I Have A Theory

Theory: Any conversation, no matter the topic, leads back to one thing - poop.

Poop is universal. Everyone poops. No one wants to talk about it (unless you are related to me), but it is true. The unfortunate problem in our 'modern', 'civilized' society is that people do not poop enough. Look at the ads we see on television, in magazines, and online for laxatives, fiber supplements, and digestion regulating yogurt. They are everywhere! Why is there a demand for these products? Let's face it folks - we're backed up. One of my semi-scientific observations is that there is a direct correlation between reduced sugar intake and increased regularity. If you don't poop as much as you eat, you're constipated. Any doctor who doesn't tell you this, or tells you that mild constipation is normal; isn't worth the $20 co-pay.

"According to the 1991 National Health Interview Survey, about 4 1/2 million people in the United States say they are constipated most or all of the time. Those reporting constipation most often are women, children, and adults age 65 and over." http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/c/constipation/prevalence.htm

"Persons who love to eat anything with sugar in it will find themselves constipated most of the time. Keep sugar intake to a minimum. If you are a normal person without problems such as diabetes, it is perfectly normal to use natural sugar; but in limit. Limit your intake of ice-creams and sugar filled pastries." http://www.buzzle.com/articles/constipation-cures-natural-remedies-relief.html (What this article does not mention is one of the major sources of sugar in the American diet - Soft Drinks)

"According to the National Soft Drink Association (NSDA), consumption of soft drinks is now over 600 12-ounce servings (12 oz.) per person per year. Since the late 1970`s the soft drink consumption in the United States has doubled for females and tripled for males. The highest consumption is in the males between the ages of 12 - 29; they average 1/2 gallon a day or 160 gallons a year. " http://www.everyday-wisdom.com/soft-drink-consumption.html

Seriously?!?!?!?!? 1/2 Gallon per day?!? No wonder we're backed up! Is there anyone out there who would like to be a guinea pig for me? If you drink a half gallon of soft drinks per day, and are constipated, switch out your soda for water, juice, coffee, and unsweetened tea for a week. Let me know what happens.

Stay Regular - Avoid Sugar!

JamiK

I've got a feeling . . . . .

Since the first time I heard "I've Got A Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas, it has been my favorite song ever. I don't think I'll ever get tired of it. It's one of the happiest feel-good songs I have ever heard. And I felt that way today. Like today was the best day ever.

I didn't get on the scale this morning even though I wanted to. Saturday is scale day. I did, however, tighten my belt a notch. I have been on the 'second tightest' belt setting for the past six months or so. So long even, that my belt is pretty much trained to be fastened at the second tightest notch. Not anymore. If my waist gets any smaller, I shall have to buy a smaller belt:)

I made one of my favorite recipes for dinner tonight - MomK's Chicken Divan.

In a casserole dish:
Layer 1: steamed rice
Layer 2: broccoli
Layer 3: Chicken (cubed or chopped)
Layer 4: Chicken Divan Sauce (Recipe below)
Layer 5: MomK's home made no sugar added breadcrumbs

Bake for an hour at 350.

Chicken Divan Sauce:
Melt 1 stick of butter in a sauce pan
Stir in 1/2 cup of unbleached white flour to make a rue
While stirring, slowly add 1 quart (4 cups) of chicken or vegetable broth
Continue stirring, and add a splash of white wine (I used chardonnay)
Season with Paprika, Pepper, Garlic Powder, and Salt to taste
Slowly stir in 1 cup shredded Cheddar or Colby Cheese

Life as Usual

I seem to have settled into a comfortable flow. I'm not stressing about what to eat every day. I'm not freaking out at the sight of a Pepsi. And life is beginning to go back to the 'same old, same old' that I'm used to. I haven't caved yet - so whoever put money on me giving up before the end of the first month, I'm pretty sure you're not going to win the bet. Of course, I'm not home free by any means. My initial goal is to make it to June 30th without any refined sugar. I think that this will be totally doable as long as I am prepared.

I leave on my first travelling assignment for work in less than three weeks. I am going to become 'that' person who asks the restaurant server to check with the cook to see if they use sugar in their preparations for a particular dish. I may even become 'that' person who brings their own salad dressing . . . . . or, I shall opt for vinegar & oil. Let me know if you can suggest good Greed-Free dining options in Pittsburgh, Denver, Los Angeles, or Newark, DE.

Thanks,
JamiK

Pros & Cons

I am planning to invest in a cord for my camera so I can share pictures of the fabulous meals I am cooking. I'll probably get around to that about the same time I get the dishes done. This thought brought me to my current list of Pros & Cons of The Experiment.

