5 Sugar Substitutes
Sugar, sugar, sugar, sugar, sugar, sugar, sugar! We love the stuff and it’s practically everywhere. In fact, it’s hard to find a processed food without sugar in it. Even salt and cigarettes contain sugar. Wow! One of top things a naturopathic doctor will likely include in your treatment plan at one point or another is cutting out sugar. It’s damaging for hormone balance, weight management, blood vessel health, energy levels and more.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine excess sugar intake is considered to be damaging to the Spleen – the organ that builds Blood.
I could go on forever with all of the bad things it can do to you, but what I really want to share is how to cut down your intake.
Here are my top tips:
Get it out of the house. Remove all sugar products from your home – white sugar, brown sugar, sugar-laden peanut butter, ice cream, cereal, yogurt, etc.
Replace it with sweet vegetables. Carrots, peas and sweet potatoes are some of the sweetest vegetables out there. Include one of these in your meal to satisfy a need for sweet without reaching for the sugar bowl.
Use replacements in moderation. Options like honey, molasses, monk fruit, coconut sugar, stevia and maple syrup have their place, but they should not be a direct replacement for white sugar. Try to limit this to once per day. You’ll notice I’m also not mentioning artificial sweeteners at all. Please avoid these. They cause a similar insulin release as white sugar and can be damaging to blood sugar management.
Choose herbs. Herbs can help reduce your sugar cravings.
Get to the root. Sugar cravings can also be rooted in deeper emotional, nutritional or energetic issues.
You’ll be amazed how your taste buds will adjust. Nature’s most natural sweetness will prevail on your tongue and you’ll reach for the sugar-bowl much less often.
Sugar-free habits are just what the naturopathic doctor ordered.
