Ever since my book Cut the Sugar, You’re Sweet Enough came out and I’ve become the new sugar ‘expert’ ~ I’ve had a lot of questions coming in asking about what ‘cut the sugar’ really meant and what type of sweeteners I used and which type of sugars I am against… and so on… Excellent topic but it will be hard to touch on in one post, so I will be breaking down the topic over a few posts. So stay with me!
When it comes to sugar, there is so much mixed information out there! It’s a topic that has become so important to people and everyone wants to jump on board the quit sugar OR cut the sugar bandwagon!
Let me first share more about my approach to sugar the way I approach it in the book and the recipes on this blog also.
As a former sugar-addict, I know how sugar can have a destructive effect which isn’t very sweet at all. I’ve been struggling with mood swings and debilitating health problems for years until I finally came down with a serious rare illness that made me so weak I could barely walk, eat food or even smile. Eventually a wake-up call made me connect the dots of what I was eating to my health problems and this sparked an interest in healthy eating and cutting out sugar (of course!)
The dangers of sugar :
When something tastes good – it’s so hard to point fingers in that direction. I knew my emotional eating and nagging cravings were a problem for a long time but I refused to do anything about them. Even on days I did try to stay away from sugar – sugar won. Every time. Mostly because it tastes so good, my head would not stop thinking about something sweet, and I was already addicted. Addictions as we know, are beyond your own ability to control – they are deeply rooted in the brain.
When we taste something sweet, our brain releases endorphins and serotonin, natural chemicals and hormones which pick up our mood, make us feel good and even reduce stress and depression.
But when you have too much sugar – especially refined sugar, it can have devastating effects on your health!
Sugar is basically like heroin but legal!
This legal drug is now the number 1 addiction in North America. It stimulates the brain by activating endorphins and directly affecting opioids and dopamine in the brain. Two chemicals responsible for making us feel good. These same chemicals are activated by heroin and morphine. A study in France in 2007 revealed that lab rats (who metabolize sugar the same way we do) were given the choice between water sweetened with sugar or intravenous cocaine, 94% of them chose the sugar water. Even when the rats were offered larger doses of cocaine, they still preferred the sweetened water.
So it’s important to understand the dangers of sugar! How it’s addictive and how it can mess up your health.
Type II Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Liver Disease, Cancer and Alzheimer’s are on the rise and they are all connected with a higher sugar consumption. Also, sugar feeds Candida – a form of yeast overgrowth in the intestines which contributes to lots of health problems including serious illnesses mentioned above (I personally struggled with Candida for years and have connected it to my own diagnosis of MG).
Is there a sweet silver lining?
The dangers are clear BUT sugar is also a source of energy that our bodies need! It’s not all bad sugar out there! And learning about this sweet topic is super important if you are like me and you want to be healthy, happy AND still enjoy sweet treats and desserts!
Sweet foods can be nourishing, interestingly enough, just not the sweets we often gravitate to and not in high quantities. By simply changing our relationship with food and addressing our cravings properly, we can make better food choices and learn to eat healthier sweets in moderation.
My sweet approach :
My approach is to cut back on sugar and choose healthier options. I basically choose to eat ‘healthy sugar’! (Yes, there is such a thing!)
I also limit the quantity a lot and use healthier sweeteners where I have to. I learned to love my tea unsweetened and I stopped drinking juice and much prefer the pure taste of water. When I make homemade treats, I sweeten desserts with coconut palm sugar, rice malt syrup, maple syrup, honey, dates and/or Stevia (and other more nourishing or zero calorie sweeteners). I rarely purchase treats now as I prefer to make them myself, that way I know what’s in them, aside from the sweetener, I try to use quality ingredients free of GMOs, preservatives and artificial colours and flavours. When I make desserts from scratch, it’s usually once a week, and when that dessert is gone, my family just sticks to fruit to soothe our sweet tooth! My favourite quick treat is two squares of good-quality dark 72% chocolate with a nice hot rooibos tea. I make my treat a special sit-down thing – that way, the moment lingers and I don’t just swallow big bites of chocolate – I savour each bite and enjoy the moment (guilt-free).
Cutting back on sugar doesn’t have to feel like a punishment. It’s not about being deprived of sugar, but rather changing your approach with sweets. Basically I cut sugar where I can. I Replace refined sugar with quality natural sources that are more nutritious and have less calories by reducing down the quantity or using low-calorie ingredients. Making your own desserts, allows you to control the amount and type of sweetener used – this is the key. Then, you can mix natural sweeteners with Stevia to lower the calories further and preventing blood sugar spikes. A little treat once in a while is great so we don’t feel deprived as this could feed a bad relationship with food. When cravings go out of control – reach for fresh fruit to soothe that sweet tooth!
When you cut the sugar, amazing things happen. You gain control over those nagging cravings and get healthier. Best part is, you still get to enjoy the sweet life after all!
BUT is it all about sweeteners? NO!
There’s a whole big interesting connection to other foods that we eat or don’t eat AND not just sweet tasting foods contain sugar! Join me next time for more on this interesting topic! Some stuff (like how walnuts and potato chips connect with sugar cravings) – you just won’t believe!!
So you see, You don’t have to quit sugar!
When I personally tried to do a sugar detox – it was a really miserable time in my life! Giving up on foods you love is very emotional and this process was making me feel even sicker. When I switched my approach and learned about the nutritious side of sugar – it all made sense. I realized I could still eat sweets but it’s the type of ingredients and the serving size that is most important. Now I enjoy desserts guilt-free!
In the Cut the Sugar book for example, I offer recipes that are sugar free, are low sugar, or use natural quality sweeteners such as coconut palm sugar and I use dried fruit like dates to sweeten desserts as well as fresh fruit like berries and bananas to add sweetness and great taste to desserts. I also combine natural sweeteners with natural sugar substitutes like Stevia to lower the sugar calories you get in one treat. This is great in reducing blood sugar spikes and crashes. All the recipes in the book and most of the recipes on the Pure Ella blog are refined sugar free and focus on quality sweeteners that are actually good for you and won’t make you feel sick! And that’s sweet indeed!
~ ella
ps. to get started cutting out sugar, you can join the Cut the Sugar Challenge.
Blogger, Recipe Developer, Photographer and Author. Loves healthy food, photography, sunshine and dancing in the kitchen with her two daughters. 
