Welcome to November 1st, you survived the sugar holiday. Did you stay strong and fight off the temptations? Or do you have a blood sugar hangover or an upset stomach? Regardless, you’ve come to the right place to seek some refuge from the candy storm.
Whether you are aware of the sad sweet truths or not, it’s always helpful to review the facts.
It’s no secret that the food industry has tried their best to cover up sugar’s harmful effects, which is why many consumers don’t realize the amount of added sugar they eat on a daily basis. Considering the 50+ names for “sugar” and other sneaky marketing tactics, an average American can consume 100 grams of sugar by the afternoon, without even knowing it. This is horrific when compared to The American Heart Association’s daily recommendation of 24g for women and 36g for men!
Added sugar is snuck into mass produced foods like:
- Low-fat and diet food products
- Canned soups, salad dressings and jarred sauces such as marinara and barbecue
- Granola bars, cereal and many breads
- Yogurt, sour cream and other dairy products
- Chinese takeout and other restaurant and fast food
- Juices, sodas, tea and coffee drinks
So, who cares if you “cheat” here and there? Maybe you feel like sugar doesn’t affect you, like it does others. Well, even if you don’t feel blood sugar spikes or crashes, that doesn’t mean you’re protected from damage. Many results might not show up until later in life or may not be seen/felt by you. Addiction, dental issues, behavioral and mood disorders, heart and liver complications, Type 2 Diabetes and weight gain are just a few of sugar’s frightening consequences.
Being aware of added sugar and the harm it causes the human body is an important first step. However, once you learn the sweet truths, those next steps can be challenging for some.
To help keep you walking the steps, here’s a few tips:
- Meal makeovers: Even when you become aware of the added sugar in your diet, it’s common to not want to give up your favorite foods – no matter how unhealthy. However, you don’t need to “give up” anything, but rather redesign it. If you usually add sugar to your spaghetti sauce, try honey or agave. Do you have an addiction to store bought granola bars? Make your own with natural, whole ingredients. Over time, if not right away, you’ll begin to prefer these over the original!
- Alternatives while on-the-go: That convenient yogurt parfait from the coffee shop or breakfast sandwich from the drive-thru could be culprits in your high blood sugar. Don’t let them win due to accessibility. Purium is here for these exact moments with a number of meal replacement products. In fact, Scoop of Greens, one of our best products for balancing blood sugar levels, is on special this month!
- New rewards: Do you have a reward system with yourself? Have you ever validated bad food choices because you exercised or had a bad day? Well, don’t feel bad because it’s pretty normal, unfortunately. While this reward mentality is difficult to shake, it could be useful if the reward is healthy. Instead of treating yourself with food, what about treating yourself with a pedicure or even a movie? What are some things in life that you wished you did more because you enjoy them?
