It's that time of year again. Christmas carols blaring from the stores tell us that "It's the most wonderful time of the year", but most of the people maxing out their credit cards inside those stores don't look like they're taking the advice to "be of good cheer".
Dec 23, 2022·edited Dec 23, 2022Liked by Robyn Chuter
Well timed article and good advice. I've been working on sugar cravings/addictions with the aid of an acupuncturist to strengthen the function of my spleen and pancreas. My diet has significantly changed to incorporate more whole foods and now I'm finding that my taste buds have changed. Foods that I craved now taste too sweet, even some of the fresh fruits taste too sweet. If I'm tempted to eat something that I instinctively know is not good for me, I ask myself how do I choose to feel for the next few days.
Lost the taste for sugary foods completely decades ago other than in, preferably, vegetables like the sweeter one (red/yellow capsicum, butternut pumpkin, carrot, gold sweet potatoes, etc where it is more than enough to satisfy ant sweet yearnings). I took to resolutely declining any cake at the office for birthdays, etc – couldn’t stomach the thought of it. I was very wary of the ‘slippery slope’ of ‘just one slice’ and found it easier to just say no, all the time, to anything with refined sugar.
Don’t miss it at all now. There are so many more sources of good, healthy dopamine hits. Cycling can do it for me, or talking to my sister - actually she does all the talking (sisters!) but I’m happy for her.
That, or seeing a favourite Substack writer pop up in my in-tray.
I use some rapadura sugar in my baking. From what I've read, rapadura sugar is not too bad for you and in fact can even enhance your immune system? Is this true?
The first time I went off sugar upon the advice of a naturopath, even my cat avoided me! :-D Thank god I lived with no other humans then! The second time I went off it, I was not so bad, but I did miss it. The third time I went off sugar, it really didn't bother me. I was quite surprised.
I can now, years later, have sugar - or not have sugar - and I'm fine. I think it was more training my willpower to understand how my body reacted, and now that I have been through it and know what happens, I know what to expect and therefore that I'll be OK.
I'm quite sure I'll MISS sugar if I cut it out again, but mentally I'll be OK because I've trained myself to be OK without it before.
As for our Xmas brekkie/lunch/dinner, we had bacon & eggs for brekkie, a normal, basic lunch and then roast chicken with veggies for dinner! Nothing crazy, sugary or weird ;-) So you're not the only one who believes in a sensible diet, even at Xmas, ha ha! Honestly, I can still remember feeling ill TOO many times at Xmas & Easter as a kid. I don't do that to myself anymore. I actually love myself these days so I don't want to torture myself - or my loved ones! :-D
Very interesting. I have work colleagues who insist that carbohydrates such as those found in bread or rice are also as “toxic” as added sugar. Any truth to that ?
Well timed article and good advice. I've been working on sugar cravings/addictions with the aid of an acupuncturist to strengthen the function of my spleen and pancreas. My diet has significantly changed to incorporate more whole foods and now I'm finding that my taste buds have changed. Foods that I craved now taste too sweet, even some of the fresh fruits taste too sweet. If I'm tempted to eat something that I instinctively know is not good for me, I ask myself how do I choose to feel for the next few days.
Ah, the old Dopamine hit.
Lost the taste for sugary foods completely decades ago other than in, preferably, vegetables like the sweeter one (red/yellow capsicum, butternut pumpkin, carrot, gold sweet potatoes, etc where it is more than enough to satisfy ant sweet yearnings). I took to resolutely declining any cake at the office for birthdays, etc – couldn’t stomach the thought of it. I was very wary of the ‘slippery slope’ of ‘just one slice’ and found it easier to just say no, all the time, to anything with refined sugar.
Don’t miss it at all now. There are so many more sources of good, healthy dopamine hits. Cycling can do it for me, or talking to my sister - actually she does all the talking (sisters!) but I’m happy for her.
That, or seeing a favourite Substack writer pop up in my in-tray.
Thanks! This is another well-sourced article, and the advice is practical and especially timely!
I use some rapadura sugar in my baking. From what I've read, rapadura sugar is not too bad for you and in fact can even enhance your immune system? Is this true?
The first time I went off sugar upon the advice of a naturopath, even my cat avoided me! :-D Thank god I lived with no other humans then! The second time I went off it, I was not so bad, but I did miss it. The third time I went off sugar, it really didn't bother me. I was quite surprised.
I can now, years later, have sugar - or not have sugar - and I'm fine. I think it was more training my willpower to understand how my body reacted, and now that I have been through it and know what happens, I know what to expect and therefore that I'll be OK.
I'm quite sure I'll MISS sugar if I cut it out again, but mentally I'll be OK because I've trained myself to be OK without it before.
As for our Xmas brekkie/lunch/dinner, we had bacon & eggs for brekkie, a normal, basic lunch and then roast chicken with veggies for dinner! Nothing crazy, sugary or weird ;-) So you're not the only one who believes in a sensible diet, even at Xmas, ha ha! Honestly, I can still remember feeling ill TOO many times at Xmas & Easter as a kid. I don't do that to myself anymore. I actually love myself these days so I don't want to torture myself - or my loved ones! :-D
Very interesting. I have work colleagues who insist that carbohydrates such as those found in bread or rice are also as “toxic” as added sugar. Any truth to that ?