Reina Estrella's Journal, 20 October 2008

There are sooo many reasons to avoid Sugar. Fats, can be good or bad. Calories count! What goes in, and what we expend, is what we are left with with, too much and gain or too little and hopefully a loss. Sodium is also key. Yes, it's an awful math problem to sort out. We all will probably have little bit different opinion on things, though. I'd start with your doctor.... how much sugar is okay for "you"? Does sugar issues run in your family? If they do... avoid it like poison. I have a very interesting top ten reasons why we should avoid sugar, if you are interested in them, let me know. There are "good fats" that our brains NEED... but the bad ones can kill us and clog our hearts right up. As far as ice cream... have you checked the skinny cow no sugar added stuff? I find them very tasty, even though they are more sugar than I should have, they are an occasional treat for me. Sorbet is also something to look to... making your own w/fresh ingredients, how about frozen Yogurt?? Yes, there is MUCH to look at and learn!! It's hard to get it all down at once... take your time and try a bit at a time. On breads... I believe that they should be whole grain/whole wheat. If the first ingredient in the bread isn't "whole wheat" and it says "enriched", it's not 100% whole wheat. Sourdough is absorbed slower and has a lower glycemic index to our blood sugars in our systems. Well... there's enough to chew on for now.... hope that helps a bit. :) 

Yeah, it really does. I really have no way of knowing about family health history although I've wanted to for quite some time. It's just so confusing!!! LOL...u seem to get BT! There is alot I'm going to have to learn, so I guess I'm just going to research the hell outta it like everything else. 

I think I'm definitely going to be cutting sugar out pretty much completely...i can use splenda in anything...so why go back? 

I think splenda may be okay in moderation, but I'd be careful with it. There are not definitive studies, and there are some questionable issues with it. Personally, I LOVE xylitol. I buy it at vitacost.com. It's a bit on the pricey side, but the LOW glycemic index is awesome and to me, it tastes just like sugar, AND it's natural. I love to make a slice of sourdough toast, with cinnamon and xylitol... it's so good, that I feel "guilty", when I really don't need to. ;) 

LOL. I will try it. I do love splenda and will probably use it in whatever I'd usually use sugar in but I'm always open to new products! Who knows, I may like them better. Splenda is just so easy to get... 

Yes, xylitol is at our Fred Meyers, if you have a Kroger or natural Market, it's probably there, too. I love vitacost, I get many good things from them and it's always only a $4.95 shipping, even if you had 100 things. ;) Their prices are usually the same or much cheaper on most things, too. Xylitol acutally "looks" like sugar and to me tastes like it too! Sinful! lol 

I found the sugar list... I have it printed and on my refridgerator for me to always be reminded of: 1. Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides. 2. Sugar can weaken eyesight. 3. Sugar can produce an acidic digestive tract. 4. Sugar can cause premature aging. 5. Sugar contributes to obesity 6. Sugar can cause heart disease. 7. Sugar is enemy #1 of the bowel movement. 8. Sugar can cause depression. 9. Sugar feeds cancer. 10. Sugar is an addictive substance.  

See I didn't even know all that!!! Thanks for sharing! Those are DEFINITELY good reasons not to eat sugar. I do have a Kroger here so I'm going to have to check out Xylitol. I don't see why not! There's always room for improvement...I'm now checking out the facts on Splenda... 

