chef, I enjoy creating healthy, fast and easy menu plans to keep your family going throughout the week.  I also love to share quick recipes and fitness plans for on-the-go people and families.

I also have experienced physical and health challenges.  After a traumatic auto accident, I had to learn how to use and strengthen my body again as well as how to manage pain effectively.  In addition, I have been healing myself of an autoimmune thyroid disease for the past few years.  Because of these experiences, I have learned wonderful healing techniques to address physical pain, weight management, stress, thyroid challenges and autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, IBS, and obesity.

As a busy parent, I am always trying to find ways to find balance and stay healthy.  We all know what a feat that can be to accomplish when so many "to-dos" are on the list that it is difficult to actually do it all - prepare healthy meals, sit down to eat, make time for friends, family, fun, and ourselves and find time to exercise.  This blog will provide ideas, tricks and tips for putting balance back into your.  I will share information from my own experiences with health issues and from my training as a health counselor and chef.  I will also share blog posts and articles from other websites that are valuable to us all.

I hope you enjoy and please feel free to post comments and questions.  We're all in this together!  Now, what's on your plate?