Re: sugar
ummmm...what the hell is there left to eat?
Yeah, pretty much. I don't believe in those diets, either.
We can't really know for sure what our ancestors ate, and there is evidence suggesting they may have had grains then, too (although the grains of yesterday are much different than the mass-produced and over-bred grains of today). People often report feeling so much better on this diet and that, but I really believe that's often simply because they are going from a heavily
processed diet to a whole foods diet. I've heard other nutritionists voice this belief. And there are so many - vegan, vegetarian, paleo, candida, gluten-free, Atkins, low-carb, etc. - all claiming to be the "right" diet. So which one is it?
The Harvard School of Public Health has a great nutrition site. I trust them because they actually differ from what the FDA recommends (!), and they make a lot of sense. They say it's best to limit dairy to no more than one serving a day, because, they readily admit, too much dairy isn't good. They say you don't have to eat grains to get all your nutrients, but if you do, go with whole (again, different from the FDA, which says you must eat grains). They also say not to trust any diet that cuts out any single (or more) food group. If it does so, it's probably a fad. We are most likely okay to eat a little of everything. And individuals vary, so if you find certain foods make you ill and you feel better by cutting them out, awesome. But I think some people just go a little too far.
As far as sugar goes, it is really really hard to wrestle with the cravings. I find myself craving fat more than sugar these days, but I do have my moments. As others have said, I think cutting back gradually is best. Drinking nothing but water is a good idea, too (but I would feel deprived without my tea and alcoholic beverages sometimes, and occasional coffee and - rarely - juice).
h:
