SUGAR CAN BE MEDICINE

Ever have a moment when you are standing at your freezer with a spoon in your hand eating right out of the pint of Ben and Jerry's? (or the Soy Dream if you're vegan?) Have you ever stopped and wondered WHY you are doing that?

What if I said eating sugar can be medicinal…
Now don't go running to the market right away ... first let's discuss what I mean by medicinal.

Once when I was with one of my spiritual teachers (whose practices are based in the native American traditions) he and I were discussing that all things in life are medicine. Anything can be healing or poison. We just have to figure out when we need what kind of medicine.

I of course thought of food. Why? Because there is a time and place for every thing in life, including sugar . If we think of sugar or sweets as the enemy each time we eat them, we enter into an internal conflict with ourselves.

Now it is true, sugar can be harmful to our body on many levels. It spikes our blood sugar, causing our liver, pancreas and adrenals to work a lot harder than they have to. Sugar creates an acid condition in the body. This in turn consumes the body's minerals quickly, especially calcium, putting our bone health at risk. Our digestive system is compromised and weakened when we eat refined sugar. Look at all the people who are experiencing digestive health concerns lately (irritable bowel syndrome, gas, indigestion, bloating, etc.). Sugar also affects our brain's neurotransmitters like serotonin and endorphins. Often sugar addictions are related to depression. Sugar decays our teeth. And finally, excess sugar in the body gets stored in the body as fat.

Wow, that's a lot of reasons not to eat sugar!

So why am I saying sugar can be medicinal? Here are some of the reasons:

First, did you know that the Chinese medicine five-element theory actually says we need the taste of sweet to find proper balance in our bodies, mind and spirit. Yes, that's right -- sweet is an essential part of life.

Second, sugar is what allows our brains and bodies to move and function. Of course, our brains and bodies generally function much more smoothly when provided with complex carbohydrates, like whole grains and sweet vegetables. Complex carbohydrates break down as sugar in the body.

But let's go straight to your experience… Have you ever felt relaxed after eating a cookie, some cake or sweets? Yes, sugar chills us out. You might hear your health care practitioner call this a yin state. It's calming to our nervous system. Also, there is something to be said for living a pleasurable life, and we all know that a piece of chocolate can be ecstatic!

These are just a few examples of why sugar is medicine; but before we mention more reasons, there are some very important points we need to take a look at like: What kinds of sugar are you eating? Are you eating refined carbs or complex carbs? How many cookies or pieces of cake or glasses of wine did you need? Were you conscious when you ate the sugar? What was your intention when you reached for the sugar? What amount of sugar does your body need for it to be medicinal (rather than imbalancing)?

In our culture we often think more is better, but when it comes to sugar, a little bit can go a long way. So many students or clients say to me "I just can't kick the sugar habit," my response is: Don't try to kick it, try to understand it and use it in a way that is healthy.

Did you know that there are sweeteners that you can use that take 3-4 hours to raise your blood sugar levels? Some examples are agave syrup (made from cactus), brown rice syrup, barley malt, and stevia. Then there's Sucanat, which is dehydrated cane juice and tastes just like brown sugar, but is a little bit better for you because it contains all the minerals of the whole cane plant. In particular, chromium GTF (glucose tolerance factor), naturally occurring in sugar cane, actually helps to stabilize blood sugar levels, and is present in Sucanat but not in brown or white sugar. And of course there are lots of yummy sweet vegetables like yams, sweet potatoes, winter squash, carrots and parsnips that can provide the sweetness you crave without sending you for a ride.

If sugar is something you struggle with, I want to invite you to explore these questions with one of our health counselors at Fruition Women's Health. See below in upcoming events to find out how.

THE FWH LOCAL, LONG DISTANCE AND GROUP PROGRAMS 

Do you know "what" to do to become healthy but don't know "how" to make it happen?

If that's the case, no worries! Go to http://www.fruitionhealth.com/contactus.html or call us at 415 552 8344 to schedule your free health consultation. During the session we will review your health history in detail and discuss your goals. Then we will work together to design a program that focuses on your specific health concerns.

Are you tired of following fad diets?
Do you want to learn how to avoid disease without taking drugs?
Do you want to lose twenty pounds... but need support?

Forget trying to stick to "willpower."
It doesn 't work!

By personalizing diet to lifestyle, ancestry, blood type, inner wisdom and other factors a long-term sustainable way of healthy eating" and living" is established. An individual food and life program specifically suited for you is essential if you wish to enjoy a long and healthy life, increase fertility, overcome painful symptoms of illness, lose weight, or prevent a disease that runs in your family.

Join Darshana Weill, certified nutritionist and yoga teacher and find your own path to wellness. We will explore the basics of health through nutrition and realistic goal setting, and begin your own program immediately!

Sunday, July 15, 2007
1:00pm- 4:00pm
Yoga Tree Stanyan
$35, includes a free week of yoga
To Register Call: 415 387 4707 or go to www.yogatreesf.com
Special Discount for current FWH clients

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