By Jeanne Pieters-

As I write, Valentine’s Day has just passed and with it one of the biggest “sugar festivals” of the year. If you, like me, have long history of a “dysfunctional” love affair with the sweet stuff, perhaps it’s time to break it off. I was hooked by age eight, and became my own supplier by learning to bake! After I began my official study of nutrition a few years ago I had to admit I was still hooked despite a fairly healthy diet. As I see it now sugar was a major contributor to my skin issues, debilitating headaches, allergies, and chronic sore throats and a constant battle with weight. I also had to face how emotionally based my sugar habit was.

Research has linked sugar to inflammation, a weakened immune system, blood sugar issues, joint pains, and, ultimately, even cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s. Yet since we baby boomers were kids, our national consumption of sugar has skyrocketed and our food manufacturers and drink purveyors are well aware of how hooked we are as a culture. What might it take to change that? Facing into the emotional underpinnings of our habit and replacing our sweet foods with more nourishing ones in a gradual process.

To start disentangling from sweet foods, begin by recording everything you eat and drink in a food journal for a week to see where you stand. Also jot down your feelings and any physical reactions when you eat sweets. Next identify your “trigger foods”—the ones that you can’t stop eating until you run out or feel sick—and get them out of the house.

With food and drinks, start by eating real, unprocessed foods that provide necessary nourishment rather than the “treats” that never satisfy. Replace sugared drinks (sodas, coffees, fruit juice) with water, mineral water with lemon, lime or a splash of fruit juice, or green or herbal teas. Eat some protein at every meal and always eat breakfast—skipping it can quickly sabotage your eating for the day.

On the emotional level, a key cause of sweet cravings and indulgence is feeling (or not wanting to feel) uncomfortable emotions like anxiety or depression. Letting those feelings emerge through journaling or telling your truth rather than stuffing them in is a step in breaking the cycle. If you have a sweet attack, pause long enough to ask, “Why do I want to eat this—what is really going on?”

If you’re successful with the break-up you’ll see an end to the cravings, likely lose a few pounds or more, stop the cycle of indulgence and guilt, and form a healthier relationship with food and yourself. You may chose a sweet treat or dessert on occasion, but that “gotta have it” obsession will no longer be your constant companion and you may just find yourself craving natural, whole foods.

Jeanne Pieters, NE counsels individuals on emotional eating and sugar addiction in her holistic nutrition practice, Vital Nourishment. She offers in person and distance counseling packages and detox programs—please visit her website at www.vitalnourishment.com.

© 2011 Vital Nourishment