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Sweet Satisfaction

Jenny Nelson
posted this on December 28, 2011 08:58 am

The sweet taste in general, is meant for us to consume in small amounts. Nature knows exactly what it’'s doing, by giving us natural fructose in whole fruits that are available only seasonally and come "packaged" with many health benefits such as fiber, vitamins, minerals and enzymes. The fiber also slows down the release of sugar, making it a steady supply of energy without causing severe insulin spikes or crashes.

Unfortunately, we've grown accustomed to having sweet foods readily available whenever we want. Stores are full of these empty calorie “foods” and consuming them in the amounts we do has a detrimental effect on our bodies and emotions.

We have suggested agave nectar in the past as an alternative to refined sugar but now, through much research and continued evolution, we have decided we do NOT recommend it during the cleanse. It may be a better choice than refined white sugar, but it’s definitely not our first choice.

Many people ask about honey and maple syrup. They’re not allowed on the 21 day program, but after the cleanse, raw and local honey is definitely a preferred sweetener. It’s much less processed than refined sugar, and it contains beneficial enzymes, aids digestion and can be a very healing food. Maple syrup is also less processed and contains some antioxidant minerals.

The preferred "sugar replacement" is stevia, an herb that does not effect the blood sugar, It comes in liquid, powder or whole leaf form and can be used in any recipe included here and in your shakes.

Coconut nectar is fine to use during the cleanse.

We have recently removed brown rice syrup from the allowed list since studies have shown it to be high in arsenic.

Keep in mind that any sweetener should always be used in moderation, especially during a cleansing program where the detoxification organs are working extra hard and sugar just adds to the load.

The good news is that a cleanse such as this one will help to identify our emotional and physical triggers, habits and eating behaviors. When we eliminate toxins, encourage healthy microflora growth in our digestive tracts, and begin introducing more greens (especially in the form of fresh juices), quite often sugar cravings begin to disappear, and our bodies find a healthy balance. So don’t be surprised if you begin to lose your insatiable taste for sweets, and notice that a small amount of real sugar such as fresh fruit, root vegetables, honey or maple syrup are enough to satisfy you.