Pros:
I've lost about 4 lbs since the beginning of the experiment
I am finding it easier to wake up in the morning
I am no longer losing a hand full of hair to the drain in the bathtub each morning
I am eating real meals because I have to make almost everything from scratch
My fingernails aren't cracking as much as they usually do this time of year
My skin is not nearly as dry as it usually is this time of year (Yay for no cracks under my toes!!!)

Cons:
I always have a sink full of dirty dishes - cooking from scratch is messy
None of my clothes fit anymore (part of this is leftover from last year's weight loss)
None of my rings fit anymore - and I've lost so much weight in my hands, my finger skin is flabby - boo.
I am still getting tired earlier in the evening than I used to
I am consistently overspending my grocery budget - healthy food is more expensive than junk food

Have you noticed anything good or bad about living without sugar?

JamiK

Aaarrrrgggghhh! This Pirate be Looking for Fruit.

Do you ever have that need for a particular food? That craving that drives you nuts? Thank goodness I didn't have to leave the house for this one. . . I'm already in my pajamas. I just consumed three oranges in the space of a half hour and they were SO good. Normally, I would just chalk this up to boredom, and the need to do something (eat/snack) to pass the time on a Sunday evening. But then I got to thinking "Why did I choose the oranges instead of the apples, or the bananas, or the potato chips for that matter?". Then I remembered.

In the 1500's, sailors began dropping like flies to an affliction dubbed scurvy. At the time, it was chalked up to not having any way to keep fresh food aboard a ship. But why the onset of this 'sea plague' in this particular age? Hadn't the Vikings, the Phoenicians, and the sailors of the Far East toured the seas for centuries before without scurvy? What no one seemed to note at the time, was that there were two food items that had been introduced to the European diet fairly recently - sugar and rum. Both of which had been brought back to Europe from the Crusades to the Middle East.

"In the 1750's, James Lind, a surgeon's mate on H.M.S. Salisbury, fired by the hardships of the multiple cases of scurvy he had observed on his ship, undertook one of the earliest recorded controlled experiments in human nutrition." Lind Isolated 12 victims of scurvy, divided them into 6 pairs, and regulated their diets. They each were fed according to the ships standard rations:

Water gruel sweetened with sugar
Fresh mutton broth
Puddings, boiled biscuits with sugar, sugared jellies, and jams
Barley, rice, currants, sago, raisins, and wine

Each pair, was then given daily a different supplementary remedy.
Team 1: Cider
Team 2: Vinegar
Team 3: A Sulfuric Acid Mixture
Team 4: Seawater
Team 5: A paste of garlic, mustard seed, and horseradish (The common medical prescription for scurvy at the time)
Team 6: Two oranges and a lemon

"These they ate with greediness," Lind noted in reference to the last team and their citrus fruits, with "sudden and visible good effects". Team 6, recovered from their bout of scurvy within days, while the other teams languished.

In the late 1700's The connection between sugar and scurvy was deemed practical but "unscientific." Vegetables, fruits, berries, and nuts - these natural sources of what we now call vitamin C - had been sweets until concentrated refined sugar (sucrose) was marketed.

I find this story all the more fascinating because of how much I enjoyed those oranges tonight. My diet has been devoid of refined sugars for three weeks now, and I can't remember anything ever having tasted better than a fresh orange. My sweet tooth is satisfied for the evening. Now, off to bed - plenty of rest in conjunction with my citrus binge and lack of sucrose in my system should insure that I do not contract scurvy.

Until next time, me matey!
JamiK

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words!

I have seen this before, but couldn't find it in the abyss that is my email account. Thanks Heather for sending this to me!

Visual aids drive home the message. So, you think that Starbucks Cappuccino is not so bad, let's check it out. Carbohydrates and proteins are 4 calories/gram, fats are 9 calories/gram. A teaspoon is 4-5 grams, so a teaspoon of sugar is 16-20 calories. An normally active male, of say 175 pounds, will need about 1900-2000 calories/day to stay at the same weight. An inactive senior of 175 pounds would need about 20-30% less. And, remember, body weight is only one thing, a diet with excessive carbohydrate may bring on diabetes. So, with that in mind, check out the amount of sugar in the following foods. That cappuccino contains 240 calories from sugar, the milk or cream may add a similar amount. Complex carbohydrates in the fruits and vegetables are, of course, far better than sugar from corn syrup.

Each cube is a teaspoonful

Delicioso!

I came home from work today too tired to function. Though I considered going to bed without eating, I decided against it. I don't want to wake up starving and chug a bottle of Worcestershire sauce at 2am. Upon opening my refrigerator, I realized that I had the makings of a fabulous casserole.

Leftover pasta, chopped chicken breast, a diced tomato, some diced onion, a splash of chicken broth, 2 Tbsp ranch dressing, and 1/4 cup ricotta cheese mixed up in a baking dish and topped with bread crumbs - in the oven for 40 minutes.

