Overindulged?
Overindulged during the holiday season, like me?
Slumping in the afternoon with a complete lack of energy?
Craving something sweet after lunch and/or dinner?
If you ticked yes to the above, then perhaps sugar is playing a big role in your health at the moment. I know it is for me!
I’ve gained weight (especially around my tummy), I can notice it in my sleep, I’m leaning on coffee every afternoon and I just feel puffy.
So I’m going back to my “I Quit Sugar” days, and sharing the biggest tip that I’m currently doing to help stop the sugar rollercoaster in its tracks.
Fat. Eat fat. With every meal!
Increasing your fat intake will not only help your body digest all those wonderful fat-soluble vitamins, activate your metabolism and synthesise Vitamin D, it will actually “fill you up and satisfy you!” You can’t overeat fats – it’s just not physically possible (ever tried eating a whole block of cheese in one sitting?). In the initial stages of ditching sugar - I’ve found that filling up on good fats actually stops my hunger and cravings!
Remember – sugar doesn’t fill you up – it just makes you want to eat more and more (hence, weight gain).
Now having grown up in the low-fat and fat-free craze of the 80s, eating fat again took me some time to come to terms with. However the fact is, and research shows, foods stating they are "fat-free" and "low-fat” are generally packed with sugar to compensate for the lack of flavour that's removed with fat. These sugars are often chemical-based additives that cause a spike in insulin levels and over time lead to serious health problems such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease AND autoimmune diseases.
What do I mean by good fats?
Cook with coconut oil, grass-fed butter and ghee (if tolerated)
Add olive or avocado oil to you meals (especially your veggies)
Eat avocados, olives, whole eggs and nuts
Perhaps add MCT oil to your food/drinks for its antioxidant properties, easy digestion and its satiating abilities to keep you feeling energised throughout the day.
There is so much research out there showing that when we’re in balance, and eating no sugar, our bodies don’t put on weight - we have no cravings. We eat and get full - we burn off the calories in our system – we feel hungry again – we eat again. This is not some fairy tale people. It’s what our bodies do all on their own.
However - just remember – increasing your fat intake shouldn’t happen overnight – take it slow!
Interested to learn more for yourself – I can highly recommend starting with David Gillespie’s Sweet Poison?