In other blogs I talk a lot about prevention tips or healthIER options for Halloween, I want to address a question I get asked often (and not just on Halloween)- what do I do if I OD on sugar?
Its important to note that there are all sorts of sugar sources – fruit, fruit juice, dried fruit, cane sugar vs organic sugar, sweeteners – artificial or not, legumes, grains, and so on. And that one’s favorites can be very different – candy lover vs pasta queen or fruit-can’t-get-enough-er. Regardless of your preferences though, the body’s response (and what we seek from sugar) is likely to be the same.
I want more ______
Energy, happiness, to not say “I can’t have” and so on…all translate to “I want more sugar” messages
And so, I provide some tips:
The body gets an inflated (but real) sense of energy / even euphoria, but when that drops its going to cry out more loudly for carbs. To address:
- Make sure to focus on sleep, yoga, breathing
- Try magnesium for relaxation (from foods or I like Natural Calm as a supplement (I work with them)
- Don’t go cold turkey the morning after and skip all carbs altogether but go back to portion control, nutrient balance and eating frequency principles (every 3 hrs). See the AKA menu worksheet on my website
- Use a crutch- you can use quality lean proteins as a crutch (have an extra portion or grab when you crave sugar) until the intense cravings pass.
- Remember not to beat yourself up – that’s mean 😦 but also can contribute to keeping the cycle going (you get sad or frustrated and then have carbs to feel happy).
Happy Halloween! And remember a holiDAY is one DAY which shouldn’t derail any of us if we go back to our Qualitarian lifestyles the next.
Leave a Reply