Wow. Food heaven.

It's been a long week at work. Too much to do and too little time. I can't tell if the exhaustion is from the work, the crummy weather, or an effect of no sugar. I am hoping next week won't be so crazy, and I won't be so tired. If the tiredness continues, I shall have to find a Sugar-free way to alleviate the inconvenience. I have too many things to do to be going to bed at 8:30 every night.

Peace,
JamiK

Quick Chocolate fix

I needed some chocolate this afternoon and didn't have anything made so I thought of a cup of Hot Chocolate.....it turned out great.

1 heaping t. cocoa
1 heaping t. honey
pinch of salt
1 c. whole milk

Make a syrup with cocoa, honey, salt and a little milk. Add the rest of the milk, blend, & heat.
I had some honey sweetened whipped cream to top it off.

Yes, I Really Do Think Like This

"There are persons who would rather be killed by a regular (doctor) in a customary manner than to get well by an irregular (doctor) in an unusual manner." - D. D. Palmer, Founder of Chiropractic

Why is it that people prefer to seek a drug dispensed by an M.D. than to receive an adjustment from a D.C. (Doctor of Chiropractic)? It seems to me, that this sort of thinking is what also causes people to seek a pill to eliminate pain, another pill to lose weight, and a vitamin to make them healthier instead of eliminating an addictive, and arguably poisonous substance (sugar) from their diet.

The sugar pushers and the drug pushers have so intertwined themselves into the fabric of society, that we seek excuses for our poor health instead of trying to live healthier lives.
"Obesity runs in my family"
"I'll always have allergies - you can't cure them"
"I'm just big boned - there's nothing I can do about that"
"I have a poor immune system - hopefully the new drug I am taking will help"

Have you ever paid attention to the side effects of the drugs advertised on television? 'Drug X will eliminate the need to get up and pee in the middle of the night . . . . side effects include blurred vision, hallucinations, anal leakage, and exploding hemorrhoids." I don't know how these drugs sell.

It seems to me that as a society, we have become so busy, that we will do whatever people tell us to do as long as they have a title. D. D. Palmer also said "Doctors who use drugs do not need intelligent patients. One who takes drugs does not need an intelligent doctor." The purpose of my tirade here, is to point out, that though giving up sugar seems to be extreme to some, and most would rather take a pill or have a surgery to lose weight and be healthier; in the long run I think there are few, if any who would say that giving up sugar will not improve my health in more ways than one.

If you have poor health, and your Doctor can't give you any advice that doesn't involve drugs or surgery, see a Chiropractor. Read 'Nutrition Tests for Better Health'. Visit your local organic nutrition store and talk to anyone you find there. Then, cut sugar out of your life, and see how things improve.

Ciao for now,
JamiK

Happy Tuesday!

To anyone who has tried to leave comments, I didn't realize that I had not enabled the commenting functions as I should have. You may now comment away:) I would love to hear from you about what you are doing to give up the inGREEDient. Tell your friends about the experiment - I relish the opportunity to share the journey.

I have been working on a post which I have begun to refer to as 'The Declaration of Independence From Sugar'. I had no idea that a few thoughts would turn into a short book. Ultimately, I may have to publish it over the course of a week, as a 42-page post would probably discourage some from reading it. In it, I am compiling the thoughts and philosophy of those I consider the great minds of health and adding my own comments.

For today's bit-o-news, I will simply let you know that I visited one of the organic markets here in town on Sunday, and did find inGREEDient free vegetable broth - three types actually. Pacific Natural Foods brand organic vegetable broth, Imagine brand organic no-chicken broth, and Shelton's brand organic chicken broth. The downside to these product is that they are, of course, more expensive than the brands found in the grocery store. For now - for the sake of the experiment, and my health - I am willing to pay the price. I will, however, be making my own chicken broth more often, I am sure.

Antics From the Peanut Gallery

There will always be naysayers. I arrived back in the office after lunch today to find my desk covered with mini candy bars. The Nerve! It honestly didn't bother me to see them there, I simply picked them up and gave them to Cupcake who occupies the cube next to me. What did bother me a bit, was the fact that the person who put them there resorted to the Lap Band a couple of years ago to lose weight. Wow - way to cheer someone on for trying to be healthy without resorting to extreme measures.

I made a batch of MomK's Banana Bread last night - Yum:)

Tonight I am spending some quality research time with D.D. Palmer's The Science of Chiropractic and more William Dufty.

Enjoy life responsibly - avoid sugar!
JamiK

Lots of Steps - But Sooo Worth It.

