Let's Have a Party in Our Pantry

By Zita Annen, Health Coach

To help kick off the new "Cookbook Corner" in my newsletter, I invited one of my favorite sugar-free health coaches, Zita Annen, to share her insights on how to rid your life of sugar without losing the pleasure it brings. I invite you to read her guest column below, and happily recommend her as a wonderful health coach to guide you on getting rid of excess sugar, while keeping the joy in your life! — Dr. T

Wouldn't it be great to have a party in your pantry without the initial sugar high and then the ensuing sugar low? With the New Year here and the launch of Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum's new Beat Sugar Addiction NOW! Cookbook, now is the perfect time to part with the party poopers and restock the pantry with life giving and healthy nutrients.

This article will focus on having your pantry stocked with sugars that will not zap your energy, but will help you balance your energy during the day. Adding the highest quality sugar and sugar alternatives to your diet will help your body energize, stabilize, balance itself, and help conquer your sugar cravings.

So Let's Party

The main culprit is to part ways with sugar-laden products and become a sugar detective. That's easier said than done. Where does one start? First look carefully for the amount of sugar in the ingredients list listed on the product label. Most people cannot identify with the grams mentioned in products. An easy way to make sense of it is to convert the grams into teaspoons. Divide the grams of any sugar by 4 and you get the amount of teaspoons of sugar.

For example: A 12 oz. can of Classic Coke contains 39 grams of sugar; 39 divided by 4 will give you a whopping 10 teaspoons.

Sugars You Want to Eliminate from Your Pantry

White sugars. Look at the color of the sugars in your pantry and eliminate all sugars that look white. They have no nutritional value; they are stripped of their vitamins and minerals, so just dump them. You will be doing yourself a big favor.

Sugars You Want to Party With in Your Pantry

Stevia. This is a natural, virtually calorie-free herb native to South America. It is up to 250 times sweeter than sugar — use it sparingly. Unlike sugar, Stevia has little effect on blood sugar levels and does not cause a spike in blood glucose levels.

Organic unrefined cane sugar. Use it in moderation (1-2 tsp) or just have it in your pantry for your guests who have not yet parted from their white sugars. Unrefined cane sugar contains phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and iron.

Organic raw, unfiltered, cold-processed honey. Use sparingly, as it is one and a half times sweeter than white sugar. Honey contains trace enzymes, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids.

One Simple Solution to Kick the Sugar Habit

Instead of eating cookies or sugary snacks out of a bag or box, get a small bowl and pour out a measured amount. Now you have a visual of what you are going to eat. Before you start munching away, pour about 1/3 of the sweet snack back into the bag and return the bag to the pantry.

Next, instead of diving into the snack bowl, in its place pick up a small apple and a handful of raw nuts. Start eating them slowly, savoring their every bite. After you are finished with eating these healthier snacks, check how your body feels. At this point you might feel sufficiently satisfied and choose to pass on the sugary snack. If your body feels dissatisfied, then go ahead and eat the sugary snack and take note of how your energy level is after eating it.

Don't Be on a Collision Course with Diabetes

There are 28.5 million diabetics in the U.S. alone and another 66 million are pre-diabetic. By skipping the sugary snacks and eating the apple and nuts, you are being proactive with your dietary solutions. This will allow you to take the necessary steps and hopefully avoid a collision course with diabetes.

But Wait — There's More

There are other bonuses you will gain by eating less sugar. You will have more energy with fewer sugar highs and lows. You will save money on your grocery bills, and ultimately, in the future have fewer medical bills.

For the good life, it does not get any better than this!

Ready to Beat the Sugar Habit?

Do you need help in letting go of the sugar roller coaster to regain the energy you desire? Dr. Teitelbaum's new cookbook and the support of coaching will bring you closer to that goal. For a free health consultation email me at Zita@ZitaAnnen.com, or visit my website Eat Healthy, Stay Healthy.

About the Author

Originally from Switzerland, at the age of 7 Zita started learning the art of healthy cooking and making delicious tasting foods from her mom. She came to the U.S. in 1977 and has continued learning about the long-term effects of eating a healthy, nutritious, and wholesome diet. Zita graduated from HealthCoachTraining in 2009. She lives on the Big Island of Hawaii, coaching people worldwide in making choices about a healthier diet and lifestyle.