Why I just don’t eat white sugar?

I haven’t eaten white sugar. For 25 years. Of course, I can get a great chocolate cake, eat a pack of M&Ms in the cinema or a whole Macadamia Nuts Häagen-Dazs ice-cream. But those are very exceptional treats that I enjoy and indulge in special moments, fully conscious of what I am doing.

On a regular daily basis, I just don’t eat white sugar and anything with it inside.

White sugar comes from sugar beets or sugar cane and has no nutritional value. We have enough sugar coming from glucose and fructose that we can find in fruits, and glucose can even be produced by our body. It is a liver and muscle fuel and our brain has a big need of it.

Our body burns sugar for energy or converts it to fat and store it in our fat cells. We are all genetically different and while some people will burn it easily, other will store it more. This is where we speak about faster or slower metabolism, and sometimes we are jealous when we see our friends eating a lot but staying slim.

When the sugar gets into our body and blood, the pancreas releases insulin to deal with it. The more sugar we have in our blood, the more insulin is released, as it helps sugar to be stored in liver, muscles and fat cells.

The problem is the balance: if we take too much sugar too quickly, the body sends too much insulin and the sugar level drops too low. It means that we will crave even more sugar to restore the balance… and the vicious circle starts: the more sugar we take in, the more our body wants it.

This mechanism happens not only with white sugar, but with other food as well: white bread, bananas, potatoes… One simple rule to remember: the more refined and processed food is, the more quickly it will be converted into sugar in our body.

This is why I’ve been watching for years the glycemic index of the food. It is a method of ranking foods, from 0 to 100, based on how they increase your blood sugar levels. I try to avoid foods above 50. The vicious circle of “higher insulin spike, higher sugar craving” can go on for years and can lead to diabetes. So, it is not just all about weight loss, shape or slim figure; it is, first of all, about our health and wellbeing.

We need the sugar. Our body needs it. It is for pleasure as well. We have plenty in fruits, in their natural state. The sugar spike is lesser in the blood and we also have fibres, vitamins and minerals. If you try to lose weight, it’s good to limit a little bit the fruits intake. Whenever you have a choice between refined sugar and fruits, choose fruits.

When you get a sugar craving, instead of indulging, try to manage it by looking for healthier food options or distracting yourself from your craving. But if you indulge in a treat from time to time, don’t feel guilty, just enjoy.