JamiK's Hot & Sour Soup Recipe (I just started throwing things into a pot one day, and this is what happened)
Part 1:
In a stock pot, over low heat, combine the following ingredients:
2 quarts chicken or vegetable broth
1 lb browned ground turkey
1 bundle green onions - chopped
1 - 2 cups shredded carrots
1 can sliced water chestnuts (chop into smaller pieces if you like)
1 can bamboo shoots (chop into smaller pieces if you like)
2 cloves of garlic - minced

Part 2:
In a cup or small bowl combine and mix well:
3 Tbsp Soy sauce
1 Tbsp Sriracha sauce (See post from 01/12/10)
1 Tbsp white wine

Once these are mixed well, slowly add to the stock pot while stirring

Part 3:
In a small pot, cook 2 small bundles of bean thread noodles until soft.
Drain. Using scissors or kitchen shears, cut the noodles until they are ~ 2" pieces.
Add to the stock pot, stirring

Part 4:
Beat 2 eggs.
Slowly pour the eggs into the stock pot while stirring.
Heat through and serve hot.

Yummy Yummy in My Tummy

I made pancakes for lunch today - the perfect food for a weekend at home.

Pancake Mix:
2 cups unbleached white flour
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
3 tsp baking powder (the kind without the alum)
1 tsp salt

To make the pancakes mix:
1 cup pancake mix
1 cup milk or buttermilk
1 egg
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 Tbsp honey

Add some blueberries or bananas or diced apples to make fruit pancakes
Top with pure maple syrup - Enjoy:)

If you can't beat 'em, try harder!

I am struggling to be funny today - so I shall simply post an excellent 'equivalent' chart for sugar substitutes. Thank you Melissa for finding this!! I will use it often in the days to come, I am sure.

Sweetener Equivalents for 1/2 Cup of Sugar
Barley Malt: 1 1/2 cup
Date Sugar: 1 cup
Fruit Juice Concentrate: equal to sugar
Granular Fruit Sweeteners: equal to sugar
Honey: 1/3 cup
Maltose (from sprouted grains): 1 1/4 cup
Maple Syrup: equal to sugar
Molasses: 1/3 cup
Rice Syrup: 1 1/4 cup
Sorghum Syrup: 1/3 cup
Sucanat: Same as sugar
Organic sugar: Same as sugar
Tips for the Tradeoff: When a recipe doesn’t call for any liquid, such as for cookies, choose a dry, granular sweetener such as date sugar, or the cookies will be too bread-like from the additional flour needed for proper consistency. When you substitute liquid sweeteners for dry, you will need to reduce or eliminate the liquid content of the recipe, and increase the flour. For breads and pies, flavorful fruit juice concentrates and other liquid sweeteners work wonderfully well. For cakes and cupcakes that need to resemble as closely as possible “the real thing,” for flavor, choose sorghum syrup or Sucanat." (http://www.care2.com/greenliving/directory-of-natural-sweeteners.html#)

Wow - This is Getting to be Fun!

I am amazed at the awesome discoveries that have been unearthed by my friends and supporters. I know there are 'sugar-free' folks out there that advocate making everything from scratch, and using only organic ingredients, and all that jazz. . . . while I applaud their tenacity, I do not have the energy to live in such a manner. I need short-cuts in my life.

I got a text last night from Carole who had discovered No Sugar Added Alfredo Sauce - The Cheesy Ragu 'Light Parmesan Alfredo'. Melissa discovered No Sugar Added Bread - the New England brand 'Brown Bread'. Therese discovered that Mission brand tortillas now makes a 'Jalapeno Cheddar Wrap' in addition to their 'Spinach Herb Wraps' which are free of added sugar. Heather found 'Organicville Ketchup' which is sweetened with Agave Nectar instead of sugar. While searching for these items at the grocery store tonight, I also found a brand that I am pretty sure I am going to love - World Classics Trading Company - I picked up a jar of their Marinara Sauce and their San Francisco Style Cioppino Sauce (I'm not really sure what this last one is, but it looks spicy, so I am pretty sure I will love it).

I feel like a super-sleuth!! Each discovery is more exciting than the last! We CAN eliminate the 'inGREEDient' from our daily life - without suffering!

I made baked pork chops (using MomK's breadcrumb recipe) and a chopped salad for dinner tonight. What did you make for dinner tonight?

High on Life - Not Sugar:)

JamiK

Semi-Scientific Observation

Tonight's post shall be short, due to the fact that I really want to go to bed. It's getting easier and easier to get up in the morning. When my alarm goes off, I don't experience that moment of mental anguish that usually accompanies the realization that I have to get out of bed and function. However, I am also ready for bed a good hour earlier than usual. Someday when I grow up, I want to be like my chiropractor who only needs about four hours of sleep every night. . . . . he's smiling in the office at 4:30 in the morning . . . . .

