The Sweet Choice of Reducing Sugar Consumption

A spoon full of sugar with blocks of letters spelling out Less Sugar.

Most Americans eat a lot of sugar, and it takes a toll on their health and well-being.  In our last article, The Sour Truth on the Side Effects of Eating Sugar, we learned the amount of sugar most people consume, outlined three types of sugar, and discovered just how addicting sugar can be.  Sugar consumption is linked to increased risk for many diseases, including obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.  It’s such a concern we felt we needed to learn more.  So this month, we show that some foods contain unexpectedly high amounts of levels of sugar.  You will learn about healthy alternatives to sugar and sugar substitutes. Plus, you will learn how to start cutting sugar out of your diet and start on the path to a healthier diet and feeling better.   

Unexpected Sugar

There are two ways sugar finds its way into the foods we eat.  The first way is through the ingredients used to make the food.  The second is the sugar we add to it after it’s served, like adding sugar to coffee.  When many people think of sugar in foods, they only consider the amount of sugar added after the food is served.  Others think the only foods high in sugar are the ones that taste sweet. While baked goods and candy are high in sugar, there are many foods that contain an unexpected amount of sugar. 

According to Healthline, there are some foods that are surprisingly high in sugar.

FoodServingSugar
Low Fat Yogurt1 CupUp to 45 Grams
BBQ Sauce2 TblsUp to 9 Grams
Gatorade Sports Drink20 ozUp to 34 Grams
Granola3.5 ozUp to 34.5 Grams
Protein Bar1 BarUp to 20 Grams
Source: Healthline
Low-fat yogurt and granola in a glass with berries and mint.
It may seem healthy, but the amount of sugar in low-fat yogurt and granola may surprise you!

All this hidden sugar underscores the need to read labels on the packages of food you buy.  FDA regulations require all food manufacturers to list the amount of sugar in their products. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 25 grams of sugar per day.  If someone eats a bagel and drinks a cup of coffee with a teaspoon of sugar, they are consuming 12 grams of sugar.  That’s almost half of the entire day’s recommended consumption.  The standard American diet promotes high sugar consumption.

Healthier Alternatives

Many of the sugar substitutes widely found in the American diet are known to cause serious medical issues.  Aspartame, marketed under Nutri-Sweet and Equal brand names, is the most popular and widely used sugar substitute.  Unfortunately, aspartame is known to cause headaches and an increased risk for heart attack and strokes.  Furthermore, it accounts for 75% of the adverse food reactions reported to the FDA.  Another sugar substitute is Splenda.  Splenda is made with sucralose, and according to Insider, it can cause increased cravings for sugar, reduce good gut bacteria, and is linked to type II diabetes and heart disease. 

Fortunately, there are some healthier alternatives to sugar, aspartame, and Splenda.  Unrefined sources of sugar are better choices because they retain trace amounts of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.  Raw organic honey and pure maple syrup are good choices.  Other options are monk fruit and Stevia.  Stevia is plant-based and is 200 times sweeter than sugar, cinnamon, and raw coconut.  Additionally, Stevia is widely available and found in powder and liquid form. 

How to Wean Off Sugar

Like with any addictive substance, a slow approach to eliminating sugar from your diet is recommended.   Start with the obvious.  Eliminate all foods that are sweet, like candy, baked goods, and ice cream.  Also, toss out soft drinks.  After a few days of reduced sugar intake, you will start to feel better and get the incentive to take the next steps. 

Next, read the product labels for everything you have.  Look for ingredients ending in “ose,” like sucrose, glucose, dextrose, fructose, and lactose.  Eliminate those foods you don’t need and cut back on the ones you can’t live without.  Ultimately you want to get to a baseline, where your sugar intake is low, and your diet consists primarily of veggies, fruits, lean meats, poultry, fish, nuts, and seeds.  One way to reset your relationship with sugar consumption is to take a Total Body Cleanse from Naturally You.

Over time, you will appreciate how much better you feel.  Your cognitive abilities will improve, and you won’t want to go back to eating an unhealthy diet that makes you feel bad.  Naturally You is dedicated to helping you feel your best.  Visit our website to learn more about diet and six keys to optimal health, as well as our complete line of full-spectrum CBD products.  Plus, we offer a live chat feature and are always happy to discuss any natural health and healing topic.  We look forward to chatting with you soon, naturally.

Candida: Treating Out of Control Yeast Growth

treating out of control yeast growth naturallyyoufl.com

Treating candida, or out of control yeast growth, is important to prevent major health issues. Candida is the most common cause of fungal infections in humans.  It’s typically found in small amounts in the mouth and intestines and on the skin and chances are, you probably have a degree of candida in your body right now.  Normally, healthy bacteria keep candida in check, but if you suffer from a disruption in your immune system or a decrease in your healthy bacteria levels, candida can grow wildly.  Treating out of control yeast growth is critical and will prevent related serious health problems.  In this article you will learn about candida, its symptoms, causes as well as treatments to help you to prevent candida overgrowth and feel great.   

