kind classics: sugar-holics anonymous
There are certain questions that I get asked a lot both in my daily life and in the Kind Forum. Topics like 'how do I get protein?' or 'what's the deal with B12?' or 'what should I feed my dogs?' come up all the time, especially among flirts and new vegans. I want everyone to have easy access to my answers to these frequently asked questions, so to that end, I'm going to occasionally repost blogs from The Kind Life archives.
I'll only be reposting blogs that contain evergreen advice addressing a common question, so hopefully everyone will benefit! For kind newbies, it'll be a great way to get answers to burning questions, and for longtime kind lifers, it'll be a handy reminder for those moments when you're wondering 'what was the reason I avoid this food?' or 'where do I find a kind version of this product?'
With that said, here's one from the archives-enjoy!
Sugar-holics Anonymous
Ok, so my name is Alicia Silverstone... and I'm a sugar addict.
It's not my fault! It follows me everywhere I go. It stalks me. It shows up everywhere, unexpected... seduces me, then leaves me miserable.
This is an official cry to the world to say that if you care about me, in any way, shape, or form, please DO NOT bring me any item made with cane juice!! I don't know how to say no to it! It is so sweet and kind of people to want to feed me great chocolates and muffins and cakes and such, but what it does to me is so bad.
I also eat it because I think:
a.) It's vegan, and that's so great that this person giving it to me found something vegan. They went to all the effort to get it...
b.) I think I am your test pilot and need to tell flirts about great chocolate and stuff
and finally...
c.) I'm crazy!
None of these reasons are rational.
When I was still in New York for Time Stands Still, I went on a fun date with Laura Linney when our show was all done. We saw a play, went to Angelica's for an early dinner, then to Lula's Sweet Apothecary for ice cream. She got the Caramel with something (I can't remember what it was) scoop. I couldn't decide what I wanted so I got four different flavors... that's right, you heard me, FOUR. I got the Peanut Butter with Fudge (how could I say no to that?!), the Caramel one, the Mint Chip, and the Coffee. My favorite was the Caramel and Peanut Butter.
Lula's is adorable and really yummy. For anyone flirting or vegan in NY, you must RUN there. For superheros, don't do it. Or just do it every once in awhile. I didn't eat it all that night, so don't worry. I left half of it and they were baby scoops... but it was delicious.
Here is what happened that night: I went to bed and felt like I never went to sleep. I mean, eventually I fell asleep, but it never felt like I did. I had one idea going round and round in my head, so it never felt like my brain turned off or that I rested. Then, I woke up earlier than usual. This is what happens to me every time I have sugar... even the pretty, cute pure cane juice sugar. I do NOT like this!!! I like to have restful sleep and feel rejuvenated the next day.
The crazy thing here is that I know this is going to happen to me every time I have sugar. I mean there is an entire chapter about this in my book! I know it's bad and yet I still do it. This is why I started Sugar-holics Anonymous... so there is a place for addicts to come and discuss and try to get off this stuff together. I'm being silly here, but part serious too, fyi.
I barely have sugar at home in LA. New York was mean to me. It seduced me everyday with chocolate, ice cream, and cupcakes and such. I'm breaking up with sugar now... I hope for good! And if you are going to have sugar, at least don't be a dummy like me and have it anywhere close to bedtime.
On a little side note to vendors out there that are awesome vegan treat-making businesses that use cane sugar - If you guys are wanting to send me some of your goodies to try, please refrain!! I can't take it anymore. I'm sad to say that, but the sugar is making me crazy!
P.S. Since I wrote this blog, I have been free of sugar for a while now...thank god! I've been in Los Angeles and Louisiana, and making yummie treats at home in my little kitchen that I love, so the sugar cycle has been broken. But man, I was hooked for a while!
60 comments
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For me, I noticed that when I limit my fruit intake I tend to crave all the bad processed sugary stuff. But whenever I include a bit of fruit with my meals, further sugar cravings become obsolete! My taste buds are so used to clean foods that the sweetness in fruit feels almost overwhelming so that even thinking about consuming foods sweeter than that in the form of processed junk food feels nauseating. I think that remembering to include an adequate amount of fruit is important to keep those sugaring cravings at bay. -
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OMG, I've been obsessing over this very issue for the past few months!! I found a great tasting liquid stevia (after trying 4 different brands), but the problem is.....I love chocolate. LOVE IT!!! Luckily, I only like dark chocolate, which has much less sugar than milk. But it still has sugar. So I think I need to join a sugar-chocolate-aholic group!
Here's what I wrestle with everyday as I consider giving up chocolate (loaded with caffeine and oxolates) and sugar: I don't want to deprive myself of the foods that taste so yummy and that I "treat" myself to on occasion. I think in order for me to be succussful at finally kicking my chocolate/sugar habit, I first need to find a compatible "treat" replacement. Or maybe I just need to pull my sweet tooth! ;)
Best of luck to my fellow addicts!! We can do this!! :)
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i've given up sugar before and ALWAYS feel better without it! Ash Wednesday is just a few days away so i've decided to say goodbye to my love to these 40 days. I'll report back afterward!