I am eating an apple, orange, or banana for breakfast everyday, and taking a bottle of juice to work with me. Snacks that I have stocked my drawer at the office with include salted cashews, Triscuits, Kettle brand potato chips, and Bible Bread. I still find myself vaguely upset that I haven't found anything interesting to drink in the afternoons. I'm a bit jealous of my coworkers as they drink their Pepsi's. . . . . . but I am staying strong, and drinking water.

Hopefully, I shall have more observations to report soon.

JamiK

Sriracha Sauce

This recipe is courtesy of www.hotsauceblog.com

Fill a container half full with peeled garlic cloves.
Fill the rest of the way with 2 (at least) habaneros and a mix of dried serrano and cayenne pods that have been stemmed but not seeded.
Add 1 tablespoon of non-iodized salt
Fill the container (to cover chile pods and garlic) with 5% strength white vinegar.
Cider vinegar or wine vinegar will work but will give you a different flavour.
As the chile pods re-hydrate top up the liquid with water or vinegar.
After a few days to a week of steeping in the vinegar dump the whole mess into the food processor or blender and puree until a smooth, thick consistency is reached.
If the mixture is too thick it may be thinned with vinegar or water. The resulting sauce is tangy, quite garlicky and very tasty.
Mixed 50/50 with tomato sauce (American catsup) it makes a very nice seafood coctail sauce. Or ir can serve as a salsa on tortilla chips. It’s very versatile.

Wahoo!!

This is what I call a good evening. Bread in the oven to make MomK's breadcrumbs, garlic & habaneros steeping in vinegar to make sriracha sauce, the dishes are already done, and I'm spending the evening with NCIS & NCIS: LA. I didn't hear the voice of the vending machine calling my name once today.

My friends & acquaintences are calling, emailing, and commenting to let me know that they are giving up sugar too! I am so encouraged! Who's ready to conquer the universe with me?!?!?!?!

I'm planning on using the breadcrumbs to make dinner on Thursday. Next week, we'll see how the sriracha sauce turns out. Pad Thai, here I come!

I love being surprised by a great day!
JamiK

Seasoned Bread Crumbs

For Heather.....

I needed my seasoned bread crumbs. So once I found bread without sugar, I started saving the heels in the freezer. When you accumulate ten.....

Dry the bread in a 250 degree oven for about 30 min. by laying them out on a rack.

Break them into pieces and churn into crumbs in a food processor w/ the metal blade.
Add 2/3 c. Parmesan, 1 T. Italian Seas., 2 T. parsley, 2 t. garlic powder, 1 t. oregano & basil, and 1/2 t. black pepper. Churn a few more sec. to blend. Store in refrigerator.

My favorite Baked Chicken Thighs:

Skin thighs, dip in Italian dressing (or any other sugar free variety) or buttermilk, roll in breadcrumbs, dot w/ butter, bake for 45 min. @ 350.

Going Free Tip: If you get in the habit of having acceptable sweets on hand and eating something for dessert w/ every meal, you will tend not to have those "drive you crazy" cravings. I think it is psychological and physical. I think your palate needs to be completely satisfied at meal time.

MomK

Resources & Random Commentary

A friend of mine suggested the following website as a resouce for salad dressing recipes: www.epicurious.com I have decided to try the lemon garlic dressing first. Thanks Kristy!

I also discovered The "I can't believe this has no sugar" cookbook By Deborah E. Buhr . . . . I will double check the items used as sweeteners before I purchase it . . . . seems too good to be true.

Triscuits do not have added sugar! Neither does Bible Bread Gourmet Crispbread (I like the garlic kind). Beef Jerky is safe, if you choose the plain or pepper varieties (but double check the ingredient list of your favorite brand just to be safe).

I will be returning my 'Stevia In The Raw' brand Stevia to the grocery store tomorrow. . . . it lists Dextrose as the primary ingreedient. The 'Sweet Leaf' brand is just stevia.

Mmmm Mmmm.

I really do love food. The chili I made last night was spectacular. . . . here's the recipe:
(this makes a LOT of chili, but you can freeze half of it for later)

2 lbs ground beef - browned
2 large white onions - chopped
2 red, green or yellow bell peppers - chopped
1 or 2 jalapeno peppers - chopped fine
1 habanero pepper - chopped fine
1 large clove garlic - minced
3 16 oz cans tomato sauce
2 16 oz cans red kidney beans
4 Tbsp chili powder
4 tsp salt1 tsp cumin
1 dash cayenne pepper
1 dash basil
1 dash of hot sauce (optional)

Brown the ground beef, add 1 cup water, the salt, cumin, and half of the Chili powder to the meat and simmer on low heat until liquid is absorbed.
Saute the onions, bell peppers, jalapenos & habanero in a saucepan until the onions are translucent
Combine all ingredients in a large soup pot or crock pot and simmer on low/med heat for 2 - 4 hrs. Test periodically - add salt or chili powder to taste. If you prefer a mild chili, eliminate the habanero and the hot sauce, and use only 1 jalapeno pepper.

