Although I have been dubbed the “Sugar Police,” because of my strict stance against the stuff, many people don’t know that I actually spent a long time addicted to sugar. I constantly felt tired, lazy, insecure, or bloated, and I suffered from severe eczema and had digestive issues. Plus, I always craved sweets, bread, and cereal. Maybe you can relate? I’m not the only one who hates sugar. A recent study published in JAMA found that consuming too much sugar (which most of us do) is linked to an increased risk of heart attack, dementia, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, liver problems, cancer, and more. Sugar has many names (including sugar, brown sugar, raw sugar, dextrose, maltodextrin, starch, corn starch, and modified high corn syrup.) But not everyone realizes that bread has almost the same negative effects on the body. White bread is particularly problematic because the nutrients from the wheat have been removed, leaving only starch and gluten. My clients who eat white bread often say that they experience bloating, pains, mental confusion, digestive troubles, and worse. Whole wheat bread is a bit better for your blood sugar and digestion, but even if the bread is made up of healthier grains like rye or barley, it still contains gluten, which for many people causes digestive trouble. In the end, there isn’t much nourishment in bread that you can’t get by eating other foods. If you do just one thing, cut sugar from your life! To read more about how I got off the sugar roller coaster, read this. Your body needs healthy, quality fats for your hormones, nervous system, and immune system. It’s essential for good mood and for taste! Among healthy fats are saturated fat from grass-fed animals. Cooking with healthy fats is a good way to incorporate them into your diet. Avocado oil has a high smoke point and plenty of monounsaturated fatty acids, olive oil is versatile and healthy, and ghee can be easier to digest than lactose-full fats. Skipping a meal won’t save you time, it will only make you tired and confused, costing you more time later as your performance at work or school slows down. Not eating in order to lose weight will switch on your biological defenses, slowing down your metabolism and actually making you gain weight. The misinformation is about not honoring your body’s needs and ignoring love for yourself. If you want to take other food supplements, you should consult a health care professional who can take your personal needs into account. The book has already achieved cult status in Scandinavia thanks to Thorbjörg’s tried and tested all-natural approach, which she was willing to put to the test on Danish TV for the documentary series Botox or Broccoli. After just eight weeks following her plan, the broccoli team’s health, vitality and wellbeing far outweighed those who had used a quick-fix injectable, while their skin was judged to be equally as youthful. For more on Thorbjörg including video courses, quizzes, tips and recipes, visit www.pinetribe.com/thorbjorg.
