This week I am all about educating myself, my family and friends about the addictiveness of sugar. Yesterday morning Mason woke me up, not with a "Good morning mom!" or "How are you mom!" No. He said, "I WANT CANDY!" Broke my heart. My oldest who I denied sugar, sweets or anything artificial for his entire first year is already addicted to sugar. He is refusing to eat the food I make, yet he will eat french fries, hot dogs, sweets, crackers, and other crap.
I am seriously kicking myself. Maybe I gave in too quickly to give him sugar? Maybe I bribed him too much to get him to eat something? Maybe I ate too much sugar in front of him and shared? Heck, I know how great candy and sugars are. I have been addicted for years. It wasn't until I started drinking Shakeology daily that I didn't "have to" have my sugar fix. And I am so thankful for that. Do I still eat sugar? Yes. Because I enjoy it. But no where near what I used to eat. And when I do eat sugar, I do my best to keep it "clean" and avoid treats that have any Artificial Ingredients, Additives, Preservative, etc. There are thousands of additives out there. These are a few of the top, scary ones to watch out for:
- MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) – it is a neurotoxin and used as a flavor enhancer...found in many canned, frozen, processed and fast foods (also in many foods in Asian restaurants – particularly soups…Ask the waiter/waitress). Also be on the lookout for the following additives, which always contain MSG: textured protein, autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed protein, plant protein, oat flour and vegetable protein, sodium and calcium caseinate, and yeast extract. Reactions to MSG include weight gain, heart problems, headaches, ADD, asthma, and headaches.
- Food Dyes – derived from coal tar and petroleum, and can be found in many baked goods, beverages, candies, ice cream, cereals, cosmetics, etc. They have been linked to tumors, as well as, hyperactivity and behavioral effects in children. NOTE – natural and safe food colorings include paprika, turmeric, and beet juice.
- Artificial Sweeteners - aspartame (Nutrasweet & Equal) accounts for the most adverse reactions to food and food additives combines. These reactions include headaches, dizziness, rashes, vision problems, slurred speech, and can trigger or worsen chronic illnesses such as MS, fibromyalgia, birth defects, and Parkinson’s disease.
-Sucralose (Splenda) can cause gastrointestinal problems, slurred speech, mood swings, blood sugar increase, and weight gain. Yep, weight gain. Studies show these artificial sweeteners stimulate your appetite, increase (bad) carbohydrate cravings, stimulate fat storage and weight gain
- High Fructose Corn Syrup (Iso-glucose, glucose-fructose syrup, corn syrup, fruit fructose) – made from GMO corn through a chemical brewing process. The consumer is exposed to mercury and side effects include, liver damage, hypertension, elevated “bad” cholesterol levels, weight gain, and risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Products that may contain HFCS include various processed foods, yogurt, applesauce, soft drinks, children’s vitamins, jellies and jams, and even ketchup. HFCS is also found in many fast foods.
In the end, it's best to avoid highly processed sugars, candy, treats, and candy bars as they are filled with any number of preservatives. Stick with the ingredients you know and understand. Make your own sweets from howe. That way you know exactly what you are putting into your body. Your body will thank you for it and you will be closer to reaching your goals!