Are you looking for the next “healthy” sweetener and have a sweet tooth? If yes, then read on.
On January 10th The Holistic Moms Network invited me to answer questions at their January 10th Twitter party on Food and Mood. It was a great virtual “event” with really great questions.
A colleague, Mira Dessy, Certified Nutrition Educator and holistic health columnist, provided a great summary of much of the discussion. I’m doing this post to add to it and to clarify a few things…
I think this is a great statement Mira made: “The chat started with a discussion of whether or not folks noticed if there were certain foods that made them anxious or affected their mood. Answers were fairly consistent across the board with responses including sugar, caffeine, gluten, McDonalds, and processed food.” I love that gluten was a hot topic and want to add the possible issue with GMO grains.
But what I’d really like to address the whole sugar discussion. With regards to this statement on Mira’s blog: “Sugar was by far the biggest offender with many participants discussing how difficult it can be to break the sugar habit” and this recommendation which didn’t actually come from me 🙂 “choose lower process sweeteners such as sucanat, evaporated cane juice crystals, honey, molasses, maple syrup”. I believe that if you replace white sugar with equal amounts of any of the above then it’s an issue. Ideally, a moderate amount of fresh fruit should satisfy your desire for something sweet and you shouldn’t have a sweet tooth. And you should not be seeking out the next “healthy” sweetener that comes on the market! If you do, it’s a message that you need to address your diet, nutrient deficiencies, imbalanced brain chemistry or even an addiction, or candida. This may apply whether you’re craving “healthy” sweeteners, stevia or xylitol sugar, or foods with artificial sweeteners. I asked this question “why do u eat sugar – comfort, calming, energy?” and these were some of the responses: “all of the above” and “I’d need to lose both arms to stop myself from eating sugar”. It really doesn’t have to be this way! You can quit and not have to use willpower and not feel deprived!
We didn’t have time to get completely into the individual amino acids (a future Twitter party ??) but they are incredible for stopping cravings in their tracks and improving mood. For example if you eat sugary food to calm down perhaps its low GABA and you may benefit from GABA supplements. Here is a Low GABA questionnaire.
Again, thanks to Mira and read her blog to get the rest of the discussion. And thanks to HMN! Do come to the next HMN twitter party – they are a lot of fun and very informative!
Much of this information relating to anxiety and mood and food (and so much more) is covered in The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood and End Cravings, available in major books stores, at Amazon and via www.antianxietyfoodsolution.com
Trudy, I find that if I want something to taste a little sweet or sweeter, then I will season with cinnamon (great in tomato sauces) or vanilla. Right now I am drinking a black tea that has cinnamon in it and I don’t need to add any kind of sweetener to it. And cinnamon has other benefits.
Paula,
Yes, cinnamon and vanilla (and other spices) are great choices. Cinnamon also helps with blood sugar control.
Trudy
I agree that “other” sugars or artificial sweeteners don’t help much. Your knowledge is SO comprehensive, Trudy. I also learn from reading your blog posts.
Yes I am afraid even empowered with great knowledge from you Trudy that sugar is still an addiction I struggle with from time to time – get some of it back in my system and my tastebuds stand up and shout “hello sugar!”
Heidi,
Recognizing it is half the battle!
Trudy
Trudy,
Good to read your spin on sugar. Why does ketchup for example have to have so much sugar in it? To make it
addictive?
Mitch
Mitch
Sugar is added to so many products to try and make them more palatable and because sugar is in so much processed food many people just take it for granted. it really doesn’t need to be there and certainly not in the quantities we see!
Trudy
Trudy,
Once again, good, healthy advice.
I really appreciate you.
Write on!~
Lisa
Trudy – Brian and I were just talking about the effects of sugar on our kids. We notice that when we keep their diet low in sugar, they are well behaved and great to be around. They are never bratty and they never talk back or argue.
But when they eat a lot of junk, things go downhill … they seem to be on edge, they argue more, and they are bratty to each other and to us.
Keeping their diets in check definitely affect how much fun we have in our house!
Jennifer
Good for you and Brian – I love to hear stories like this! its great for the fun-factor AND their health long-term!
Trudy