Natural Sweeteners for Weight Loss

All About Sugar…
The more refined a product is, the more it sucks valuable nutrients from us, and the more it's damaging to our bodies. Sugar is a highly refined product.

Brown rice syrup, maple syrup, agave nectar, and barley malt are much less refined than sugar. They are complex carbohydrates and are not immediately stored as fat in our tissues; the body has time to absorb them. Additionally, those cravings we get from consuming sugar are less likely to occur with natural sweeteners.

Sugar contains no nutritional value. But the detriment in sugar lies in the fact that it leeches vitamins and minerals from our bodies and causes cravings:Sugar comes from the sugarcane plant. This plant is processed in a factory to make the sugar we buy in the supermarket. During the processing chemicals are added (sulphur dioxide, lime, phosphoric acid, and bleaching agents) and vitamins and minerals are lost, including: iron, calcium, B complex vitamins (most notably riboflavin (B2) and niacin (B3)), folic acid, magnesium, manganese, potassium, pantothenic acid, copper, phosphorus, and zinc. These vitamins and minerals are inherent in the sugarcane plant, but not in the sugar we buy in the store.In order for us to digest sugar, the body is forced into grabbing from its own nutritional storage, to give back to the sugar molecule what was lost during refinement. Basically, we compensate the sugar molecule by taking from our own storage of vitamins and minerals, from our blood, bones, and organs! If it’s tiring thinking about this, imagine how exhausting it is for your body when you actually eat sugar.

So we crave sugar, looking for those nutrients. Then, we eat sugar to satisfy the craving, but now we're even more depleted and the cravings arise again. The cycle continues, then perpetuates.

As nutrients are being depleted, our blood becomes more acidic. Acidity leads to degenerative diseases, like cancer and heart disease. We become weak as calcium is sucked from our bones; this eventually leads to osteoporosis.So we are consuming a highly refined product that is leaching valuable nutrients from us, putting chemicals into our bodies, and making us sick.

Learn to replace sugar with more natural products and you'll find yourself craving sweets less and less. Replacements include: brown rice syrup, fruit juice, dried and fresh fruit too!

Carol Anne Wasserman www.GetHealthyWithCarol.com

Eat More Whole Grains and Lose Weight

Whole unprocessed grains assist in weight loss. These include brown rice, millet, whole oat groats, barley, quinoa, amaranth, teff, and others. They are filling, delicious and, packed with nutrients!

Refined grain products, including whole grain flours, whole grain pastas, whole grain cereals, whole grain chips, crackers, and bread are much healthier than their white flour counterparts (white flour, semolina pasta, cereals, crackers, and chips made with white flour). But all flour products, whether whole grain or white are not nearly as nutritious, satisfying, and filling as whole grains.

A whole grain porridge for breakfast will fill you up on few calories, so you will probably find yourself consuming less food for the entire rest of the day!!! Millet makes a delicious and creamy breakfast porridge (similiar to oatmeal).

Millet Breakfast Porridge:
Rinse 1 cup millet in a fine mesh strainer. Add to the pot with 5 cups water. Bring to a boil, add 1/4 teaspoon sea salt to the pot, cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve with toasted pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, walnuts, or a few raisins.
*Refrigerate the leftover porridge and heat up throughout the week for breakfast!

Consuming a whole grain at least one time per day gives your body much needed fiber and nutrients. It helps to clear up skin and assists with digestive issues (one of the keys to weight loss is good digestion). Whole grains are food for your brain, and when you're brain feels satisfied you will find yourself eating less and snacking less.

Have a whole grain salad for the delicious lunch or mid-afternoon snack that will fill you up on few calories and pack you full of nutrients!

Whole Grain Salad:
Boil 1 cup of brown rice or quinoa (or a mixture) in 2 cups water for 50 minutes. In a saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or unrefined toasted sesame oil, add 1/2 cup sliced leeks, 1/2 cup diced carrots, 1/2 cup frozen corn, 1/2 cup frozen peas, and 1 teaspoon sea salt. Saute until vegetables are just tender (this will only take a few minutes). Mix with the brown rice and enjoy! Optional add ins: sliced scallions, toasted pecans and walnuts, dried cherries and cranberries.

To get more weight loss tips and learn about my weight loss program visit:
http://www.gethealthywithcarol.com/