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Jo Wood: Is your family addicted to sugar?

A spoonful of sugar isn’t necessarily that good for your health, as our resident organic lifestyle guru Jo Wood explains

A spoonful of sugar isn’t necessarily that good for your health, as our resident organic lifestyle guru Jo Wood explains
Did you know that sugar addiction can be just as bad for your health as cigarettes and alcohol? Too much sugar can actually be linked to serious health conditions such as a depressed immune system, severe mood swings, attacks on the nervous system, obesity, diabetes and tooth decay. Personally I think refined sugar also contributes to more serious illnesses as well and there is growing scientific evidence to prove it. We use sugar as a way to self-medicate and give ourselves a ‘treat’, but never do we closely look at the effect that sugar really has on our bodies, minds and behavioural patterns.

Sugar is now found in everything; just read the labels! You might think you have a low-sugar diet but you would be shocked if you properly evaluated how much you consumed without really knowing it – salad dressings, sauces, cereals, healthy snack bars. Sugar is everywhere and is anaddiction that is highly subsidised by our governments which make refined sugar so cheaply and readily available. Naturally, we get a taste for sweet things from birth with breast milk, but so many kids’ foods are laced with sugar now, resulting in a sugar addiction which can start from an early age.

The sugar challenge

Sugar is a natural product from the sugar cane plant, but during the refinement process it loses all its minerals and vitamins, leaving a product which is simply full of empty calories which our bodies are unable to break down.

As an exercise, why don’t you see how long your household can go without sugar? Try it for a week to 10 days and document how much better you feel – your energy levels, clarity of the mind, how you sleep. I guarantee you will notice a difference. Try to avoid kickstarting your day with that sugar in your coffee or tea in the morning. It isn’t the caffeine which is waking you up, it’s the sugar rush which then takes you into craving that mid-morning snack as a way to pick yourself up again, and replenish your addictive sugar levels. Most people deny they have a sugar addiction but it is possible to break this habit – it just takes a little hard work. What’s more, there are some great alternatives out there.

Sweet alternatives

I cut sugar out of my diet many years ago and have found some great options along my organic journey, all of which you can find in your local health food store.

Honey What good isn’t there to say about honey? Not only for our own wellbeing but also to sustain our eco system.

Agave syrup This syrup is much sweeter than sugar, so a little goes a long way. Derived from the agave plant it can be used in cooking as a vegan alternative too.

Stevia Derived from a South American herb, this plant has been used for centuries and is again much sweeter than sugar. Stevia is used freely by diabetics and has no adverse effects on blood sugar levels.

I hope by reading this column I have challenged your sweet tooth this month. I’d love to hear how you get on if you take my sugar detox challenge!

Article by

Jo Wood

Healthy and Organic Living Guru

is a healthy and organic living guru and creator of her own natural beauty range

Discover more

Article by

Jo Wood

Healthy and Organic Living Guru

is a healthy and organic living guru and creator of her own natural beauty range

Discover more