Sugar, Sugar

It’s no secret that I love my sugar.  I LOOOOVE my vegan desserts.  I have always attributed this to the fact that until I was in my early twenties, my full experience of “dessert” was lemon ice.  Growing up allergic to dairy, when all the other kids had their cupcakes for birthdays at school, this girl got lemon ice. Every time.  Any time we went out to eat for dessert, every restaurant had one non-dairy item: lemon ice (they call it lemon sorbet. It’s the same.)  Trip to the ice cream shop with all my friends? Lemon ice for me (or daquiri ice at BR.) Seriously, if someone were to put lemon ice in front of me today, I would not be a happy camper, and I certainly wouldn’t eat it.

Anyway, fast forward to my early twenties self, working in LA.  One of my best friends, Rachael, said to me, “I’m going to take you somewhere you can eat off the entire menu.”  Now, I also was born allergic to seafood and shellfish in addition to the dairy, so I don’t recall EVER being able to order off the menu without the added, “but please make sure there is no x, y, or z, or my throat will close.”  She took me to Real Food Daily in West Hollywood.  And I ordered off the menu. Without any added clauses or modifications! I had my first mac n’ cheese.  And, then, I had my first CHEESECAKE!!! That was it. Vegan desserts and me have been BFFs ever since. I mean really, I had over two decades of missed desserts to make up for, right?!

About a year ago, things with my health were not super great.  Some things in my body weren’t functioning properly. It wasn’t a good situation.  I had met Dana James at a few wellness events, and through a few mutual friends, and then right when my health was at it’s lowest point, I sat next to her at a dinner.  We chatted, and ultimately, I was lucky enough to have Dana’s help to turn my health situation around.  When Dana suggested I try a candida cleanse and illiminate sugar from my diet, I thought she was insane.  When I learned from her that meant also illiminating anything your body processes as sugar (like fruit, carbohydrates and starchy vegetables), I thought she was downright certifiable.  BUT, my health was my priority, so I figured I would give it a try.  It. Was. NOT. Easy. (To the point where I got irate when people were “quitting sugar” but eating loads of it through fruit, carbs, and even brown rice syrup and the like – hello emotions!) But, I am quite certain that Dana James is the single person who could have helped and guided me through that awful time.  Now? I am SOOOO much healthier.

I have spent the past year nurturing and feeding my body in every loving way that I know how, and thankfully, with the help of many people, I am on the road to vibrant health.  In this year, on this journey, SO much has come up.  Why were desserts so important to me? Were they filling an emotional void? Was sweetness lacking in my life that I needed to find in food?

Then, the strangest thing happened.  When I broke my wrist, I completely stopped craving sugar. Seriously, it was like my body knew sugar is a super inflammatory, and needed to stay away.  Since I had been listening so closely to my body over the last year, thanks to that initial push and major help from Dana, and all of the support I received from my amazing family and friends, I could hear and pay attention when it told me, “sugar is not the right choice for you right now”.  I couldn’t believe it while it was happening, but, crazy change happens when you break addictions.  And, sugar is a SERIOUS addiction.

Let’s be real: I am never going to quit sugar.  One of my favorite hashtags is: #ididntquitsugar  .  HOWEVER, I much prefer being able to choose the when and what of sugar, and not being controlled by it 24/7.  I think it is incredibly valuable to break your body and mind from your sugar addiction, at least for a little while so that you can experience first hand how powerful it is.

If you feel like sugar may be controlling your life, check out Dana’s new course on MindBodyGreen – I’m telling you, she’s amazing!!

Want some more knowledge on the topic? Check out my awesome friend, Alex Jameison‘s new CRAVE Casts!  I listen to them during my at home yoga practices now – they are FULL of scary knowledge about this powerful sweet stuff.

What are your thoughts on sugar? Love it? Hate it? All of the above?  Let me know!

Xoxo,

Heidi