Are you addicted to sugar but don’t even realize it? I was, until a month ago.

For years, people had mentioned that sugar caused me to get excited. But I didn’t think I was addicted to sugar; I thought I was mindful about what I was consuming. However during a recent conversation with a friend, I became enlightened. The information led me to dig deeper and learn more about my sugar consumption.

Over coffee, my friend showed me the facts about sugar.  I learned that the flavoured cappuccino drinks I consume regularly are loaded with sugar. I was shocked. We looked at the nutritional information put out by the manufacturer and realized that each flavoured cappuccino has 40 g of sugar!It is a lot to consume – especially when the American Heart Association informs us that women are only supposed to consume 6 teaspoons (24g) a day and men should consume 9 teaspoons (36g). Also, check out this wonderful resource about sugar created by the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Therefore, with my one drink, I was way over my daily limit.  And that was before including the sugar from the other foods I’d taken in that day.  

Then it hit me. The cappuccino drinks weren’t the problem. I was addicted to sugar – even though I hadn’t known it.  I was caught in a vicious addictive cycle. I would use sugar to perk me up, but then its ‘perk’ would wear off and I would feel sluggish again; so, I would crave more sugar.   

I don’t drink pop and am usually mindful about what I eat. But sugar is the kicker. As soon as I found out how much sugar I was actually consuming, I stopped drinking sugary coffee drinks. Instead, I drink tea or coffee, plain with milk. Or, I drink water. But I haven’t deprived myself completely of sugar as I love baked goods and chocolate; I’m just cutting down in these areas too.  I’m making small changes to remove the sugar from my diet over time. 

That conversation with my friend happened over a month ago; I am feeling the benefits already.  Some of the perks are that my cravings have disappeared, and I am mentally more alert. I feel so much happier about my body too; it performs better when I exercise. I have so much more vitality, and my energy levels are constant.  Unlike before, I don’t need a sugary coffee drink in the afternoon to perk my energy levels up. Even on Halloween, I resisted eating candy. While the temptation was there, I thought about my long-term health and the longing subsided. Look what one small change in diet can do.

My community helps me, too. I have an amazingly supportive group who are encouraging me to reduce added sugar in my diet; they see the benefits in my overall well-being. Some of the comments I have heard so far are that I have stable energy throughout the day and that I look refreshed. I encourage you to start being mindful of what you are eating.

Sugar is a hard habit to break – I have been struggling with it for years. There is added sugar in so many foods we consume; some products might surprise you! For example, after a workout this weekend I went to go get a natural health beverage but checked the nutritional label first. I was shocked – 25 g of sugar in the water! I had thought it was a healthy product!   

In the process of being kinder to ourselves, reducing sugar in my diet is one of the ways I am choosing to do so. My body feels better when I nourish it properly. As a result, so do my mind and soul :)

How about you?

Are you addicted to sugar? Do you use food to comfort you? Describe your relationship with food? How do you currently feel about your body?

Thank you for reading and your presence at this beach retreat. You Rock! I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts in the comment section below.

See you at the beach!

Related Articles on Other Sites:

• 5 Tips to Quit Sugar the Spirit Junkie Way (Gabrielle Bernstein)
• A Sweet Middle Path (Rachel W Cole)