Sugar

Juna

Let’s start with saying, taking baby steps that fit your mental capacity has a better and long time effect than going cold turkey for a reason, it gives you the chance to adjust and not freak out. You have tried the cold turkey method? Have you went back to sugar with vengeance? Well, the trick is: 1. Be aware of the effect that sugar has on you, and stay mindful 2. Do not judge you, instead work on a priority list so you know what you have to work on. 3. Think of you as a whole, think of your life as a whole. If you manage to step out of the box we as humans can get trapped in and use all the skills we learn to see the big picture, then we do this with ease. When we consume simple carbs vs complex carbs, the release of sugar depends on the digestion and breaking up of the food we consumed right? So complex carbs take longer for the body to break down the fibers and bonds between the cells to release a controlled surge of glucose into the bloodstream and in turn needs a controlled insulin release. Are there other factors that result in faster release of glucose into the bloodstream? Yes, let’s take stress. Stress has been studied and proven to have major effects on our metabolic activity. Stress triggers the release of many hormones that result in an induced increase level of glucose and result in signs of type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, hormonal disorders and obesity. As you can see, sugar is an interesting topic and deserves more time to fully understand it.

Juna

Let’s examine cookies as I have just uploaded a recipe for you. So how can we enjoy a cookie? I am a huge advocate of saying Bismilla or Grace before eating. Bismila is Bi Esem Allah, in the name of god. Why say grace? Because it is a mini reminder to set the intention for your meal. A mini meditation practice to stay connected to you. This meal serves a purpose, you hungry, you need energy, you know why you are sitting down to eat. That’s another tip to better digest. Sit and relax, meals are part of our daily rituals and they need to get the respect they deserve. You can replace refined and processed food to wholesome. And take your time to notice the changes in your body after that change. Do you feel lighter? More energetic? No energy spikes? If the answers are yes then we are on the right track. What’s the difference between a sweetened with date oat porridge and sugary cereal? Yes both are sweet, one keeps you full for longer because of all the fiber and the slow release of sugar and the other gives you the crazy sugar rush that if you manage to hold still for a minute you can actually feel your cells hyper up. With time your sensitivity will grow and you will feel difference. so we want slow release. How to slow release sugar? Adding fiber, protein, or fat. When we say fiber, then we are talking grains, beans, vegetables, fruit. How about protein? plant based sources of protein or animal sources. Fat? Good sources of fat. Like nut butters, seeds, cold press virgin oils like avocado and olive oil. How about having the cookie as a treat at the end of your meal instead of first thing in the morning? I truly believe that today’s health issues are connected to our disconnection to ourselves and the world. So, let’s bring that connection back. Let’s slow down, slowing down holds the key to wholesomeness.