Sweet, Sweet Summer

Kayla Aluise
Aug 3
3 min read

It's summertime and all the sweet treats are everywhere! Ice cream, popsicles, brownie sundaes, milkshakes, cookies, iced lattes are the stars of the show, and they can be delicious, refreshing and nostalgic.

The problem is, these sugary sweets can take over our bodies and begin to make an impact. As a registered dietitian who counsels clients daily about building a healthy lifestyle, one the of the biggest barriers that is voiced as soon as just a few weeks into summer is "I don't know how to stop sugar!" The treats and nostalgia wear off quickly and leave many of us in a sugar coma, unsure how to get out of it.

This is due to the effect that refined sugar has on the body, and the way it also significantly affects our feel-good hormones such as serotonin, dopamine and adrenaline. Sugar also affects the gut, feeding what I call "the sugar beast" or the group of bacteria that feed off of refined sugar and then keep begging for more and more. Sugar is in a variety of foods, but the sugar that can be the most dangerous is the refined and processed sugar that is in many processed foods and beverages. White table sugar, high fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, brown rice syrup are a few to be named, and they are especially hyperpalatable and addicting when paired with salt, fat and layers of artificial flavorings. If you find yourself addicted to that gallon of ice cream in the freezer, but not the unsweetened applesauce or dates in the cupboard, there is a reason why.

If you find yourself relating to this situation, consider some ways to help yourself. The answer does not come through one thing, but a few things that you must consider to help combat the strong hold that sugar has.

Be determined. Sugar is exciting, delicious and appealing. It will reel you in quickly and pull you under. Decide you are going to make a break from it and reset, and make the decision and hold yourself accountable.
Avoid extreme thinking. Foods with natural sugar are nourishing, full of fiber, sources of key vitamins and healthy sources of fuel. We don't need to cut ALL sugar out, we need to control the addictive, refined and processed sugars.
Learn and experiment. There are very few "healthy" sweets sold on the market. Most of them use refined sugars due to costs and in order to please the general palate of all consumers. As you decrease added sugars and choose natural sugars, you begin to see your palate change and desire less sweet options. You will need to learn how to make healthier options on your own. It will cost much less too! These items are typically sold for an expense, just because they aren't as mass-marketed or they come from smaller brands.
Read the ingredient label. This is the best thing you can do for yourself as the consumer. If you just rely on the front of the package label, it can be misleading and biased in order to sell the product.
Listen to your body. If you commit to reducing refined sugars and chemical sweeteners from your diet, you WILL notice a big difference. Start watching for changes in your energy, gut habits, joint health, sleep, appetite and your waistline!

If you desire more help with learning how to eat less refined sugar and how to embrace a healthy lifestyle, let us know by filling out a form on our website.

See the links below for some great recipes using natural sweeteners!

Healthy Twix Cups

Strawberry Cheesecake Energy Bites

Banana Date Bars

Healthy Blueberry Cobbler

Chocolate Chickpea Brownies

Healthy Banana Split