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sugar is sugar no matter what. Even stevia needs to be nothing Add more protein and fat to your diet. Get on good supplements and it helps a lot.
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Okay so I attempted to stop drinking diet sodas but found myself drinking regular soda (once in awhile) instead. Tonight I started drinking diet again. Just can't seem to give it up totally yet. Never quit quitting, right?
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Hi there, Here is a recipe for raw chocolate that is sugar free and good for you. Shock horror!!
There is also a recipe here that is a little more detailed. Omit the molasses if you want. Enjoy!
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Someone help! I know sugar is bad for you, all of it... ALL OF IT, in all forms... agave can't be great for you either as your body processes it the same way it would table sugar. People keep telling me the only safe & all natural product that won't sit on your hips is STEVIA. I tried it. I hate it. I want to like it. Really. HELP!
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Every now and then a sugary treat is alright, but don't over due it. I know exactly what Alicia is saying in her segment. I've been there from time to time. Most recently within the last month. For me it was all stress induced.
So I simply started running again, ate high fiber foods and added more fruit to my diet. Not only did I lose 5 lbs in the last week to 10 days, but I've kicked my stress and sugar craving to the curb!
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Lula's is the best!! My girlfriends and I go there at least once a week in the summertime - and I always take my non-vegan friends there for "the best ice cream you'll ever eat" and tell them after that its dairy-free. Works every time. Pure food and wine also has winning ice cream :)
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All sugars are sugar - including cane, agave, molasses....the best all-natural substitute is stevia.
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Hi Alicia (said in the typical AA meeting greet)!
If you start a Sugar-AA in LA, I'll be the first to sign up! lol
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@ Ann - good job doing so well getting off sugar!! I am scared. :-( I try all the time and fail miserably - like, I can make it till about 5pm. So, I will try again. I already failed today! I got a coke AND a cupcake at the gas station!!!! eek. BUT, tomorrow is another day. How did you get off the sugar? Just cold turkey??
@Marcela - I have tried agave, I don't really like the taste so much, it's like molasses almost. It's in the coconut ice cream I have as a treat and it just tastes like regular sugar. I think that the problem with it is that it shows up very high on the glycemic index. Which means that your body doesn't process it well, like sugar. It spikes your blood sugar levels and stays in your body as fat...
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Hi! I love this article. I have recently quit all sugars and I just think it was a good time for me to do it. I think the timing and your mindset it important. Let yourself eat all the fruit sugars you want until you get the hard cravings out. It took about 2 weeks for me to not even want cookies and such when I went into a cofee shop. I just kept on remembering how AMAZING I feel without it. I have even lost 10 pounds in 3 months with doing nothing but cutting out sugars. I DO let myself have the occasional seasame bar with natural sweetner but I know myself and If I have a little I would want a lot....so I let it all go. I would say if you are having trouble with quitting it remind yourself as much as you need to why you are doing it. YES its REALLY addictive. I was eating it daily,as in a cookie and ice cream EVERY day! Yikes. The high I got from sugar was amazing but the low was even worse. I am thankful I let it go. xx. Ann
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I'm trying really hard to cut my sugar consumption too, so I made his wonderful butterscotch date tea cake that is sweetened with coconut palm sugar, bananas and dates. Coconut palm sugar is low in fructose and has a low glycemic index.
You can check out the recipe here: http://www.myrecessionkitchen.com/Site/My_Kitchen/Entries/2010/4/12_Butterscotch_Date_Tea_Cake.html
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@KD>> I know how frustrating it is!! It sucks so much because sugar is like crack. I can't stop eating it either - and what's worse is when I "cheat" - it's usually stuff that's really bad! Like ice cream, cake, brownies, cookies...so not only is there sugar but white flour and eggs and dairy! I try and talk myself out of it, look at the big picture, but I can't!
I'm so proud of myself that i cut out the dairy though, that was super hard for me with my coffee. Maybe you can also try different kinds of coffee? It was easier to drink a lighter coffee or a flavored coffee with no milk at first than the usual extra strong french or italian roast. I like a vanilla flavored or butter toffee flavored coffee (just flavored - not sweetener!). It gives the illusion of creaminess and for you it might give the illusion of sweetness. Maybe try it??
And good job not having sugar in your normal meals. I don't either. I cook everything mostly myself in a super hero style...but its when I'm lazy and go out or if I pop a frozen tv dinner (I know! its bad, you don't have to tell me)...but sometimes you just can't cook (and clean) and there are no left overs.
