food, Uncategorized

Which is Sweeter?

October 31, 2011

Drugs that are abused by only a few (such as heroin) get outlawed, while drugs that are abused by everyone (such as caffeine and sugar) receive legal immunity. It’s mob rule. And the mob is addicted to sugar.” – Mike Adams (NaturalNews.com)

 

ice cream statue bath web

I don’t talk about food on here very much because although it is a real interest of mine, I am not a nutritionist or a chef and there are plenty of those people writing blogs.  But I have been on a food adventure for the past couple of months and I really wanted to share it with you – because it has been life changing. I promise that this has not and will not become a food blog!

Three years ago I was diagnosed with Celiac (Coeliac) Disease, and after both of us eating gluten-free for three weeks and then going to a friend’s for pizza and beer we discovered the hard way that my husband also couldn’t eat gluten.

Cutting something as pervasive as gluten out of your diet requires constant attention. I read every single label and question every single waiter, so I was well prepared for my latest adventure: cutting out sugar for three months.  I decided to try it out because Kris Carr and Dr. Mark Hyman both talked me into it, and the best part about changing your diet is that if it doesn’t work, you can easily change it back.

It’s not easy.  It’s actually easier to cut out gluten than it is to cut out sugar. Gluten-free is gluten-free and that is all there is to it. Sugar-free gives manufacturers license to put in all kinds of other crap.  Yes, I said crap. Sweeteners, while being lovely and sweet, still make me and my body want sugar. So I skipped the question of what is and isn’t a healthy sweetener and I cut out the lot. I mean no maple syrup or honey or aspartame (the devil) or even stevia. I wanted to stop my body from wanting sugar so why would I eat that stuff and give my mouth mixed signals?

Hard? Yes.

Worth it? Absolutely.

Within a month I lost 17lbs without even trying.  Now I am not being smug because I didn’t get all virtuous over night. I did largely replace sugar with salt, but still the weight fell off.

The eczema which has always plagued my hands? Gone in the first three days.

Weirdly, where my eyebrows had been sparse before, they grew in.

But the very best part of all is the way that my mind and body feel.  I feel like I have stepped off of the crazy train.  I feel stronger, clearer, healthier, saner, and more rational.  I can stand back from the dessert menu and know that I will feel sick and fuzzy and tired if I eat anything on it.  I have been so much more productive and steady and focused that I feel like a different person. I feel like I have my power back.

So the question is which is sweeter: a mouthful of something with sugar in it or the feeling of having a clear, powerful head on my shoulders?

Easy.  I choose me.

“…get off the sugar and save your brain.” – Dr. Mark Hyman The Ultramind Solution

You Might Also Like

  • Jo October 31, 2011 at 2:30 pm

    You’re so inspiring Meg. I’m a total sugarholic. with increasingly sparse eyebrows and eczema that flares up on my hands. And let’s not get started on energy levels and migraines. Okay, I’m in.I know when we spent 12 days in China and had no sugar just because there,er, WAS no sugar of the variety I inhale daily, I lost 10lbs.

    But 17lbs???? Will I even recognise you :)You must have near disappeared!

    xxxxxxxxx

  • Lisa October 31, 2011 at 4:18 pm

    I’m inspired. Any tips on how to do it?

  • anastasia November 1, 2011 at 2:09 am

    I want and need to do this…now. No sugar…no fruit? or no sweet tea(I’m in NC, everything is sweet here)How do you choose what has sugar?!? I’m so interested now! I’m off to search the internet!

  • Allergy queen « Skeeterrific November 5, 2011 at 7:03 pm

    […] at the moment too owing to my candida tendencies, and sugar of course, like, caffeine or alcohol is a drug so that’s been an uphill battle!! One of my most challenging situations comes when people ask […]

  • Cage Free Family November 7, 2011 at 4:21 am

    Awesome post. Thank you.
    I have been gluten free, totally organic and completely whole foods limited for years, but the sugar is the thing that always comes back or sticks around. I won’t touch a box of crackers, gluten free or not, but a bar of chocolate? Sure!

    Ugh. I’m really giving it a go again. I tried the cut it down route, but it doesn’t work for me. I’ll have to give it up completely. As of today the house is empty of it.

    My husband has been completely sugar and sweetener free for years. He stuck with it when I caved. I remember how quickly I lost weight when I cut it out and how much better I felt. Hoping I can make it stick this time.

    Thanks for sharing!