Ok, so you’re clearing out your pantry of the glutenous pariahs: cereal, oats, flour, and bread and you’ve discarded the table sugar, brown sugar, and powdered sugar.  You come across the Splenda (or your artificial sweetener of choice).  Phew.  Surely since it’s hailed as having ZERO calories, it can’t have an effect on your body, right?

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the fact of the matter is some things are too good to be true.  There’s an article on Mark’s Daily Apple breaking down the fine points of each of the well known sweeteners out there. 

The truth of the matter is we, as Paleo eating CrossFitters, stay away from sugar because of the insulin surge it causes in your body, which in turn not only tells our bodies to hold on to fat, but over time, it can lead to insulin resistance and diseases such as depression, diabetes, and heart disease. The problem with artificial sugars, though, is that they fool our brains into thinking we consumed something sweet. In turn, we release insulin, putting us back into the same predicament but with the added aggravation of having consumed chemically processed foods.

The solution? Try to ween yourselves from the sugars. Gradually lower the sweeteners in your coffees and add cinnamon instead. Use applesauce (unsweetened) when baking your favorite gluten-free recipes. Reach for fresh fruit instead, which may have natural sugars, but at least it’s also packed with nutrients. The first couple of weeks may be tough, but the cravings will subside! If not, try doing burpees every time you crave sweets…

REST DAY 08.23.09