L'SHANA TOVAH! on the occasion of ROSH HASHANA ("Head of the New Year": 5,769)!
This Holy occasion that started last evening, September 29, 2008 as part of "Ten Days of Awe and Repentance" honors "The Creation of the World" when (according to Jewish biblical tradition), on the 6th day, "The One and Only God" also created Man..culminating at the end of YOM KIPPUR (the Holiest "Day of Repentance" and fasting) next October 9th.
In breaking the 24 hour fast, after extensive prayer, soul searching, heartfelt repentance for all sins perpetrated against God and mankind during the past year, decision-making and vows of improved behaviors in the next...a symbolic new start is to consume a few slices of apple dipped in honey, and pray for a "Sweet New Year".
However, coming back to the realities of our contemporary world, "Sweet", sugary habits and cravings are of special concern these days when millions of people are plagued by excess weight and obesity.
Sometimes the weight war seems so overwhelming...as do all the rules, do's and don'ts, formulae and lifestyle issues you need to work on.
As a doable start, I suggest to just focus on one serious habit change, and it doesn't get more important than "limiting sugar." Aside from the fact that too much sugar means too many calories, watching your sugar intake can mean helping to keep diabetes and other serious health problems away.
So, how much sugar is too much? Try targeting 8 teaspoons or 32 grams of sugar daily - that means a lot of label reading.
What about artificial sweeteners? Well, they are very low calorie or calorie-free, but they can cause gastro-intestinal symptoms if you eat too many products made with these. Experts also say that too much artificial sweetener in your diet can actually encourage overeating because your brain perceives sweetness but there is less of a feeling of satiation. So you eat more.
Does the kind or source of the sugar matter? White sugar, brown sugar, confectioner's sugar, high fructose corn syrup - they are all forms of sucrose. Don't be deceived by "natural" or "raw" sugar labeling - nor evaporated cane sugar or turbinado (a specialty sugar) - they all increase blood sugar and they all have 4 calories per gram.
What about sugar in fruits and vegetables? They all have fiber which helps to slow the blood stream rapid sugar elevation caused by the natural sugar content.
Some examples of sugary products? Starbucks grande Mocha Frapuccino - 47 grams of sugar; Arizona 20 ounce regular iced lemon tea - 59 grams of sugar; Dunkin' Donuts glazed donut - 12 grams of sugar.
Be a label reader and introduce the habits of:
Watching sugar per serving
Watching trans fats per serving
Watching sodium per serving'
Watching saturated fat per serving
And, above all: Have a spiritual Sweet New Year!
Your Friend In Wellness,
Jacques
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