I am aware that I risk losing friends  if I start suggesting limiting sugar intake this very holiday season (yes, yes, yes, not the next year, but right now!).

I understand that I should not make any statements like this. And not just because I do not want to lose my friends, but also because I can not always follow it through myself  either… And I know all the excuses as to why another piece of bread, another glass of wine, or another piece of cake, and so on would be oh-so-welcomed and oh-so-needed!

In order to learn more about the “hows and whys” of  limiting the holiday season sugar consumption I have checked out some blogs that suggest all sorts of wild and helpful things. Recommendations include ideas like  limiting your desserts (meaning, limiting the variety of desserts offered at any given party), expanding on the fruit plates (not so bad, if you think of fresh strawberries drizzled with dark chocolate or kiwi parfait – homemade whipped cream layered with kiwi slices … well, noo, noo… the other way round – kiwi slices layered with a little bit of  whipped cream, that is), or drinking a calorie free tea- cinnamon or other holiday spice flavoured, or, say, smelling jasmine or other non-food smelling essential oil to divert your attention from the peanut butter chocolate fudge. Then there is the medicinal plant that blocks your sweet taste receptors! ”Gymnema sylvestre, an Ayurvedic medicinal plant, contains compounds that block sweet taste receptors on your tongue, making sugary treats lose their appeal for about an hour. When adults sucked on a lozenge containing an extract of gymnema leaf (sold as Sweet Defeat) before they were offered their favorite candy, they ate 44 percent less of the candy, compared with people given a placebo lozenge. Note that gymnema also may reduce blood sugar, so use it only with a doctor’s guidance if taking diabetes medication.” This was the relevant info I found on Delicious LIving website.

I am not sure if any of this is helpful, and at the same time I treasure the fact that I am not alone on this journey of trying to live conscientiously, eat well, think well, act with integrity and support my well-being through the right choices.  I also believe that it is up to us to decide when “enough” is enough, even when it comes to cake.

Good luck to all of us this Holiday season and beyond!

Written by Indra Strong, Certified Let It Go Yoga teacher.

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