How Candida Affects the Body

Candida is the term for a family of yeasts that live in our bodies.  It’s commonly found in the mouth, intestines, vagina, on the skin and under the fingernails and toenails.  In healthy individuals, candida exists in small quantities but in unhealthy people, it can grow and spread throughout the body.  Healthline.com says an overgrowth of candida can cause any of these issues:

Treating out of control yeast growth Naturallyyoufl.com
  • Chronic Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Digestive Issues like Bloating, Constipation, and Diarrhea
  • Allergies
  • Joint Pain
  • Mouth Sores, Canker Sores, and Oral Thrush
  • Yeast Infections
  • Fibromyalgia

Causes and Treatments

There are several causes of candida overgrowth.  Sometimes candida overgrowth occurs as a result of antibiotics used to treat other infections.  Antibiotics kill both good and bad bacteria and prolonged use can result in lower levels of the bacteria needed to fight candida overgrowth.  According to Medical News Today, steroid-based medications can lower the immune system and increase the risk of candida overgrowth symptoms like oral thrush.  In addition to medical causes of candida overgrowth, poor lifestyle choices can also cause it.  Yeast overgrowth can occur from a diet rich in foods that feed yeast.  High sugar, carbohydrates, and alcohol consumption provide the fuel yeast needs to grow.  It’s no surprise since these also cause other health problems, including inflammation-related conditions like arthritis and Crohn’s disease, heart disease and type-2 diabetes.

Helpful Dietary Tips

Dietary changes can help to control yeast growth as well as promoting and managing the good bacteria needed for overall good health.  Here are some tips to change your diet that will reduce the risk of candida overgrowth and make you feel great again.

Eliminate sugar. 

treating out of control yeast growth naturallyyoufl.com

Simply put, sugar is just plain bad for you.  It causes inflammation and a whole host of related medical conditions you want to avoid.  But we all love sweet treats.  So, look for natural substitutes for sugar like honey and choose fruits like strawberries, raspberries, and cranberries which are low in sugar.  Consult a glycemic index chart to help you make healthy choices.  The lower the glycemic index, the better the choice.  For more information and a helpful chart, click here.

A Good Prebiotic

Add a good prebiotic to your diet.  Prebiotics are naturally occurring fiber that acts as a fertilizer for the good bacteria in your digestive tract.  Foods like onions, garlic, and apple skins are a great source of prebiotics. 

Add a Probiotic

Candida naturallyyoufl.com

Add probiotics to your daily supplements.  Probiotics are live bacteria naturally created through the process of fermentation.  They are found in foods like yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut.  Naturally. . . You offers a great probiotic made by M’Lis. 

Time to Detox

A full body detox program is a great start toward treating out of control yeast growth and lower your risk of candida overgrowth.  The body detox I put my clients on will eliminate sugars from the body and reset your relationship with food.  After this program, you will feel better, have a fresh start on feeling better and be ready to make better choices to live a healthier life.  To learn more about the full body detox, check out my article, A Total Body Cleanse will Make You Feel Great Again.

Eat Real Food

Once candida overgrowth is under control, set up a maintenance diet to prevent reoccurrence.  At Naturally. . . You, we believe in real food.  That means fresh foods that are free from processing, chemicals, and additives.  Since fresh foods rarely have added preservatives, they typically have to be refrigerated.  So, do most of your food shopping on the perimeter of the stores, where most refrigeration shelves are.  Avoid frozen foods and processed foods found on the shelves in the center of most grocery stores.  A lot of packaged foods are processed and contain chemicals that give them long, stable shelf lives.

If you are chronically tired or suffer from any of the symptoms that are described above, you may have candida and need to start treating out of control yeast growth.  Naturally. . . You can help to put you on a dietary plan, a detoxification program, and supplements to help you reduce the yeast in your body, lower your risk of symptoms and put you on the road to feeling great again.  For more information on this or any health and wellness topic, visit naturallyyoufl.com.  There you can chat with me directly.  I’m always available to discuss your health concerns so reach out on my site or call me directly at 813.505.9815.  I look forward to chatting with you soon.

A Total Body Cleanse will make you Feel Great Again

Water helps a total body cleanse

Many people find themselves not feeling as vibrant as they used to feel.  They struggle to remember birthdates, feel sluggish and have difficulty controlling cravings.  Typical Americans live in a stress-filled and sleep-deprived world.  They search for convenient life-hacks to make things easier, unfortunately, some of these hacks unknowingly put toxins into our bodies.  Chemicals in foods and products used for personal care and household cleaning build up inside our bodies.  These toxins can cause serious health problems. 

