Sugar is bad. I know it's bad. I know it not only because I've read about the correlations between an increase of sugar in our diets and the increase of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. (see here for NYTimes article about Robert Lustig's lecture, "Sugar: The Bitter Truth." Or here for a Harvard Study equating sugar sweetened beverages and increased childhood obesity.) I know it because I feel it. I feel the plunge in energy and focus that comes about 45 minutes after I've eaten something sugary. I feel the headaches that then follow. I know the earlier in the day I eat something with sugar, the more ravenous I am in the hours that follow, and the less control I have over what I eat.
So - today I step off. My New Year's resolution starts now. (I'm late - but I've made it in time for Chinese New Year.) No more sugar.
Alas, Valentine's Day approaches... I'm going to do my best to be good to my heart and the hearts of those I love. Some loving treats:
If chocolate is a must - the reliable Strawberries dipped in dark chocolate is a great choice. Dark chocolate has much less sugar than other varieties and more flavanols (shown to improve cognitive function, and have cardiovascular benefits, lowering levels of "bad" cholesterol in blood and having anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.)