Trick or Sweet on Halloween: limiting your children's treats and sugar intake

Courtesy HalloweenPav.com

Halloween is coming soon, so it is time to think about how you will treat all the sweets and candies that come with this holiday.  I think one challenge for parents it is the safety of the candies the kids will get from schools’ treats, parties or just simply going on trick-or-treat. The biggest concern is the huge amount of sugar and other artificial additives, they will be devouring as fast as they can.

After much research, I like to share an article I found in the Huffington Post Canada issue. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/10/24/halloween-candy-ban_n_1028847.html

Here’s what Lesley Lacny, a Toronto psychologist says on dealing with the sweets and your kids. She also talks about how you can set a plan, without going to a total ban on the candy.

I love the idea of healthy treats before and after, going out to trick or treat. Moreover checking together with the kids their candies' bags, and sorting them out as soon as they come back, it is a good diversion from eating them right away.

Just remember the less sugar the better. And talking about sweets, it is very helpful to know and maybe use the glycemic index chart. After we eat carbohydrates, they turn into sugar going into the bloodstream.

The pancreas secretes insulin to stabilize the blood sugar level and provides energy for us. Use the glycemicindex chart to make good choices. A rating below 65 is low and a good choice, a rating about 70 is quite high, so keep it under 70 in case you have to make a choice. 


Do you have any tricks or tips to spook away the devilish candies?

Also be sure to sign up for our seminars with Beverly Hills location coming up.

NEW SEMINAR DATES: December 8^th, 15^th, 29^th 2011 and January 5^th, 12^th 2012

  

                                   Food Preventive Medicine

Our body needs healthy eating, It's not optional!

Steps to Healthy Living

 

 

WORKSHOP PRESENTER:

Setareh Vahdat, Nutritionist Coach

Things you need to know…

Have you ever wondered how food can weaken or strengthen your health?

To find out how to regain your health, you should join this valuable five week workshop to discover the impact of nutrition as preventive medicine. You live healthier, with less pain and a more joyful life.

WORKSHOP PROGRAM:

1.    An introduction to how and why food has the effects it has on your body and mind. Understanding the seven levels of disease.

2.    Finding the origin of the matter and why you’re having the issues you have?

3.    Discovering how a sound mind in a sound body brings balance and harmony.

4.    Discussing which foods might have a direct effect on detoxifying and achieving health. Additionally, foods for weight control, diabetes, blood pressure, pain, cancer, hair, skin, constipation, stress, feeling sleepy, insomnia, and libido.

5.      What is toxicity and detoxification?

6.    Getting familiar with the glycemic index of a food and reading nutrition facts label.

7.    Learning how cravings have underlying reasons and it’s a sign of health issues. Illustrating the need to overcome craving sweets, salty or sour foods, a food like pizza and french-fries to set ourselves up for success.

WORKSHOP MODERATOR:

Setareh Vahdat, Nutritionist 

When:      Monday, Oct. 31^st and Nov. 07, 2011

NEW SEMINAR DATES:      

Tarzana, CA on Monday, December 5^th, 12^th, 19^th, 2011 January, 9^th, 16^th, 2012

 Beverly Hills, CA on Wednesday, December 7^th, 14^th, 28^th2011, January 11^th, 18^th 2012

Time:      6:30 – 9:00 p.m.

Place:      Beverly Hills, CA Location will be announced

                Tarzana, CA at Beith David Educational Center     18648 Clark St.  Tarzana, CA  91365

Fee:         $100 each     

 

www.setarehvahdat.blogspot.com                 Facebook group: Nutrition Preventive Medicine
Email:     setarehzohreh@yahoo.com             twitter:  food4you
 

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN.  RSVP is required as seating is lmited.       

For more information and to register, please send an email: setarehzohreh@yahoo.com   

Sugar is not a sweet friend

On average we eat between two to three pounds of sugar every week. Sugar is being processed in so many foods we eat. Sugar can be found in peanut butter, mayonnaise, bread, ketchup and many other "non-sweets" foods.

Research after research shows sugar is bad and contributes to sickness. Dr. Appleton explains in his book "Suicide by Sugar" how it is better not to eat sugar.

Sugar has a major effect on the increase of blood sugar, when more insulin needs to be secreted from the pancreas, the risk of getting diabetes goes up. Some of the adverse effects of sugar are: 

Sugar is food for cancer tumors. 
It contributes to loss of memory. 

Sugar raises blood sugar and increases the level of insulin in your blood, this causes the immune system to go down and our ability to fight sickness is weakened.
 
High blood insulin levels can make us gain weight, since insulin helps increase fat storage.

Sugar has no vitamins or minerals so to be metabolized it must take from the body's reserve of vitamins and minerals. When these reserves are depleted, metabolism of cholesterol and fatty acid is less, contributing to higher blood triglycerides, cholesterol, promoting obesity because of higher fatty acid storage around organs.

 What to do?   

A good way to eat less sugar is to use the glycemic Index chart. After we eat carbohydrates it turns into sugar and goes to the bloodstream. The pancreas secretes insulin to stabilize the blood sugar level and provide energy for us. Use the glycemic index chart to make good choices. A rating below 65 is low and a good choice, a rating about 70 is high and better to eat less of, or not at all.  

Also we can make substitution of the foods to get more benefits.  For example you may choose:

Brown rice instead of White Rice
Yams instead of Potatoes
Water instead of Soda/Cola
Balsamic Vinegar or Lemon instead of Salad dressing
Fresh fruit instead of cookies and cake

Craving for sugar? 

There are underlying reasons why we crave sugar or anything else for that matter like salty foods, sourness or a specific food like pickles, pizza, french fries etc. After we figure out why all the cravings are happening then we can take steps to fixing the underlying issue and head forward to a road of getting results and a better health.

Good choices have an effect on our finances as well. In the down economy today there are more people on food stamps than before. Choosing better food has financial advantages. Good food is not expensive and fits our budget. It makes it possible to spend less on the grocery bill. Choosing better food also bring better health so less chances of getting sick and less money spent on medical bills.

What are you doing to control your sugar intake?  Please post any comments or questions here and follow my twitter and facebook for more tips and advice.
join in facebook group Nutrition Preventive Medicine

https://www.facebook.com/groups/nutritionpreventativemedicine/
 
 All rights reserved. Setareh Vahdat does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

For media inquiries contact MAYO Communications.