How has that worked out for you, health-wise?

Answer by Sandra J Wilson, Founder Sandra’s Empower Wellness

It’s a very different story now in my 50s; I hardly consume it, and I don’t have any granular sugar in my home at all. I certainly don’t indulge in desserts often. When I do indulge, it will be a small “bite of someone else’s dessert!” Specifically, my late husband’s tiramisu…

My thinking changed…

So, after reading extensively about this, I made the decision to limit my consumption of processed foods, and most importantly for me, I gave up sodas! They can really contribute to weight gain. After reading articles like this, How many teaspoons of sugar are there in a can of Coke? It was an easy decision for me to give them up.

If you happen to consume a lot of sodas and are able to give them up and not replace them with another sugar-loaded beverage, then you will most likely enjoy weight loss and feel better. You don’t have to go cold turkey, either! Just consume less and less each day, week, and month. It will make a difference.

Initially, you may feel edgy if your personal consumption is high, but when you can make it through that, your health will start to improve. Weight loss is just a side benefit of eating more nutrient-dense foods.

Within a couple of weeks, I lost 8 pounds! It literally melted off, and I wasn’t even doing it to lose weight. I was just trying to improve my overall health.

I rarely consume white pasta, bread, potatoes, etc., but I do not obsess about them when I do indulge. Bread just isn’t a big part of my life anymore. Once you give up or eat less of those most processed foods and start eating more nutrient-dense foods, your body starts to crave better choices.

My go-to indulgence: my homemade Sandra’s Simple Guacamole with organic chips! Yes, I said chips! But if you don’t consume a lot of it and don’t obsess over it, it’s not a big deal. Everything in moderation is really the key to being balanced.

In my coaching practice, I talk about what I refer to as “conscious eating” or “intuitive eating”. It’s getting back to listening to our body’s natural instincts. Eating when we are actually hungry and listening to our body’s queues It’s being present and aware of the moment. The old adage “You are what you eat” should be something we truly think about to live our best and healthiest life.

How many teaspoons of sugar are there in a can of coke?