MENOBELLY GOT YOU DOWN?
Then Kick The Sugar Habit!
Let’s say you eat a healthy diet – you don’t eat junk food, you are gluten free, dairy free – you still need to be concerned with your daily sugar consumption.
That was me!
But when I realized sugar was the culprit……it was an aha moment for me!
It was the moment I realized those 10lbs I gained at the onset of menopause were not coming off no matter what I did…..for 10 years because of sugar– 10 for 10 Ugh!
Sugar is everywhere!
Labeled by many food manufacturers and hidden under assumed names sugar has infiltrated just about every packaged processed food in America.
Sugar names run the gamit – Just to name a few….
Fructose,
Sucrose,
Dextrose,
Galactose,
Maltose,
Lactose,
I’ve go news for you – It is all refined processed sugar!
And if you are not eating a diet made of whole, unprocessed foods
You are eating more sugar than you think and more than you should!
Sugar is added not only to sweets, but even to what we consider to be “health” foods such as fruit flavored yogurt.
Go ahead, take a look…..You have just used up your daily allowance of sugar with that yogurt – Yikes!
Sugar is a simple carbohydrate.
If we only eat sugar from nutrient-dense whole foods such as fruit and vegetables we would all be fine but eating too many refined sugars cause health and weight problems which only get worse as we age and can add the extra pounds very quickly .
Just to give you an idea of a few more menopausal health risks from sugar :
- Sugar compromises the immune system.
For example, 2 cans of soda contain 20 to 24 teaspoons of sugar, which reduces the efficiency of the white blood cells by 92%- this lasts up to 5 hours.
So, if you come into contact with a virus or bacteria within the 5 hours your immune system may not be able to fight it off.
- Sugar stresses the pancreas and adrenal glands.
Since your body quickly absorbs refined sugar into the bloodstream your pancreas needs to produce enough insulin to metabolize the sugar and it goes into overdrive.
The sudden increase in insulin can cause a drop in blood sugar and then your adrenal glands release cortisol to stabilize it all.
Whew! I am exhausted just thinking about it.
A constant high intake of refined sugar keeps the rollercoaster going which can lead to early menopause, adult-onset diabetes, hypoglycemia and chronic fatigue.
- Sugar causes Blood Sugar Imbalance
High doses of sugars throughout the day sends your blood sugar levels on a rollercoaster that should optimally remain relatively stable.
Consistently spiking blood sugar levels also results in chronically elevated insulin which contributes to inflammation, hormone imbalance, weight gain, and sugar cravings.
And then you crash….
Following this crash you go into emergency food-seeking mode.
Unfortunately, if you are not conscious of what is going on, the food you crave tends to be another sugar bomb that restarts the cycle.
Each one of the above causes chronic stress within the body and eventually leads to weight gain and diseases which can easily be averted starting NOW ……
By doing the following>>>>>>
1– Keep a food journal
Try it for one week- Check the labels of the foods you eat and make a note of their sugar content in grams.
At the end of the week, take the total number of sugar grams and divide by 4.2 to get your weekly sugar intake in teaspoons.
Then divide that number by 7 to get your daily consumption. You will be amazed!
2- Try Lemons, Limes, and Apple Cider Vinegar
Sprinkling the juice of lemons and limes over your foods will change the way your body processes them during digestion. Citric Acid helps to slow the blood sugar response –
So drink I lemon water every day…..hot like tea or cold. I add 1-2 Tbsp. to a glass of water and drink about 30 minutes before eating
Apple cider vinegar has been shown to lower the glycemic index (blood sugar response) to higher carbohydrate meals
I use it in my salad dressing regularly or mix it in with my lemon water for an extra kick
3- Stick to fruits to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Sure they are loaded with sugar but it’s natural and not refined – it will metabolize the way nature intended it to…
I eat strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, kiwi and apples every day – either natural or mix in a smoothie ….Voila – no sugar cravings!!
4- Use Natural Sweeteners
I use stevia or monk fruit.
Both stevia and monk fruit have been proven safe for diabetic populations because they have no significant impact on blood sugar level
Try it in your smoothie or cup of tea.
5- Reduce Stress
Stress can be one of the most destructive forces to the human body.
Our body is adapted for short bursts of high stress, but chronic stress can lead to problems.
I know life is fast-paced…..
Even more so in menopause , it’s important to ground yourself>>>
I slow it down daily with exercises like deep breathing, meditation, gratitude, prayer, and getting out in nature.
These kinds of activities pull the body back into a parasympathetic state where recovery can occur.
**I would love to support you by inviting you to a free menopausal health and weight consultation to share your own aging and eating struggles, ask key questions and talk about solutions-free of charge – Book your call or comment below .
Xx Jeannine