Comments on: The “Beyond Sugar” Challenge

By: Pat

Pat — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:21:53 +0000

I’ve been where you’ve been with sugar. I used to consume well over 200 grams of table sugar a day. Each time I would drink coffee, I added two table spoons of sugars. And I would have about 5 to 6 large mugs of coffee. I would also have 3 or 4 packets of hot cocoa later in the day – more sugar. And through all this the thought has been lurking in the back of mind that I have to stop.

I weigh 126 lbs. And I am 5′7″. So I look healthy on the outside. But I do have family history of type 2 diabetes. And I definitely consume outrageous amounts of sugar.

Taking sugar like this for so long is very addictive. And breaking the habit was hell. I’m supposed to be studying every day for an upcoming exam. And I couldn’t look at a book for over 3 hours a day when I cut down to 30 to 40 grams of simple sugars a day. It’s been a week so far. And I do feel I am getting better at concentrating.

I just want to stick to this change. I know I don’t need to be consuming sugar like I used to. And the adverse effects of doing so should chase any rational person from taking so much sugar. So I’m just sticking to this change – one day at a time.

By: gabrielle

gabrielle — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:47:28 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM

wardeh- this long video is really informative about different sugars and what they do to our bodies…

By: Beyond Sugar Update & Goal Check

Beyond Sugar Update & Goal Check — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:05:36 +0000

[...] have neglected to write at the conclusion to the Beyond Sugar Challenge, where we gave up all concentrated sweeteners (refined and natural) for the month of May. So here [...]

By: Christina

Christina — Tue, 19 May 2009 05:59:56 +0000

Wow Wardeh! You are hard core! Go Fam Go!
A nutritionist once told me that cravings for chocolate is a symptom of magnesium deficiency. I admit that when I am getting plenty of mag my need for daily chocolate disappears, there is a distinction between like and need! So maybe that helps
Other symptoms are difuculty relaxing, or sleeping, tense muscles, etc.
Blessings!

By: Wardeh

Wardeh — Sat, 16 May 2009 16:56:27 +0000

Kimbrah – Awesome! I’m glad to have you join the “fun”! Ha, ha. This is NO fun. My family’s doing great. Me, not so much. I want some sweet so badly! Every afternoon is the roughest time for me. I feel unwell and I can barely stop myself from grabbing some chocolate.

I hope you’ll come back and let me know how it is going for you – it helps me to know what others are doing to cut back on sugar. I also hope you can clear up your infection and help you feel better. With me, I *think* I have begun to lose some weight. It is hard to say for sure, with daily fluctuations, but I think the scale numbers are headed down instead of up.

By: Kimbrah

Kimbrah — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:03:38 +0000

I am definitely joining this challenge! I was just told by my naturopathic doctor yesterday that because of my eating habits (lots of sugar and grains) I have an out of control fungal infection in my intestines. It is also contributing to bacteria in my thymus, which controls all immune functions in your body. Needless to say, I have not been very healthy lately.

So now I am having to immediately put the brakes on and only have sprouted grains and no sugar! I feel like I might die.

I will be reading with RAPT attention.

By: Christie

Christie — Sat, 09 May 2009 01:00:09 +0000

Wow … way to go! We’ve given up HFCS, but do use honey and maple syrup daily. I would have a hard time giving those sweets up! I’m reading your challenge with great interest!

By: Wardeh

Wardeh — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:40:48 +0000

Thank you for sharing the recipe – it looks fantastic! I not sure when I will add fruit-sweetened snacks to our menu, if I’ll wait until this month is over or sooner. But I am glad to have this recipe to add the selection and I think it will help others, too. I love that it is for spelt flour and coconut oil. Thanks, again. How did your family enjoy it?

By: NutriMom

NutriMom — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:27:58 +0000

I just made a banana bread with fruit only. It came from Debra Lynn Dadd. Here is the e-mail.

1 May 2009
Greetings!

A reader sent me this recipe and it is extraordinary.

There is no sweetener in it at all, only fruit, yet it is it sweet.

It is made with whole grain spelt flour, yet it is light.

I think I’ll be able to come up with many variations on this delicious bread.

Try it!

NOTE: This recipe contains unbuffered Vitamin C crystals. You can get them at any natural food store. They are pricey (I paid $10 for a bottle), but I believe they are necessary to the lightness. Some other recipes I’m looking at use them as an ingredient. And you can always utilize it as a vitamin.

If you want a sweeter bread, you can add 1/4 cup of sweetener of your choice. My husband and I loved it as is.

FRUIT-SWEETENED BANANA BREAD

makes one 9″x5″ loaf

3 cups whole grain spelt flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon unbuffered Vitamin C crystals
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
4 very ripe bananas (about 1 3/4 cup)
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 peeled apple, grated (about 1/3 cup)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Oil and flour a 9″x5″ loaf pan.
In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, vitamin C crystals, cloves and nuts.
In another bowl, combine the mashed bananas, oil, vanilla and grated apple.
Mix together the dry and wet ingredients in the same bowl.
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Remove from the oven and allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove from the pan to cool completely.

By: Wardeh

Wardeh — Thu, 07 May 2009 00:51:12 +0000

Yay, Mindy! I am excited to see what your family gets out of this. Go, go, go!