Tabasco sauce does not have added sugar
Melinda's XXXtra Hot Sauce does not have added sugar

Sheesh . . . I just want to eat. . . . is that too much to ask?

Mellow Greetings, Yookie Dookie! I am making chili for dinner (with leftovers to last for a while).

Thanks to an intrepid notation made by my sister-in-law, I have been researching two items today - Maltodextrin & Xanthan Gum. I spent over three hours at two different grocery stores yesterday, and ran into these two ingredients everywhere.

While considered to be a carbohydrate, maltodextrin is understood to be more easily digested than some other forms of carbohydrates, leaving behind less of the potential for health issues. This can be especially important for an individual who is trying to manage their Type 2 diabetes with their diet. Usually made from rice, corn, or potato starch, maltodextrin is produced by cooking down the starch. During the cooking process, which is often referred to as a hydrolysis of starch, natural enzymes and acids help to break down the starch even further. The end result is a simple white powder that contains roughly four calories per gram, and extremely small amounts of fiber, fat, and protein. (Definition courtesy of wisegeek.com)

Xanthan gum is considered a polysaccharide in scientific circles, because it is a long chain of three different forms of sugar. What's important to know is that all three of these natural sugars are present in corn sugar, a derivative of the more familiar corn syrup. The Xanthomonas campestris bacteria literally eat a supply of this corn sugar under controlled conditions, and the digestion process converts the individual sugars into a single substance with properties similar to cornstarch. Xanthan gum is used in dairy products and salad dressings as a thickening agent and stabilizer. Xanthan gum prevents ice crystals from forming in ice creams, and also provides a 'fat feel' in low or no-fat dairy products. (Definition courtesy of wisegeek.com)

So . . . Maltodextrin = corn syrup and Xanthan gum = corn syrup. yippee skippee (insert 'blah' tone of voice here). I was just hoping that I would come across more ingredients to avoid. . . . (please note sarcasm).

Xanthan Gum appears to be in EVERYTHING. It's the ingredient that keeps salad dressings and sauces from separating. I would be more than willing to shake the bottle before pouring it on my food. It looks like I am going to have to start making my own dressings and sauces. . . . . At this juncture, I shall also have to recant my prior assertion that Marie's and Bolthouse Farms Salad dressings are free of added sugar. They both contain xanthan gum. However, I am going to follow up my discoveries with this pondering:

Xanthan gum and maltodextrin are not used as sweeteners. Xanthan gum is used as a bonding agent, and maltodextrin is used as a thickener. In discussing my findings with MomK, she reminded me that in her original experiment, what she did was remove sugars used as sweeteners from her diet. I am not going to throw out my salad dressings . . . . for now. I will however, continue to seek out alternatives and share all my findings here.

:)
JamiK

What is Sugar?

Dictionary.com gives us the following definition:

Sugar (noun): a sweet, crystalline substance, C1 2H2 2O1 1, obtained chiefly from the juice of the sugarcane and the sugar beet, and present in sorghum, maple sap, etc.: used extensively as an ingredient and flavoring of certain foods and as a fermenting agent in the manufacture of certain alcoholic beverages; sucrose. Chemistry. a member of the same class of carbohydrates, as lactose, glucose, or fructose.

Following is an excerpt from William Dufty's book "Sugar Blues".

"The use of the word carbohydrate to describe sugar is deliberately misleading. Since the improved labeling of nutritional properties was required on packages and cans, refined carbohydrates like sugar are lumped together with those carbohydrates which may or may not be refined. The several types of carbohydrates are added together for an overall carbohydrate total. Thus, the effect of the label is to hide the sugar content from the unwary buyer. Chemists add to the confusion by using the word sugar to describe an entire group of substances that are similar but not identical.
Glucose is a sugar found usually with other sugars, in fruits and vegetables. it is a key material in the metabolism of all plants and animals. Many of our principal foods are converted into glucose in our bodies. Glucose is always present in our bloodstream, and is often called blood sugar.
Dextrose, derived synthetically from starch, also called 'corn sugar'.
Fructose is fruit sugar
Maltose is malt sugar
Lactose is milk sugar.
Sucrose is refined sugar made from the sugar cane and the sugar beet.
Glucose has always been an essential element in the human bloodstream. Sucrose addiction is something new in the history of the human animal. To use the word sugar to describe two substances which are far from being identical, which have different chemical structures, and which affect the body in profoundly different ways compounds confusion. It makes possible more flimflam from the sugar pushers who tell us how important sugar is as an essential component of the human body, how it is oxidized to produce energy, how it is metabolized to produce warmth, and so on. They're talking about glucose, of course, which is manufactured in our bodies. However, one is led to believe that the manufacturers are talking about the sucrose which is made in their refineries. When the word sugar can mean the glucose in your blood as well as the sucrose in your Coca-Cola, it's great for the sugar pushers but it's rough on everybody else."