here's some of what i found The Truth about SPLENDA® An extensive body of science supports the fact that SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener has an excellent safety profile and is well-tested. Despite widespread scientific validation that sucralose is safe to consume, some individuals and groups have sought to create doubts by mischaracterizing safety data and communications. The public should look at scientific evidence and the conclusive findings of safety experts from health and regulatory agencies around the world when making choices. This section provides consumers with balanced factual information on Splenda® Brand sucralose. We encourage the public to make decisions based on scientific evidence and facts, not Internet propaganda, anecdotes and rumors. Fact: SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener is made from sugar. Sucralose, or SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener, is made from sugar (sucrose) through a patented multi-step process that replaces three hydrogen-oxygen groups on the sugar molecule with three chlorine atoms. SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener is made from sugar, so it tastes like sugar. It is a no calorie sweetener that is made from pure cane sugar but does not contain sugar. Sugar has 16 calories per teaspoon; SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener has zero calories per teaspoon. Fact: Sucralose (SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener) is Safe and Well-Tested Safety: More than 100 scientific studies conducted and thoroughly evaluated over a 20-year period demonstrate that sucralose has an excellent safety profile and is suitable for use by all segments of the population. It is one of the most extensively tested food ingredients ever introduced, and has an exemplary safety record throughout the world. SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener has been approved for use in more than 80 countries by leading medical, scientific and regulatory authorities including: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives Scientific Committee on Food of the European Union Health Protection Branch of Health and Welfare Canada Food Standards Australia-New Zealand (FSANZ) Testing: SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener is one of the most thoroughly tested food ingredients ever introduced. Scientists at leading research institutions who conducted multitudes of tests in humans and a variety of animal species overwhelmingly concluded that sucralose is safe for use as a food additive and that it does not adversely affect human health. Regulatory authorities worldwide have confirmed the results of these studies. When scientists study food additives, they conduct multi-species tests to assess what might be expected to occur in humans. It is important to remember that scientists involve doses much larger than would ever be consumed in the human diet. This is done to achieve a reasonable level of certainty that the substance is safe for humans. It is the standard scientific procedure followed by regulatory agencies worldwide. Fact: Sucralose (SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener) Does Not Adversely Affect Human Health Studies in humans and various animal species showed no adverse health effects at doses far above the maximum estimated intake for people. Unfortunately, some individuals and organizations have taken results from some animal studies out of context, to try to raise doubts about the safety of sucralose (e.g. highlighting the results of a study that was not designed to assess a particular health parameter, while ignoring the results of other studies that were). Here are the facts you should know about SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener: SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener Can Be Helpful in a Weight Reduction Program No calorie sweeteners are not a cure for obesity, but they can be one tool in a healthy, balanced weight reduction plan. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines recommend consumers choose beverages and foods that moderate their intake of sugars. Products sweetened with SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener can help consumers achieve this goal. People who want to lose weight must consider many factors, including exercise, overall diet and psychological, cultural and emotional factors. SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener Is Safe and Suitable for People with Diabetes Numerous studies show that sucralose (SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener) is not recognized by the body as a carbohydrate and has no effect on blood glucose control or insulin response. These studies included high-dose prolonged-use studies in normal individuals and in people with diabetes. The FDA has concluded that the overall data on sucralose support its safety for the general population, including people with diabetes. SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener Does Not Affect Growth or Development in Children Studies specifically designed to assess the likelihood of adverse effects on reproduction, gestation, neonatal and post-natal development show that sucralose is safe for children and would have no adverse effects on growth or development. SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener Does Not Affect Pregnancy or Infants Sucralose is safe for women of child-bearing age, expectant mothers, women who are nursing and children. Multiple studies have conclusively demonstrated that there is no link between sucralose  

and birth defects or miscarriages. 

I will definitely be trying that xylitol 

lol I just love the xylitol 1. for flavor, 2. texture, 3. that its natural and not a chemical alteration of sugar. lol ;) 

whoops! and 4. that it does not hardly effect the glycemic index (think it's like a 0 and only like 9 calories a tsp.) don't quote, me, going off demented memory, here. :) lol Basically, it won't cause a response to insulin spike in our blood systems. :) 

OHhhh... another one that you can find on vitacost.com that I am waiting to buy, is Agave Nectar. It's just like honey, made from the Agave plant, yes, the same one that they make tequila out of! =P lol It's really good and they have flavored agave, and I will be trying the Ameretto flavored one soon as I do another order with them. ;) This can also be found at the natural food stores and stores that carry more of the natural food products. It also has a very low Glycemic index, causing virtually no change in the blood sugar spiking. :) 

I would also reread the ongoing maintence section of the Atkins book. Dr. Atkins recommends working the "good" carbs back into your diet...like whole grains (including whole grain pasta) and brown rice, etc. It is still relatively low carb...but you can have those things again. And he explains it in a very easy to understand way. I'm not saying you have to follow his plan, but it is a good education. 

all great ideas! thanks!!! 

Atkins maintenance allows for all of those foods you listed. Just read about the transition from ongoing weight loss to maintenance and you'll figure it out. It is worth reading even if you don't do it exactly by the book. :) I'm gonna look into xylitol too. :) I mostly use stevia, but I'd like another healthy option.  

And I was thinking it wouldn't be allowed...I definitely need to re-read that book. I just don't wanna work so hard and then put it back on. I need a lifestyle that I can stick with. 

Definitely! You need to find a lifestyle you can live with. I believe it is recommended to cut back on saturated fats once you get to maintenance, but keep the good fats like olive oil, avocados and nuts. I think the pre-maintenance to maintenance phases are reasonable ways to get to that permanent WOE. :)