I also love almond butter. I find regular healthy PB too strong. The AB is much lighter and has a sweeter flavor. I wish it wasn't so expensive though. I do like jam though - hard to find ones without sugar or without splenda type sweeteners.
Unfort the whole foods is about 30-40 mins away and its not even that great - the good one is even further....and with traffic out here, forget it! The best thing i can do is fresh and easy and henrys...but they are really limited to some things.
Anyway - good luck!! If you can figure out a way to help me get off my sugar, please let me know!
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@ Jacqui R, thank you very much for the advise, and I will have to try the honey in my coffee, never thought of that. I know exactly where my sugar comes from, because I do most if not all of my own cooking, and I stay away from processed foods even before deciding to become vegetarian. I shop at Whole Foods for the most part, and almond butter is my choice for sandwiches, so I'm a very healthy eater, and extremely knowledgeable about what I put in my body, so I know when I'm eating something that's questionable, or flat out not good for me, so splenda is definitely out of the question. My only vice is the sugar, and not really sugar it's the honey, which is still a form a sugar, healthy or not. I've even done a sugar detox, where I've gone two weeks at a time w/o any sugar; would make my own salad dressing to make sure there was no sugar in it, and as soon as the detox is over I fall right back in, it's quite frustrating
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Here's some more sugar I love: All day Breakfast Smoothy:
In the blender or vitamix: fresh coconut water, three very ripe sweet bananas, huge gob of peanut butter, two tablespoons ground golden flax seeds, two heaping tablespoons of Rice Bran Solubles, big gob of Coconut Nectar, Hemp milk.
In fact, I'm going to make a pitcher of it right now!
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For a sweet treat, I only eat fresh whole fruit. This avoids the risk of additives (preservatives, colorings, contaminants, flavorings, and anti-caking compounds) common in dry goods, canned goods, and other food-like substances shipped in packages.
A healthy diet requires more time in the kitchen and an adjustment to different flavors, textures, and sweetness. Don't pretend it will be the same as the Standard American Diet (SAD). It's not the same, and you'll be repeating the same mistakes over and over again.
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Zach's Gourmet Vegan Pancakes
1 ¼ C Vanilla Hemp Milk (Pacific Natural Foods brand)
1 T Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (Bragg's)
½ C Organic Buckwheat Flour
2 T Organic Brown Rice Flour (Bob's Red Mill)
2 T Organic Coconut Flour (Bob's Red Mill)
Sugar--Either:
1 T Gob Organic Thai Coconut Sugar (Divine Organics) for wet mix. (Get at royalhimalayan.com); or
1T Organic Coconut Palm Sugar for dry mix. (Whole Foods Market)
½ t Salt
2 t Bob's Red Mill Double-Action Baking Powder
2 or 3 T Organic Non-GMO Canola Oil (Depending on your level of decadence).
¼ t Vanilla
1. In a medium bowl, mix milk and vinegar and let sit.
2. In another bowl, mix dry ingredients.
3. Whip together the oil, vanilla, wet sugar, and milk mixture. Sift and mix the dry ingredients into the milk mixture and gently stir together. Batter may be slightly lumpy. Cover bowl with clean dishcloth and let sit for ten minutes in a warm place. (I put the metal bowl (without the cloth) into the oven on the warm setting. This encourages the carbon dioxide created from the baking powder and the acid in the wet sugar and the vinegar to expand; the coconut flour also causes fluffiness.)
4. Heat griddle to 400°. Oil griddle (I use Canola; some other oils might cause sticking). Gently stir batter again and pour batter to desired sizes and cook 2-4 minutes per side (don't overcook, don't undercook). After putting first batch on griddle, turn heat down to about 360°.
5. Slather with coconut oil and drench in maple syrup.
6. Smile as you explode in ecstasy. (Optional?--not really!)
Makes about four restaurant-size pancakes; double recipe for two to three people. I give my personal guarantee that anyone who makes/eats these pancakes as I have instructed will be totally blown away! Decadent, yes, but simply the best for quality, appearance, and taste.
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It's my understanding that Fructose is BAD! And it's in all the sugars: white, brown, maple syrup, honey, brown rice syrup, etc. Now I'm into Coconut Palm Sugar, the wet and the dry. It has a lower glycemic index--35--I don't know the fructose situation with it--but apparently has plenty of vitamins and minerals. I'm a sugar, fat, salt, and oil addict, although I'm pretty healthy and fit, being a vegan for over 35 years.
Let me follow with a recipe I just put together from all the ones I've seen. I know many make the claim, but if you want to eat this once and a while, I swear they're the best vegan pancakes ever.
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I'm trying to get off refined sugar. It's so addicting!
I just went on an online shopping spree and ordered a bunch of sweets from Renegade Health: 2 lbs of heirloom red banana powder (banana sugar), a bag of powdered natural green leaf stevia and lucuma powder. I'm going to make some really yummy buckwheat breakfast porridges :D
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