Sugar

5 Things That Happen When You Quit Eating Sugar

First, let’s set the record straight by saying that sugar in and of itself isn’t evil, per se. It occurs naturally in plenty of foods, including fruits and milk. With that being said, adding excess sugar to your dietary intake simply isn’t necessary. In fact, you’ll notice numerous positive things happen when you decide to quit sugar for life. Although people living in the Western world have been trained to desire sugary treats, as well as foods that include copious amounts of sugar for flavoring, we certainly don’t need it. If you stop eating anything but naturally occurring sugars, you’ll notice that 5 very distinctive things will happen.
  1. Your Energy Will Improve Ironically, many of us have a tendency to reach for sugar-filled items, including so-calledenergy drinks and caffeinated beverages, when we’re tired. Yet without all the sugar, we’re guaranteed to have a higher energy level naturally. In other words, all that sugar is blocking our body’s ability to keep our energy stores at maximal levels. Plus, there will be no up-and-down with your blood sugar, so afternoon crashes will become an experience of the past.
  2. Your Weight Will Stabilize; Sugar makes you crave more sugar, and we’re not just talking about sugar in its raw form. Let’s face it: most sugar comes in high-fat and/or high-carb foods that have been processed or at least contain tons of unwanted ingredients. There is, of course, the exception of fruit, which are nearly all sugar. By going on a sugar detox, your body will not be subjected to the need to deal with all those additional calories. You won’t feel hungry, and you’ll end up losing weight – or at least not seeing the scale fluctuate as dramatically.
  3. Your Intestines and Colon Will Perform More Efficiently If your insides could tell you what they wanted on a daily basis, they would say lots of fiber and a minimum amount of tough-to-digest, impure foods. When you remove sugar, you’re enabling your tummy and bowels to reset their abilities to process what you’ve eaten. You may even find that you go to the bathroom more often … this is a good thing. It means everything is getting back to a normal routine.
  4. You’ll Stop Wanting Sugar It’s a fact: sugar begets sugar. After you rid it from your food regimen, you’ll slowly begin to lose the desire to eat anything with sugar in it. Fruits will taste plenty sweet, and if you do take a bite of a cake or pie, you’ll be shocked at how overpowering and overly sweet it seems.
  5. Your Skin Will Look Healthier Have you noticed that you can’t seem to crack the case on why your acne appears and disappears despite all the creams, potions, and ointments you’re using? It may be that sugar is hurting your skin from the inside out. Many people report that their skin feels and looks healthier after they stop giving in to sugar’s pull.

eatlocalgrown.com

Quinoa

How to cook fluffy Quinoa

 

Organic Quinoa Grain

• Organic ancient grain that makes a great substitute for rice.
• Good source of protein and fiber.
• Always Made Without Dairy, Wheat, Soy, Nuts, or Eggs.
• Produced in a dedicated gluten-free, allergy-friendly facility.

Referred to by the ancient Incans as “the mother of all grains”, Quinoa (along with buckwheat and amaranth) is one of the few plant sources to offer a complete set of amino acids, making it a rare plant source of complete protein. It’s naturally gluten-free and a good source of protein and fiber.

---

Suggested Usage

Living Now™ Organic Quinoa is a good substitute for rice in recipes, and is often used in soups, stews, and casseroles.
It has a mild, delicate flavor that’s slightly nutty, making it a popular addition to many vegetarian recipes. Sprinkle on your favorite salad for an extra burst of flavor and nutrition!
Preparation Instructions

**Note for 1 cup of Quinoa you will need 2 cups of water or stock

1) Place Quinoa in a mesh strainer and rinse under cold water.
2) Place water or stock into a saucepan and bring to a boil.
3) Add quinoa and turn heat on low.
4) Cover the pot and allow for the quinoa to cook for a minimum of 15 minutes or when the liquid is absorbed.
5) When quinoa is ready, remove from saucepan and fluff with fork.
6) Serve and enjoy!

---

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size

: 1/4 Cup (46 g)

Servings Per Container

: about 10

	Amount Per Serving	% Daily Value*
Calories Calories from Fat	170 25
Total Fat	2.5g	4%
Saturated Fat	0g	0%
Trans Fat	0g
Cholesterol	0mg	0%
Sodium	0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate	30g	10%
Dietary Fiber	3g	12%
Sugars	0g
Protein	7g	14%
Vitamin A Vitamin C		0%
Calcium Iron *		2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on 2,000 calorie diet. † Daily Value not established.

