Sugar

Sugar + sick do not mix. In fact, sugar + health often = sick. My processed sugar intake has dropped over the years, and over the past few months I've really noticed that I can avoid sugar for longer and longer stretches. I've noticed that when I do have sugar (and particularly ice cream - dairy + sugar = double ouch) my ears hurt. And I don't like that.

Before going to Europe this May I cut out sugar almost completely, and largely avoided it during my trip (including Paris, though I did buy a few pastries - I was not prepared to take sugar avoidance that far!). Since I often get sick when I travel, I wanted to be sure my immune system was in optimal health. And since sugar depresses the immune system for 14 days, I wanted to avoid having ANY sugar. Not a perfect record, but far more cautious than in the past.

I came down with a cold a week ago, and have been avoiding sugar for a week. I'm quite amazed at how relatively easy it has been - including not eating my mother's amazing peach cobbler (and apparently delicious ice cream). I think I'm finally making a strong mental connection between sugar and how it makes me feel - so when I think about sugar, its appeal is reduced. The exhaustion and unpleasantness of being sick just were NOT worth it to me.

However, long-term no-sugar diets will be a challenge if I choose to go in that direction. Even during this week, relatively easy though it's been, I've had a few sugar cravings (getting stronger the longer I'm off the stuff) - highly specific, such as DQ cherry shakes and my mom's gingersnap cookies. And we in fact have some of those cookies in the freezer. I didn't eat them this week because I was sick. I am not sure how much longer I can hold out.