Since beginning the experiment, I am often met with incredulity on the part of my friends and acquaintances. "How can you give up sugar? It's in everything! There's sugar in fruit, in milk, in vegetables . . . . and your body needs sugar!" This is when I try to explain that I am giving up refined sugar, and added sugar. If God put it there, it's OK. If man put it there, it's not.

Signing off,
JamiK

Experimenting vs. Dieting

Dieting is awful. Everytime I went on a diet, Weight Watchers, Atkins, whatever.... my focus was on the goal of losing a certain amount of weight so that I could without guilt go off the diet and eat something I wanted. Counting calories, or points, or carbs was a bondage. Comfort food was always restricted at some point in the day. Inevitably, after the diet, the pounds would creep back on.

Experimenting, on the other hand, is interesting. I wanted to see if removing refined sugars would get rid of rosacea. I knew that I wouldn't really know if it would if I didn't remove them completely. It became a game to find the refined sugar in ingredient lists. It was rewarding to find that honey sweetened carrot cake with honey sweetened cream cheese frosting could be eaten without limit and without ill effect to my skin or waistline.

So I would encourage anyone trying this to think of it as an experiment. Try to get better and better at getting rid of the refined sugar, as well as getting better and better at making or finding good substitutes for the foods you love to eat. As you do this, your body will change slowly, so slowly you might not realize its changing until you go in for a regular eye exam or other such thing and then discover the results of this EXPERIMENT!

More Recipes from MomK

I'll say it again....the key to being able to go w/o sugar is to have honey made sweets on hand AT ALL TIMES. You never know when you will crave something sweet.

Fastest fix: Carmel Corn
Make a big bowl of popcorn and set aside.
Bring 1/2 c honey and 4 T. Butter to a foaming boil in sauce pan whisking constantly.
Whisk for 3 min.Add a 1/2 t. vanilla(optional: pour in 4 oz. chopped nuts)
Pour carmel over popcorn and toss 'til coated.
Store in plastic storage bags.

Pudding:
Dissolve 1/2 c. cornstarch in 1 c. whole milk in saucepan.
Add 4 c. whole milk, 1/2 c. honey & bring to boil stirring constantly.
Put 2 egg yolks in a small bowl.
Add about 1/2 cup of the hot mixture whisking as you do.
Return egg to saucepan and simmer for 2 min.
Remove from heat and add 4 t. vanilla extract.
To make a 1/2 of this chocolate, add 1/4 cup cocoa which has been dissolve in milk.
Blend/Chill before serving.
Cover with plastic wrap touching the top of pudding to avoid a film forming.

Dark Chocolate fudge:
Melt 2 squares of Bakers unsweetened chocolate in saucepan.
Blend in 1/2 c. honey, 1/2 t. stevia,1/2 t. vanilla.
Add 1/2 c. powdered milk.Spread in a buttered pan and cool.
I like to wrap this fudgey stuff around an almond and roll it in coconut which has been finely chopped.

Get Angry People - I Need Company.

Ingunation: To pull the wool over someones eyes. This word isn't anywhere to be found on dictionary.com, or even in my massive dictionary of the English language. The word is so old, and so rarely used, that it has passed from record (though it can be found in the game 'Balderdash'). You know that moment when you realize you've been had? Duped? Scammed? That the wool has been pulled over your eyes? That you are nothing but an unsuspecting rube? I am having that moment now.

For the most part, I blame myself. I should have known better. It all started when I wanted to avoid making my own chicken stock for a recipe. I thought, 'Oh, I'll just go pick up a quart of chicken stock at the grocery store'. It was not to be. Emeril Lagasse puts sugar in his chicken stock. Swanson's puts sugar in their chicken stock. Campbell's puts sugar in their chicken stock. El generico Flavorite puts sugar in their chicken stock. WHY IN THE WORLD DO WE NEED SUGAR IN CHICKEN STOCK?!?!?!?!?!?!

About three years ago I read 'Natural Cures THEY don't Want You to Know About' by Kevin Trudeau. Mr. Trudeau's book is a bit dramatic for my taste, and he needs an editor. . . . . But . . . he may not have been far off the mark when he claimed that the food industry is out to addict us to each and every one of their products. We all know sugar is addictive. This is why when you eat a bon bon, you follow it up with another bon bon. When you have a piece of pie, or cake, you follow it up with another 'half slice' because you don't want to seem GREEDY. It seems that just about every prepared food product on the planet has sugar added to it. Perhaps so that you will follow each and every serving up with another?