All the while, stress, the very thing that contributes to toxin build up, actually slows down detoxification enzymes in the liver.  That makes it harder for our bodies to push them out!  One way to eliminate these built up toxins in through a total body cleanse designed to flush your system, restore your energy and reset your relationship with food.  Oh yeah, you might also lose some weight in the process!  Here’s why a total body cleanse will make you feel great again!

How Toxins Get In and Build Up. . .

Toxins build up in our bodies through things we ingest into our systems.  Whether we are applying soaps and lotions to our skin, consuming foods that contain chemicals or breathing in smoke or smog, toxins find a way of getting in.  Once in, they are stored in our intestinal tract and over time, build up, causing damage to the enzymes we naturally produce. 

According to the Institute for Natural Medicine, “Our bodies are enzyme engines. Every physiological function depends on enzymes to manufacture molecules, produce energy, and create cell structures. Toxins damage enzymes and thus undermine countless bodily functions—inhibiting the production of hemoglobin in the blood, for example, or lowering the body’s capacity to prevent the free-radical damage that accelerates aging.”  Left unchecked, toxins can weaken bones, damage organs, and DNA.  This will speed the aging process.  Toxins can also create hormone imbalance resulting in inexplicable fatigue.

Telltale Signs. . .

There are many symptoms of toxic build up in the body.  Among them are:Toxic symptoms can be treated with a total body cleanse.

  • Bloating and Weight Gain
  • Low Energy
  • Headaches
  • Mood Issues
  • Skin Irritations
  • Decreased Memory Function
  • Bad Breath
  • Constipation

Feel Great with the M’lis Total Body Cleanse. . .

Total Body Cleanse package by M'lis

One effective way to detoxify your body and feel great again is through the M’lis Total Body Cleanse.  This cleanse has been recommended and endorsed by thousands of licensed professionals for over 30 years.   I personally use this cleanse three times a year and can say it’s the best way to flush the colon of toxins and waste products, eliminate the symptoms that result from toxin build-up, and reset your digestive tract for better efficiency. 

Over the course of seven days, toxins are eliminated through gradual dietary restrictions.  The first two days clean up your diet, eliminating sugar, flour, fats, alcohol and red meat.  For the next three days, only liquids are consumed to establish a baseline.  The final two days gradually introduce solid foods back into your system to avoid a shock to the digestive system.  Those days give your digestive tract a chance to reboot with only fresh foods that it can easily and efficiently digest.

During the entire week, high-fiber supplements help to keep you regular and purge waste build-up from the body.  These supplements are a propriety blend of wheat bran powder and psyllium husk powder.  This stimulates weight loss, promote regularity and increase longevity.  You also use cleanse and detox supplements and an energy enhancing drink of essential greens.  An optional beverage mix that supports heart function and an antioxidant drink mix that reduces free-radicals in the body are available.  And best of all, I’ll be there every step of the way to answer questions, manage your expectations and provide support. 

Better than other programs. . .

There are a lot of detoxification programs on the market.  The one I use and recommend to my clients has proven effective.  Many others lack the supplementation and support critical body functions that are an essential part of the M’lis cleanse.  Many programs range from total starvation fasts to juice fasts and food modification approaches.  These often involve the use of laxatives and diuretics.  Extremely low-calorie diets lower the body’s metabolism as it struggles to conserve energy.  Once the dieter resumes normal eating, rapid weight gain follows. Much of the weight loss achieved through these diets result from fluid loss related to extremely low carbohydrate intake.  Weight loss is also from frequent bowel movements or diarrhea produced by salt water and laxative tea. When the dieter resumes normal fluid intake, this weight packs back on. 

Other detox programs involve colonic cleansing which carries a risk of dehydration, electrolyte and enzyme imbalance, and impaired bowel function. The M’lis Total Body Cleanse and detoxification program is natural, safe, and supports all body functions.  The goal is to eliminate toxins, reintroduce healthy nutrition and reset your relationship with food. 

The Big Payoff. . .

Healthy woman after total body cleanse.In just one short week you will feel amazing.  You will experience renewed energy, less bloating, mindful clarity, and more restful sleep. Most of the symptoms listed above will be gone.  As an added benefit, most people experience weight loss during the program that can jump-start a healthy weight management program.  If you are interested in trying the M’lis Total Body Cleanse but need a little proof that they work, check out the testimonials I’ve published on my website.

The pace of life is on overdrive for most of us.  An unavoidable consequence is the buildup of toxins in our bodies.  Over time this causes physical, emotional and memory problems that can affect you and your relationships.  A total body cleanse will make you feel great again.  In just one week you will feel great, think with clarity, and get on a path to better health.  The M’lis Total Body Cleanse helps me and my family stay healthy, strong, and focused.  It will do the same for you.  For more information and a FAQ on the cleanse, visit my website, naturallyyoufl.com.  You can chat with me about the cleanse or any wellness-related issue there.  You can also call me anytime at 813.505.9815.  I look forward to chatting with you soon.