Morning Doug,

First off I have to compliment you on a great column. I read it religiously and, while I don't always agree with your views, I am starting to see the light on better health.

I farm for a living and there are some deeply entrenched traditions in our diet that are not good and hard to give up. Making time to eat right can be a challenge, too. My problem and question is this: I am addicted to sugar. It is my drug of choice. Are natural sugars an alright alternative to sugar for me to get my fix? Honey and maple syrup (the real stuff from my uncle's bush) are what I have been using in my one cup of coffee and tea each day. Just wondering if I am fooling myself with this logic.

Keep up the good work and thank you for your time.
Bruce

Hi Bruce,

I'm glad you're enjoying the column! Eating right is a challenge for everyone, and being surrounded by family, deeply entrenched traditions and friends who don't see things from the same perspective is probably one of the most difficult things to deal with when trying to make a change for the better. I feel the pressure myself by friends and family all the time.

Natural sugars are certainly a better choice than refined sugar. Maple syrup and honey (particularly raw honey) are sugars that still have mineral and nutrient components intact, and therefore the sugars enter the blood stream more slowly, avoiding spikes in blood sugar levels. Stevia is an even better choice, as it contains no sugar at all and only provides sweetness on the palate. This being said however, there is a difference between using a natural sugar as a treat or to add some sweetness to a dish when it's needed, versus using it to feed an addiction.

From a holistic perspective, the fact that you require sugar on a daily basis is an indication that something is out of balance. The same can be said about people who require a cup of coffee to get them going in the morning, or an alcoholic beverage to "unwind" at the end of the day. Someone who is the picture of health doesn't need any sweetener; in fact, they don't need to feed any cravings at all. They may use a natural sugar occasionally to add sweetness, but it's not a daily requirement, it's a treat. I would say that you're seeing the effects of a body that is suffering from some sort of imbalance and requiring sugar is a necessary means of coping with this imbalance. Correct the imbalance, kiss the sugar cravings goodbye.

The reasons for sugar cravings can be numerous, and I'm not going to try to cover all the possibilities here. My advice would be to see a holistic nutritionist or naturopath who would be able to get to the bottom of this health issue. They would be able to point out the choices in your diet and lifestyle that are contributing to your imbalance and be able to steer you in the right direction in overcoming it. They won't solve the problem for you; the responsibility for making the changes is all still on you.

I know this probably isn't the answer you wanted to hear, but I have seen over and over again the value of overcoming sugar cravings and coming out the other side the picture of health. As you return to a balanced state of health you'll probably notice other nagging problems start to disappear as well.

The Healthy Foodie is Doug DiPasquale, Holistic Nutritionist and trained chef, living in Toronto. You can email him with questions at dugdeep@gmail.com.