Is your sweet tooth making you sour?
Feeling a little depressed, cranky, and unmotivated? It could be the post-holiday blues. But maybe it's the sugar. Americans eat an average of 22 teaspoons of sugar a day, according to the American Heart Association. And not just from desserts.
Even if you're a generally healthy eater, don't add sugar to your coffee, and pass on the cupcakes circulating in the office, you still may be getting way more sugar than your body needs, says Connie Bennett, C.H.H.C., author of Sugar Shock! How Sweets and Simple Carbs can Derail Your Life—And How You Can Get Back On Track. That's because of the sugar added to processed foods. "Whenever you eat refined foods from a can, jar, or package, there's a very good chance that you're consuming added sweeteners, especially high fructose corn syrup. We're not just talking about sweets like candies, cookies, and cakes," says Bennett. "Many people are surprised to learn that canned veggies, crackers, and frozen foods—even the diet ones—also contain high fructose corn syrup." Sweet Jesus.
After kicking her sugar addiction almost a decade ago, and noticing a number of physical and emotional issues vanish with it—her book lists 44 in all, from mood swings and exhaustion to difficulty concentrating and severe PMS—the Upper West Side resident became obsessed with learning more about the pernicious side of sweetness. "I was skeptical that just giving up sugar could clear up all those ailments," she said.
Now a holistic health counselor and life coach, Bennett uses her research to help others kick the sugar habit through workshops like the 4-week course at the New York Open Center starting next week. During the course, Bennett shares her 50-some tips and tactics that help combat sugar cravings, which is a huge concern for people, she says. Participants will create their own long-term sugar-banishing plans, and learn from NYC food experts like Vanessa Barg of Gnosis Chocolate and Jared Koch, author of Clean Plates.
Has sugar messed with your health? Tell us, here!