Well I for one shall not play the part of the rube any longer. I'm out to get you sugar pushers!!!
Once I compose myself enough to compose a letter, I shall be writing to Mr. Lagasse, Swanson's, Campbell's, and Flavorite to express my displeasure with their choice of additives. When MomK makes chicken stock from scratch, she adds no sugar - and MomK's chicken stock is awesome. It's made from chicken - what a novel concept!!

On a less violent note, I did find a sourdough bread in the bakery section that does not list sugar as an ingredient.
Please let me know what you find as you investigate the ingredient lists on your grocery store purchases. I need all the help I can get at this point.

Talk to you soon,
JamiK

MomK's Comments & Recipe

MomK has been a "fruit 'til noon" person for a decade or more. I never sit down for breakfast but just grab a piece of fruit to eat along my way. I'll eat 3 -5 servings of fresh fruit throughout the course of the morning. I've heard that an apple will wake you up as well as a cup of coffee, but I cannot verify this as I've never been a coffee drinker.

The most important key to succeeding in staying "processed sugar-free" is to always, always, always, have something acceptably dessert-like on hand for when you crave something sweet. I think you will crave something sweet often and there a lots of great recipes that use honey only to satisfy this good and natural craving. Following is a banana bread recipe....easily doubled and frozen... I'll smear slices of it with butter without guilt:

Cream 1 stick butter w/ 1/4 c honey
Beat in 2 eggs and 1 t. grated orange rind

Mash 2 1/2 bananas w/ 2 T. milk or buttermilk in a separate bowl

In 3rd bowl combine 1 c unbleached flour, 1 c whole wheat pastry flour, 3/4 t. salt, 1/4 t. baking soda, 2 t. baking powder(use a non-aluminum like Rumford)

Alternate adding contents of Bowls 1 & 2 to Bowl 3, beating until smooth.
350 degrees 45-50 minutes in greased loaf pan.

Say Hello to My New Lifestyle

Well, here we are. I made it back from NYC alive. Tired and bruised, but alive.

Synopsis of today's eats:
Breakfast: 2 cups of coffee w/half & half and stevia
Lunch: Ranch Chicken Wrap
Smear a Mission tortilla wrap with Bolthouse Farms ranch dressing
On the tortilla, lay a romaine lettuce leaf
On top of the lettuce, some chicken & tomato slices
Roll it up and eat it
Snack: Hand full of salted cashew halves
Dinner: Pasta with mushroom marinara
Cook up your favorite pasta
Sauce Recipe: (Combine all ingredients and simmer on stove for 30 - 45 minutes)
16 oz tomato sauce
1/4 cup diced onion
1/4 cup sliced mushrooms
1 Tbsp Basil
2 tsp oregano
2 tsp garlic powder
Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if you like

Now, a word about breakfast. Since reaching adulthood, I have not been much of a breakfast eater. I usually opt for a couple of cups of coffee and leave it at that. Conventional wisdom says that breakfast is the most important meal of the day - but I have never been even remotely conventional. If you need to eat breakfast, try sticking with fruit.
In their best selling book 'Fit for Life', Harvey and Marilyn Diamond advocate eating only fruit until noon. I tend to agree with their philosophy, but I struggle to make time to sit down and eat breakfast. According to the Diamond's principle of the correct consumption of fruit; fruit should be always eaten alone on an empty stomach. The reason is that fruit requires very little digestion and therefore should assist in the body detoxification. It should be eaten in the morning for better food utilization and elimination. The Diamonds recommend starting the day with fresh fruit and fruit juices and consume nothing but fruit till noon. Such a beginning to the day will purify your body and provide energy.

If, like me, you don't feel you have the time to sit down and eat breakfast - maybe try juice. Simply Orange, Naked and Bolthouse Farms make wonderful juices that are free of added sugar (Check before you choose one, there are a couple of varieties that do list sugar as an ingredient).

And, finally, on a non-nutrition related topic - if you ever go ice skating in Central Park, watch out for the ice monsters. They are sneaky little boogers. Right now, I am hoping that a reduced sugar intake will speed up the healing of the massive bruises on my legs. . . . .

What's the Goal?

Good Health is not merely the absence of disease - it is the presence of vitality. Do you feel vital? Do you wake up with enthusiasm each morning with a new plan for conquering the universe? Though only thirty years old, I do not. Most days, I hit the snooze button a couple of times, and then moan and groan as my muscles and joints protest the coming of a new day. I don't want that anymore. Do you ever see a child and wonder where they get their energy and wish you had the same? I do. Could giving up refined sugar be the key? Some of my research is leading me to believe that it just might be. We shall see, shan't we?

I re-read Sugar Blues on the way to NYC today. This book is scary. Read it if you dare.

From Manhattan,
JamiK