Why I Gave Up Refined Sugar For Lent

Honestly, its not that hard for me to stay on track with this whole giving-up-refined-sugar-for-Lent thing as long as I'm not around sugar. Then, I'm faced with a large chocolate pudding cake at my residential life staff meeting and I'm craving sugar more than anything.

It's times like these when I have to remember exactly why I gave up sugar. So, here are the health benefits of avoiding of sugar, for those interested!

-There is a connection between eating lots of sugar and low HDL cholesterol levels (the good cholesterol), which means an increased risk of heart diesase
-From 2001 to 2004, Americans consumed approximately 22g or 355 calories worth of sugar each day
-The average American eats approximately 140 pounds of sugar per year (this is white, brown, or HFCS...disgusting)
-Sugar has similar effects on our brain as cocaine...so it is truly addictive! 
-Eating lots of sugar puts you at a higher risk for Type 2 Diabetes
-Sugar has an acidic effect on our body, and the body must neutralize that acidity with alkaline, so the body pulls calcium from our bones (an alkaline mineral) to neutralize the acidity. This weakens our bones! (This is a similar process that the body goes through when dairy is consumed)
-Eating sugar slows down your immune system
-Sugar has been found to nearly paralyze white blood cells for up to 5 hours and reduce their ability to work by 40%
-Sugar increases the serotonin ("feel good" chemical our brain makes) levels in our brain, and we develop a sort of chemical "high." However, because the body naturally cuts back on serotonin production over time, a lack of sugar (and therefore no "feel good") could result in depression when our serotonin levels are low.
-Sugar feeds cancer
-Sugar can decrease growth hormones
-Sugar can lead to osteoporosis (see earlier bullet about acidity)

So, there are quite a few reasons for you on why you should limit your sugar (white & brown sugars, HFCS, and other refined sugars) intake! Try to replace your sugars with natural substitutes that are less refined - like sucanat, evaporated cane juice or stevia - and your body will thank you for it. I would recommend avoiding these substitutes as well - not completely, just decrease your intake of them! Stevia would be my recommendation for a good, natural, no calorie alternative to sugar. Give it a try!

Have a great day!
Much love,

WIAW #20: The WIAW Before Lent!

Happy WIAW! 

This week, I was hit with the realization that Lent starts today! Even though I'm not Catholic, I enjoy a good challenge, so I decided to give up all sugar (except a little honey and 1 Chobani yogurt a day so I can complete a product review for them!) and all fatty foods. What exactly consists of fatty foods, you ask? Large amounts of cheese (minimal is okay) and butter and dairy, deep fried anything, milkshakes, mac&cheese, potato chips... you know. You guys know what constitutes fatty foods, I don't have to explain it. 

Both sugar and fatty foods is going to be difficult, but I'm so ready. It will definitely make me a healthier person, since I snack on so many sweets and sugar laden things every day! The past two days I've been eating my sugar stash so that it is not there to tempt me, and what I wasn't able to eat, I stored away in the bottom of my drawer until after Easter. 

On another note, I signed up for - count 'em - three 5ks! My first ones! Gotta stay motivated to finish my Couch to 5K program, right? The first is on April 15 and is called the Dirty Days Trail Series at a local park. Apparently it's a 3.6 mile run through trails and streams and such...which I didn't know...ha. Of course, I picked the most intense run I possibly could for my first. Go me. I'm nervous about it. My second is on April 28, and is a walk/run 5k at another local park. The third is the Flying Pig 5k in downtown Cincinnati on May 5. Any advice for how to prepare, especially for the trial run? 

Only 2 weeks until I leave for my spring break trip... I'll be working for animal rights on an emu farm in Virginia! Isn't that awesome? I could not be more excited. 

On to my eats this week! I didn't take many pictures, but what is lacking in pictures I will describe to you below. Sorry Jen, not a lot of veggies! :(

{yogurt with chia seeds} and lots of it. They were on sale, I had to get some! {Rawxies} for an upcoming product review. Stay tuned! {fruit} lots and lots of fruit! Grapes, melon, pineapple, apples, bananas.... {pasta} with sauce, peas, and corn! yummy! 

{not pictured} veggie omelet, cookies, chocolate, ice cream, Luna protein bars, bagels, baby carrots, and more. Basically, lots of crap food. Bad me. That's why I'm super excited for Lent to start and I can start getting healthy again! 

Happy WIAW, everyone!

Much love,