Whether sugar is bad for us or not, depends on the amount we consume daily.
Do we need to eat sugar every day?
No, we do not need to eat extra added sugar every day. Consuming too much sugar daily can lead us to many health problems like excessive weight gain and obesity and also many chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease etc.
We don’t even have a daily requirement for sugar. We can find natural sugar fruits, vegetables and grains along with fiber, minerals, protein and vitamins. This sugar prevents sudden blood sugar spikes.
Is jaggery a substitute for sugar?
Jaggery and sugar have almost identical results on blood sugar levels.
What about daily sugar cravings?
Daily sugar cravings are signs of something being out of balance like nutritional deficiencies. For example deficiency of Magnesium, Zinc, iron or Vitamin B. Sometimes our brain creates an addictive cycle. Some other factors like lack of sleep or stress or menstruation cycle are also responsible for sugar craving.
It is always advisable to check if you have severe sugar cravings, as they can indicate health imbalances in our body.
How often can we eat dessert?
We can absolutely eat dessert occasionally. As per our traditional Indian norm, we used to eat dessert only on special occasions or festivals. If we are eating balanced foods like vegetables, lentils, fruits and whole grains, an occasional dessert is a perfectly normal and safe part of a healthy life. We can enjoy our Indian desserts made with dairy, nuts, cardamom and saffron.
Desserts like steamed Modak, sandesh, kheer, rasgulla, winter dessert like carrot and moong dal halwa are non-fried Indian desserts that are perfect for an occasional sweet treat.
Reduce excessive sugar in your diet. Stop stocking high-sugar and ultra processed foods at home. Check nutrition labels on package food. Eat more healthy food like nuts, dry fruits and seeds. Include lentils, vegetables and whole grains in your meal. Avoid ultra-processed and packaged foods. Eat fresh and home-cooked food everyday.
Less sugar today for the better tomorrow!