Other Ingredients:
Organic Whole Grain Quinoa.
Living Now is more than just a brand of great-tasting gluten-free foods - it’s a way of life for anyone with food sensitivities. This premium line was developed to provide wholesome, healthy foods bursting with flavor and made without gluten and major common allergens including wheat, nuts, soy, dairy, eggs, and shellfish. Living Now is produced in a dedicated, allergy-friendly facility and is GMO-free with no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. With Living Now eating is safe, fun, and satisfying again!

 

Here's how to do it right:

1. Rinse off the quinoa. Dump 1 cup of quinoa into cold water and use your hands to stir it around.
2. Drain the quinoa.
3. Place it in a small sauce pan and toast it until the water has evaporated until the quinoa will start to pop and it will start to smell nutty.
4. Add 1 1/2 cups of water instead of 2 cups as most packages will suggest so you avoid mushy quinoa.
5. Add a 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt. Stir.
6. Bring water to a boil.
7. Reduce heat and cover the pot.
8. Cook for about 15-20 minutes until water has absorbed.
9. Gently fluff the quinoa.

Untapped-poem by Ashlee Haze

#Untapped#Ashlee Haze#Talented

Healthy Smoothies



Smoothies are all the rage these days when it comes to living healthier. And no, we’re not talking about the smoothies that you order at your local fast food joint. If you’re not careful, they can be a lot more fattening than beneficial. When it comes to making the perfect smoothie, you’re definitely going to want to stay tuned for these smart tips! http://blackdoctor.org/453183/how-to-make-healthier-smoothies/

Do’s

• Start out with a great base – either liquid or semi-liquid.
• Stick with fresh fruits (frozen works fine as well).
• Throw in a few leafy greens e.g., spinach for extra vitamins and nutrients.
• Add a high-quality protein powder.
• Use flax seeds and oil and/or chia seeds to improve digestion.
• Measure your ingredients – fruits and vegetables have calories too and they can easily add up when you’re making a smoothie.
• Be careful when incorporating dairy products – organic coconut milk and almond milk are great alternatives.
• Chop all your fruits and veggies before throwing them in the blender.
• Use water or small ice cubes.
• Add herbs and spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, mint and basil.
• Add avocado, Greek/organic yogurt or coconut oil for a smoother, creamier texture.

Don’ts
Stay away from the following:

• Fruit juices
• Canned fruit
• Whole milk
• Ice cream and sherbet
• Chocolate syrup
• Flavored yogurt
• Honey
• Peanut butter
• Artificial sweeteners

Smoothies can be a fun and easy way to lose weight, but it’s important to not go overboard. As a rule of thumb, the fewer ingredients you use, the better.

Thanksgiving Gravy

 

The flavor base of this gravy comes from the turkey neck, carrots, onion, and celery that have roasted beneath the bird, slowly browning and absorbing the turkey drippings. White wine rounds out the flavors, and all-purpose flour provides the thickening.

Thanksgiving Dressing

What You'll Need

There is no one right recipe for stuffing, turkey's perennial partner, just a general formula: Mix a dry base such as day-old bread with sauteed vegetables, meat (if you like), herbs, and seasonings; then add a binder such as stock or eggs, and gently toss. Tailor stuffing to your family and friends' palates to make it irresistible.

1 one-pound loaf of bread set out overnight (or 1 1/2 pounds cornbread)
4 cups (2 pounds) chopped vegetables
1 cup fresh herbs, predominantly parsley, sage, and thyme
2 cups or less liquid (or 3 eggs)
1 pound meat
Butter and/or olive oil
3 tablespoons seasoning

Sugar Substitutes for Diabetes

Sugar Substitutes for Diabetes

·         By Beth Gilbert | Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH

If you think that people with diabetes should always avoid sugar, think again — they can enjoy the sweet stuff, in moderation. "The best bet is to use a very minimal amount of real sugar as part of a balanced diabetic diet," says Keri Glassman, MS, RD, CDN, of Nutritious Life, a nutrition practice based in New York City. That being said, sugar substitutes offer sweetness while controlling carbohydrate intake and blood glucose. There are many sugar substitutes to choose from, but they’re not all calorie-free and they vary in terms of their impact on blood sugar. "The major difference between the sugar substitutes is whether they are nutritive or non-nutritive sweeteners," says Melissa Mullins, MS, RD, a certified diabetes educator with Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, Va. "Non-nutritive sweeteners provide no calories and no changes in blood glucose levels, which is perfect for people with diabetes.” Here are six sweet options to consider.

