A Sweet Solution To Your Sugar Blues

With the new year approaching and the holiday season behind us, for many of us our thoughts turn to trimming those extra pounds accrued over the last couple of months and making strides at tackling some challenging, health-related issues. The biggest challenge for many of us is addressing that ever nagging sweet tooth. While there are many alterations that can be made to one's diet to bring this issue under control, one of the easiest and most effective changes that can be made is to eliminate refined sugar from our diet. I know, that sounds easier said than done, right? Not exactly, it's easier than you think.

Most of us know that refined sugar, along with refined white flour, is the primary culprit for the obesity and health crisis we are facing in this nation. By now, most of us have had it beaten into our heads that artificial sweeteners are equally as bad, if not worse. Honey and maple syrup are recommended as a natural, safer alternative. Honey, in particular offers additional health benefits such as increased immunity against seasonal allergies. However, a large number of us can't quite adjust to the different flavor that these sweeteners can add to foods. The great news is there is another alternative. Agave nectar.

Agave nectar has been used for thousands of years by the Aztecs and people of southern Mexico and South America. It is derived from the Agave plant, which is a succulent that looks very similar to the Aloe Vera plant. If it wasn't for this ancient plant, Jimmy Buffet would never have cut his largest hit. Yes, it's this plant that gives us Tequila. Don't let that massive headache you suffered after too many Margaritas turn you off. The flavor of agave nectar is surprisingly similar to sugar. It can be used to sweeten any food that you would, normally, sweeten with sugar. It is very sweet so you don't need to use very much. You may purchase dark or light syrup. The lighter syrup has undergone further processing and is milder in taste. The darker syrup is more similar to maple syrup. A popular brand of agave is Madhava. They produce a variety of different agave products and are sold not just at health stores but at many supermarkets, as well. For instance, carries it. It is found in the section of the store where the organic foods are found, not with the honey and maple syrup as you would expect.

There are numerous benefits to replacing sugar with agave nectar but I would say the most obvious is the elimination of the "sugar rush." How often do you feel like you could curl up under your desk around 2 p.m. and take a nap? It's usually around this time that you begin scouring the office for candy, cake or some other sugar fix. You can consume a candy bar in an effort to satify this craving. Your body will respond by infusing your bloodstream with an flood of insulin, perking you up temporarily, sometimes making you hyper and light headed. Shortly thereafter, once your pancreas is satisfied that it has addressed this immediate crisis, it pulls back the insulin production and your blood sugar plummets, leaving you tired and lethargic, once again. A sweetener like agave nectar calls for a slow and steady release of insulin that keeps your blood sugar levels steady. There is no sharp rise or fall. When your blood sugar levels are steady, you no longer crave sweets. The far reaching effects of regulating your blood sugar are the key to not only solving any weight issue you may face but the overall improvement of your health and well being. You will have more energy, sleep better and feel happier.