Sugar Blues

When people visit my hypnotherapy practice because they want to lose weight, one of the first things I ask them is, how much sugar do you eat? We talk a bit about our relationships with food, especially sugar. I suggest they read the book Sugar Blues, which was written by author William Dufty in the mid 1970's and is still in print.

Sugar, specifically table sugar or sucrose, is found in so very many items. Also, corn syrup, another sugar, is found in so very many things. (Check out Jess Del Balzo's blog; http://jess-keepingitrealfood.blogspot.com/ for more info.) Fruit sugar, fructose, is another sugar that pops up very often.

Dufty talks about our relationship with sugar, the sugar industry, how sugar affects our bodies, and how we can change our relationship with sugar for benefits. He discusses the difference between refined and natural sugars. (Kind of the difference between Pop-Rocks and an apple.)

We will always find sugar in the things we ingest, but mindfulness helps us be aware of when and how we choose to ingest it.

Sugar Blues refers to the downward physical spiral that occurs after we ingest sugar. The body uses its energy to digest and process the sugar, leaving less energy for other activities like exercises, work, focus. It also refers to the emotional down that sugar can create.

I am not a nutritionist nor a doctor. I am not suggesting that you "give up" sugar. Just become aware of what you eat. This suggestion is not for everyone, just for people who cannot quite figure out why they drag after they eat Funny Bones, or puzzle as to why their coffee with a couple of teaspoons of sugar doesn't give them the boost they were hoping for, or for folks who crave sugar. Dufty's book is in paperback at Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Blues-William-Dufty/dp/0446343129/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242475344&sr=8-1

Check it out.

Peanut Butter

I love peanut butter. Jim and I discuss the merits of chunky versus creamy. That's true. I feel it is truly worth my time. I love the peanut butter that you grind yourself at the natural market, skippy super chunk or creamy, those off-brands that taste a little different are all still worthy of my attention.

Our friend Roger says that peanuts are a known carcinogen and he stays away from it. On the other hand, he revealed recently that he has a Coke and Entenmann's chocolate cake for breakfast every morning. Go figure.

My feeling is, pick your poison and enjoy it.

Peanuts have protein. You can eat peanut butter that is not loaded with sugar, eat it on something healthier than white bread or crackers, like a veggie or fruit, and not eat a vat of it at a time.