10 Important Things to Know About Sugar! And a Sugar-Free Libido-Boosting, Chocolate-Tonic-Latte Recipes.

How would you feel having all the energy you need? - in the body you want? The, when-you-close-your-eyes body, it’s what you see because you know it’s meant to be yours. The body you maybe once had? The body that is you, you, you!

Food is the universal intersection for all human beings. Real Food; meaning plant food is the entry point for transformation. A plant-based, whole food way of life is not the destination, but the gateway to cutting a clear path to personal growth, self-awareness, self-confidence, self honor, self respect, and self-love. Changing my lifestyle to a plant based, whole food diet was the journey to becoming my healthiest self. Plant food was the starting point, finally, living up my potential.

One of the most important things I did was giving up refined sugar.

Here are 10 things you should know about sugar.

1. Sugar and refined carbs feed your fat cels.
   Our body cannot burn it’s own body fat for energy when we eat sugar or simple carbs. The body is unable to use any excess body fat stored in our belly (that’s me) or thighs, as energy. The body will only use the energy from outside sources of sugar and simple carbs and we will never burn the stored body fat. Period. Our stored body fat is like rocket fuel waiting to be used, so if you quit sugar and bready things ( My weakness is bready things) and you body will jump into action burning all your excess body fat.

2. Fat cells, themselves, crave sugar.
   This explains why people with larger amounts of body fat often experience stronger sugar cravings than those with less body fat. The more body fat, the stronger the cravings. Fat cells want to be fed sugar and our human willpower is not enough to control the craving from our addicted fat cells. Giving in to sugar cravings is not your fault. You’re not weak. Sugar addiction is real. Like any other addiction. It takes about 3 months to fully get beyond the cravings. it’s truly one day at a time.

3. How to stop sugar cravings.
   Letting your body feed on it’s own stored body fat for energy is the best way to conquer sugar cravings by swapping for healthy organic lean proteins and good fats; like legumes, veggies and fruits.

4. Sugar is false energy.
   Yes, we get a sugar rush, but we crash so quickly and need to find more energy again and more sugar is usually the first thing we grab. Then it’s a roller coaster ride. A day that begins with sugar will keep you addicted all day long.

5. Sugar causes inflammation in the body.
   And Inflammation causes obesity, arthritis, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and most age related diseases. It’s a fact.

6. Sugar makes us hungier.

7. It’s not the amount of calories that we eat that determines our body weight.
   It’s the type of calories. The calories from sugar and carbs which turn into sugar make us gain body fat and we keep the fat if we continue to consume sugar and carbs, unless you’re an ultra athlete and can burn an unusually high amount of energy.

8. Sugar zaps our energy.
   If you want to perform better at work and have the energy to make a healthy dinner for your family, go to the gym, be sociable in the evening, or go on date; quit sugar. It takes real energy to be a good parent or be present in a relationship, let alone feel beautiful and sexy. Ultimately, sugar makes us fatigued, depressed, and grouchy.

9. The cycle of the sugar-rush and sugar-crash puts us in reactive mode.
   The sugar roller coaster puts stress on the body creating exhaustion. Exhaustion can makes us lack focus and patience. And the lethargy created by the sugar crash robs us of the ability to be in the present moment and enjoy the simple things because we’re distracted by not feeling well. Sugar robs us of our core strength. The only way to get ahead of this cycle is to eliminate your unhealthy addiction to sugar.

10. It gets easier.
    As we reduce our belly fat, the sugar cravings loosen the grip so it becomes much easier to avoid sugar as we lose the fat. You will notice the body burning fat quite quickly with the absence of sugar..

So, try to eliminate sugar and simple carbs 90% of the time. That way your head’s not thinking about whether you’re going to eat a cookie at 4pm, because you’re not, because you don’t eat sugar. It’s simple. Instead when you’re craving sugar, choose a healthy protein, good carb or a healthy fat.

What should we eat when sugar cravings kick in? Grab a high quality organic protein like a lentil salad or bean soup and healthy good fats like half an avocado with a squeeze of lemon and a dash of salt. Snack on a handful of sprouted nuts and seeds, an organic egg, crudite’ with avocado mash or hummus, or plant based non diary yogurt ( 4 grams sugar or less) with blueberries. And if you eat animal protein, go for sushi or sashimi, a piece of wild caught salmon.

All that said, we’re human and we should all feel empowered to “be bad” on ocassion and eat whatever sugary-carb thing we desire. Just do so knowing it’s a slipper slope to being sugar and carb addicted for a few days. And then, when we don’t feel light and happy anymore, we just pick ourslves up and get back to the low-sugar way of life because we know how good that feels! And once you know what you know, who wants to go back to being sick and tired, of feeling sick and tired.

Here’s my secret (until now) recipe for my Libido boosting, sugar-free latte tonic. It’s a delicious chocolate-y latte that will give your energy and libido a boost for hours.

MIX THESE POWDERS
2 Tbs cacao powder
3 Tbs powdered coconut milk
1/2 tsp maca powder
1/2 tsp macuna powder
1/4 tsp wild vanilla powder
1/2 tsp chaga powder
1/2 tsp shatavari powder
1 tsp monkfruit sweetener
1/4 tsp stevia powder

STIR IN 1 CUP VERY WARM WATER. (BUT NOT BOILING)
STIR UNTIL DISSOLVED.
DRINK & ENJOY