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Easy as Health
- Health Information for a Better Life
Fighting the sugar crave
The Canadian Sugar Institute suggests
that the average Canadian consumes 10-12 per cent of their calories from
added sugars.
There's no denying that sweet things taste good, but cultivating a
strong sweet tooth can lead to health problems over time. A diet high in
sugar can lead to excessive weight gain and possibly other problems such
as diabetes. But sugar isn't entirely bad. We can still lead a healthy
lifestyle without having to completely banish it from our diets. From a
nutritional perspective, sugar provides us with energy in the form of a
simple carbohydrate. Sugar seems to provide an emotional outlet for us
as well. Experts say that sugar cravings often occur when we are hungry,
angry, lonely or even tired.
A healthy diet is a balanced diet — and it can include sugar. So here a
few tips you can try to ensure your sweet tooth doesn't get the better
of you.
- Don't ban sugar altogether. Some
sugar, added sparingly to wholesome foods, such as a sprinkling of
brown sugar on oatmeal, for example, can help satisfy your sweet
craving.
- Cut down on the sugar when you
bake. Sugar can often be reduced by up to one-third without
changing the end product.
- Instead of a milkshake, create a
fruit smoothie. Use plain yogurt swirled in the blender with a
banana, your favourite fresh fruits, vanilla flavouring and ice.
Serve fresh fruits for dessert. This way, you'll be getting an
extra healthy serving of fruit.
- The next time you feel like having
a sweet drink like pop, make your own. All you need is carbonated
water and your choice of fruit juice.
- Avoid snacking. Eating a cookie
here, and a little piece of cake there can add up throughout the
day. Instead, decide on a reasonable sized sweet treat. It should
be large enough to satisfy your craving, but small enough that it
doesn't throw off your nutritional balance. For a healthy snack,
use fresh pureed fruit to sweeten plain yogurt.
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