Do you ever feel this way? The push  and pull of knowing you “shouldn’t” yet having that deep attraction like a bad relationship? I saw the best article this morning. It talked about how to eat your sugar mindfully. I loved this. The suggestions were simple.

     Eat slowly and taste each treat.

     Eat sugar with your non-dominant hand.

These are great ideas once you have made the decision to eat the sugar. I want to back up the sugar voyage. But first I want to ask you a couple of sugar-related questions.

Do you have a love-hate relationship with sugar? Your tongue loves it but the rest of you is usually upset with yourself for the indulgence or binge. It is amazing that we give our 10, 000 taste buds voting rights over the well-being of our entire person. Think about it. We actually give extreme voting rights to the tongue.

Do you have sugar regrets? The afterglow of the sugar wears off and you realize you just consumed 6,000 calories (maybe a few more or maybe a few less). You know exactly where this is going to land on your body – hips, thighs, stomach, or your face in the form of acne or at least some kind of breakout. Do you hate the weight gain and wonder just how it got there? This makes you upset with yourself. It’s that “Why did I do that AGAIN?” question that has no rational answer.

Then the hidden sugars. A big one is your morning coffee unless you are having it black.

Do you wish you could just look and not touch “the stuff”? You feel like an addict who just can’t say no to sugar. It promises you more love, energy, the total package. Then it lets you down and you have to go back more for “ the high” right?

You know you never feel better, calmer, kinder after consuming sugar but…!  This is not a rational decision, this sugar love.

Sugar fulfills a gap in our lives. It is the love drug. I once took this art class and the teacher declared at the start of the series, “Someone will bring treats to each class. I will make up a list and pay attention to your turn. We have to have treats for this class.” I was amazed. One woman proudly declared, “Sugar is my drug of choice.” I was both amazed by the clarity of the stated addiction and a little stunned that the acknowledgement didn’t bring an awareness that addictions own you. Liking some food or treat means you can have it or not have it. You can see a table of pretty, yummy treats and admire them and walk away. Addiction means you literally can’t do without that and you must have “just one” which often grows into many more.

Can I give you a little sugar antidote? Would you be open to trying one or more of these to have sugar release you from her jaws?

1. When you don’t have enough minerals in your beautiful body, it makes you crave sugar. Sugar is a downer, especially processed sugars or simple sugars, and it takes minerals from your body. Thief.

Antidote: Recommendation. Take a liquid mineral supplement. Go to your local health food store or online, or go to your naturapathic doctor and get one that suits you.

2. Sugar messes with your B vitamins. The recommendation is to take extra B vitamins.

3. Sugars from alcohol: Make sure you drink lots and lots of water and take B vitamins.

4. Sugars have a negative effect on your liver and pancreas. Look at the diabetes rates in this country. It is the #1 disease pushing the health care costs up.  Not to mention the stressors and limitations of living with diabetes. There are herbs that can help but not reverse the effects of sugar on these organs. Green Juices, Dandelion Root, Milk Thistle are some that can help. Meditation and exercise will help you not crave sugar. How? Because we all want sweetness and love, and these are ways to experience that love in a much more empowered way.

Are you ready to be empowered or powered by sugar? Isn’t it great that you get to choose?

One way you can choose is to make healthy treats for parties and bring them with you. One of my favorites is so simple: poached organic pears with a little cinnamon and nutmeg. Always gets raves.

Another is this raw chocolate mousse. Trust me this one will get you invited everywhere. Super simple and I have had so many people try to get me to swear that this can’t possibly be raw and good for you – it is far too yummy. What do you have to lose by trying it? First on yourself then bring it on your friends.

Serves 2

Ingredients:

1 avocado

2 tablespoons of cacao

2 tablespoons of honey or maple syrup

Action:

1. Either blend all ingredients in a food processor and make it smooth and creamy OR mash the avocado with a fork in a bowl.

2. Add cacao and honey. Taste it, add more cacao if you want it more chocolatey, and more honey if you want it sweeter!

3. Add a touch of cinnamon and 1/2 to 1 tps. of organic vanilla extract (or to taste)

Benefits:

· Helps to burn fat and reduce weight

· Reduces the signs of aging (the unprocessed highly mineralized oils in the avocado)

· High in vitamins A, C, E, K and B6, fiber, magnesium, potassium, riboflavin, niacin, folate and pantothenic acid.

I know the sugar dance is a high-wire act. I also know that you want to feel better or you wouldn’t be reading this. I would love to hear what you have brought to parties or your favorite recipe that is low in sugars or only has the better sugars such a Birch Zylotil, Mapel Syrup, Honey, Organic Coconut Sugar or Organic Cane sugars. Notice I have not included agave, brown or white sugars. These are the ones you want to back away from slowly and with a smile on your face. A smile that means I know what you will do to me, not for me.