Splenda: Good for Diabetes
Splenda is a brand name for sucralose, a non-nutritive or artificial sweetener, which is excellent for people with diabetes — type 2 diabetes in particular. Splenda is 600 times sweeter than sugar, says Glassman, but those little yellow packets have no effect on blood sugar. In addition, Splenda passes through the body with minimal absorption.

Saccharin: Watch Out for Weight Gain
Saccharin, the sweetener sold in pink packets under the brand name Sweet 'N' Low, is calorie-free and is about 300 to 500 times sweeter than sugar. Though it can be a sugar substitute option for those with diabetes, "research has shown that the intake of saccharin can lead to weight gain," Glassman warns. "Usually, when one eats a sweet food, the body expects calories to accompany that food. When the body does not get those calories, it looks for them elsewhere. This can lead to greater calorie consumption throughout the day as your body craves the caloric satisfaction it has missed," she explains.

Aspartame: Possible Side Effects
Aspartame, sold in blue packets under the brand names Equal and NutraSweet, is a non-nutritive artificial sweetener that is 200 times sweeter than sugar. While not zero calories like some other artificial sweeteners, aspartame is still very low in calories. But while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reviewed the scientific research and found aspartame to be safe for human consumption, Glassman notes that there have also been some conflicting study results on aspartame's safety. "Although its low calorie reputation is appealing for most weight-conscious individuals, it has been linked to many negative side effects," Glassman says. "Some research shows linkage to leukemia, lymphoma, and breast cancer. Other research shows a linkage to migraines." In addition, people with phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare condition in which they are unable to metabolize phenylalanine (a key component of aspertame), should not consume this sugar substitute.

Stevia: An All-Natural Option
Truvia, the newbie among sugar substitutes, is one brand of the sweetener derived from the leaf of the stevia plant, native to Central and South America. Truvia is calorie-free and has been shown to have little to no impact on blood sugar, which is why it is an excellent sugar substitute for diabetic people. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of certain stevia extracts as a sweetener in foods and beverages, and other brands, including Pure Via and Sun Crystals. There have been anecdotal reports of side effects associated with over-consumption of stevia, including headaches and gastrointestinal symptoms, but to date there is no solid scientific research to back this up.

Agave: Super Sweetener
Derived from the sap of the agave plant, agave nectar is a form of sugar, but it is low on the glycemic index. This means that agave is absorbed more slowly by the body, causing a relatively lower spike in blood sugar and less of a sugar rush than other forms of the real thing. "Its low glycemic index makes it a good sugar substitute for diabetic people," says Glassman. One caveat: agave has about 60 calories per tablespoon, making portion control essential. However, Glassman notes,"agave is 1.5 times sweeter than sugar, so you can use less."

Sugar Alcohols: Low-Calorie Sweeteners
Sugar alcohols, or polyols, are derived from the natural fibers in fruits and vegetables. They do contain carbohydrates, so they are considered nutritive sweeteners. Though sugar alcohols are relatively low in calories and blood-sugar friendly, they can cause indigestion, bloating, diarrhea, and headaches. See how you respond to a small amount before incorporating them into your daily diet. Examples of sugar alcohols include sorbitol, mannitol, and xylitol.
Mullins says that sugar alcohols contain some carbohydrates, and some types break down more completely than others. "I recommend that people who are going to use these sugar substitutes keep track of carbohydrate levels," says Mullins. "Subtract half the amount of sugar alcohols from the total number of carbohydrates to understand how many carbs are actually being consumed and the impact on blood glucose levels."

http://www.everydayhealth.com/type-2-diabetes-pictures/sugar-substitutes-for-diabetes.aspx?pos=1&xid=nl_EverydayHealthDietandNutrition_20141019