You know that feeling that is so hard to resist. You think “just one more” then you’ll stop and use some restraint next time. But it happens again – not on a regular basis but in moments when no one is looking, or when you think you’ve earned it.
Wait! What are we talking about here? Driving a Porsche at top speed on the open road? Leaving work early before a summer weekend? Not using your Presto card EVERYTIME you commute?
Not exactly. We’re talking about sugar, but we could be referring to those other things. It’s the same idea. It’s giving into temptations.
The mental, emotional, and physical response that happens when our adrenaline (or in this case, blood sugar) rises after a ‘sweet treat’ is undeniable. For a short moment, the body feels as energized as it can be. It’s no different than the thrill of speeding, playing hooky, or ‘cheating the system’. But who needs to own it when we get caught and must suffer the consequences? Not the car or the boss or the Presto machine but the individual him/herself.
Temptations are hard to resist but blaming the source is hardly the way to manage them. Sugar has been labelled as “pure, white, and deadly – the most destructive substance in our diets”1 and this might be true! High blood sugar caused by high intakes of sugar or other simple carbohydrates without protein and fats to buffer the spike can increase risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. But driving at high speeds can be just as deadly. According to the Institute for Road Safety Research, “as speeds get higher, crashes also result in more serious injury for the driver WHO CAUSED the crash as well as for the crash opponent”2. Who was tempted to speed? The driver. Who was tempted to skip out on work? The employee. Who was tempted to not pay the fare? The commuter.
So, who is at fault for eating a diet high in sugar, high in processed food, high in salt, high in………whatever food that can increase our risk of chronic disease? We are. Consuming sweetened foods in moderation and always with proteins, fibre, and/or fat is how we can manage the foods that tempt us and let us enjoy them as a source of energy. It’s what the Balance Factor can do for you! Check us out at www.the-balance-factor.com.
1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pure,_White_and_Deadly
