ADDICTED?

The reason it's so hard to kick

the sugar habit is that over time 

our brains actually become addicted to 

the natural opioids that are triggered by 

sugar consumption.  Much like the classic 

drugs of abuse such as cocaine,

alcohol, and nicotine, a diet loaded with sugar 

can generate excessive reward signals in

the brain which can override one's self-contol

and lead to addiction.

There is also the fact that for most of us

"something sweet" is a symbol of love and nurturance.

As infants, our first food is lactose, or milk sugar.

Later on, adults reward children with sugary snacks,

giving them a "treat," turning a biochemically

harmful substance into a comfort food.

We become conditioned to need something sweet

to feel complete or satisfied and continue to

self medicate with sugar as adults, using it to temporarily

boost our mood or energy. But as any addict knows,

one quick fix soon leaves you looking for

another--each hit of momentary satisfaction

comes with a long term price.

The bottom line is that sugar works in the

addiction and reward pathways in the brain

in much the same way as many illegal drugs.

And, like other drugs, it can destroy your health and 

lead to all sorts of ailments including

heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure,

high cholesterol, weight gain, and premature

aging. Sugar is basically a socially acceptable, 

legal, recreational drug, with deadly consequences--

and like with any drug addiction, you have to 

have a structured plan to beat it!!!

Our plan can help you do just that!!

This Is A Must Read...

Sugar High

Why is too much sugar bad for the body?

Here are some great reasons why we should all keep ourselves from

going on a sugar high.

Sugar promote inflammation.

Inflammation, which is part of the immune response,

is not always a bad thing. But eating sugar foods can fuel excessive, inappropriate inflammation that serves no useful purpose and actually promotes aging and disease.

Sugar promotes glycation.

Sugar molecules treat your body like a singles bar. Once they get into your bloodstream,

they start looking around for things to hook up with, like attractive protein and fat molecules.

the hook up is known as "GLYCATION" and like most hook ups, the results are not pretty.

These glycated molecules act like drunken sailors, careening around your body,

breaking things and peeing where they shouldn't.

They produce toxic compounds called advanced glycation end products, or, AGE's.

That is perhaps most poetically-just acronym in biology, because AGE's 

essentially throw the aging process into fast-forward.

Much of the damage done by AGE's is irreversible, If that doesn't 

motivate you to walk away from the M&Ms, I don't know what would.

Unstable blood glucose.

Eating too much sugar causes our blood sugars to go haywire. When the

sugar levels in our blood fluctuate, they lead us to feeling fatigue and exhaustion. 

Headaches and mood swings are also apparent when the blood glucose is unstable.

Moreover, the more sugar we take in, and the more unbalanced

our blood sugar becomes, and the more sugar our body craves in order to fix the imbalance it perceives.

Obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

This is also somewhat common knowledge for all of us.

Sugar in the blood that is too much for the body to consume completely is stored 

as fat.  Too much fat in the body can lead to obesity, and obesity is known to trigger diabetes and heart disease.

Malfunctioning immune system.

The bacteria and yeast that are present in our blood stream feed on sugar 

and cause them to multiply. If these are an imbalance in the growth of these 

bacteria and yeast, our immune system may not be able to handle it. It could 

therefore, weaken.

Stress.

When we eat too much sugar, we go on a sugar high because of the energy 

boost we get from sugar consumption. But this sugar high is only temporary;

our energy level takes a plunge afterwards. When this happens, the 

body releases hormones to bring the sugar level in our blood back to an optimum

level, and these hormones include stress hormones: adrenaline, cortisol, and epinephrine.

These hormones make us irritable and stressed out.

Cognition.

Too much sugar in the body also affects our mind's ability

to learn and recognize.

Creamy Coleslaw

{Phase1-4}

1/2 head of cabbage shredded

Dressing:

1/2 cup Walden Farms Miracle Mayo

3 T. White Wine Vinegar

3 T.  Stevia (I use Truvia)

Mix together dressing ingredients and pour over shredded cabbage. Stir throughly 

and set in fridge for a few hours for flavors to incorporate and and chill.

THAI PEANUT CHICKEN

{PHASE 1-4}

5-8 oz. chicken

1-2 t. olive oil

1-2 t. crushed garlic

salt and pepper

Heat olive oil and garlic in saute pan and add chicken. Salt and pepper to taste. Brown and throughly cook chicken and remove from heat. Cut chicken into bite size pieces and set aside.

In same pan add:

1/2 cup Walden Farms Peanut spread

1/4 cup Walden Farms Asian dressing

1/2-1 t. garlic powder

1/2-1 t. onion salt

1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth

2 inches grated ginger or to taste

1/2 head of cabbage cut julienne style

1 red onion cut juliennes style

Cook until tender.

Add chicken and toss together and top with 4 diced green onions

Another great recipe from my daughter who has lost over 35 lbs.. She is a foodie and created 

this recipe. Her entire family loves it!!

It makes quite a serving too, so be hungry!!

*Hint: If you have left over peanut spread it is great with raw celery as will. Just add a pinch of sea salt to enhance the flavor.

GO FOR A WALK!!

It will do you good!!