Coconut Palm Sugar - 227g - Organic Traditions

There really are a number of reasons why making your home a sugar free one has enormous health benefits for adults and children alike...

And for all of you skeptics out there, it really is do-able. After you have gone sugar free for a couple weeks, you will notice that you crave less and your taste buds will become much more sensitive to sweet meaning once you have sugar again, it takes very little to do the trick.
What's so wrong with sugar?

It's really all about the amount of sugar we are eating. Among one of the most concerning side effects, in my opinion, is sugar's effect on the immune system. Research has clearly shown that sugar slows the immune response. Glucose also leads to increased insulin release, which prevents the synthesis and release of growth hormone. Growth hormone, as the name implies is responsible for normal growth and development and without it, growth deficiencies develop. The impact that sugar has on the immune system is the most profound at approximately 2 hours after ingestion, when immune cells are at their lowest. What I find even more concerning is that at 5 hours, although better, this suppression is still noticeable. If you are someone that enjoys a little sweet with all of their meals or snacks, your immune system could actually never be working at its full capacity!!!

There is also a growing concern in today's society about obesity and maybe most concerning, childhood obesity. We have come to understand over the past decade that this may have much more to do with sugar than it does with fat. Foods high in sugar/glucose force the body to release insulin in high amounts in order to get glucose into the cells to use for energy. What we do not use immediately gets stored as fat or triglycerides. Regular ingestion of foods that are high in sugar or cause an extremely quick or high rise in blood sugar will lead to more triglycerides being produced than the body can ever manage to use. In this sense, a high sugar diet will lead to weight gain and most likely cardiovascular issues down the road.

Where is the sugar?
A lot of sugar can be hidden in products that there is simply no need for sugar to be. The highest source, by far is Pop (Soda), followed closely by sports drinks, fruit juice, prepared or ready made foods, ketchup, peanut butter, breakfast cereals and virtually anything that is advertised as low fat. These sugars are commonly in the form of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). This is why label reading is so important, anything that lists corn syrup, sugar, sucrose or a similar "_ose" in the first 3 ingredients, is going to be very high in sugar. Keep in mind, this also means it is bound to be pretty high in calories, as well.

As a general rule, stay away from anything that says high fructose corn syrup (or just corn syrup) on the label, not only is it extremely sweet but it is nutritionally deplete and has a very high glycemic index, meaning it quickly and significantly increases blood sugar.

Organic Traditions Eco-Mission
The commitment to heal the planet begins with the commitment to "Go Green" within. At Organic Traditions, they are committed to supporting farmers who are dedicated to the principels of sustainable agriculture. Their superfoods are either certified organic, wildcrafted or ethically grown and harvested. Our eco-mission is a conscious commitment to support farming communities and ecosystems through fair trade initiatives.

Superfoods From Around The World
At Organic Traditions they provide nutrient dense superfoods from many healing traditions. They are commited to supporting farmers who are dedicated to their principals of sustainable and fairtrade agriculture. Now more than ever we need to nourish ourselves with the nutrition needed to support the challenges that come with living in a faced paced world.

Be adventurous! These superfoods are versatile. Incorporate them into recipes in any creative way you see fit. Create smoothies, sauces, soups, marinades, dips and more! Food is powerful. Make choices for a better you and for a better planet.