Did you know there are 152 ways to say sugar on a food label?

No, that is not a typo. Agave, sorghum, brown rice syrup, isomaltulose, potato syrup solids, evaporated cane juice crystals, and so many other words are indeed used to describe sugar. Thankfully, changes are coming to the food labels in Canada.

In what many health professionals, nutritionists, and consumers are calling a groundbreaking victory, all the bizarre synonyms for “sugar” will be conveniently listed in one place. Unfortunately, we will never really know how much of the sugar was naturally occurring and how much was added by the food processing industry.

In January 2016, the CBC shared an update regarding the levels of sugar in foods for infants and children. Many parents were shocked. “You definitely need to know what you are looking for when you are scanning the ingredients list, and you really need to be a detective and take your time.” To read the full article, visit http://tinyurl.com/sugaradded

Cut The Sugar

Registered Holistic Nutritionist Chelsey Prince is committed to helping Life Therapies clients curb or cut out sugar. Granted it is no easy feat, but Chelsey’s own experience cutting out sugar proves an advantage. To get people started, we are sharing Chelsey’s top tips, which she shared during the Sugar-Free September Challenge.

Clean out the fridge and cupboards: The first thing that Prince did when she cut out sugar was to clear her kitchen of things like white sugar, candy and condiments like barbecue sauces and sweetened ketchup.
Read labels and choose unsweetened alternatives: Products like nut butter and non-dairy milks commonly have added sugar, Prince said. Read labels and choose items that are all-natural or unsweetened. Prepared salad dressing is another item that people don’t realize is packed with sugar.
Make your own: Jams and ice creams are foods we crave that don’t have to be packed with sugar if made at home. “It’s summertime, people love to have a cold, sweet treat. One of the easiest ways to make a sugar-free ice cream is (blending) frozen bananas in a food processor and blending them up. It makes a really delicious ice cream.” And don’t hesitate to add some other fruits and raw cacao powder to add to the flavour, she said.
Snack on fruits and vegetables: Strawberries and apples are healthy alternatives to candies and chocolates, Prince said. Another sweet alternative is sweet potato, the starchy root vegetable that tastes good baked, roasted or steamed.
Use spices: Try a bit of cinnamon in your morning cup of coffee to cut the bitterness instead of using sugar. Or add a dash of cinnamon to pasta sauce to cut the acidity. Other spices like cardamom and nutmeg are also good for improving flavours, as they’re often associated with the taste of sugar, Prince said.
Cut out soda: Squeeze a lemon or lime wedge in a glass of soda water for a flavourful fizzy drink. Herbal ice teas can also be made using cherries, basil and other fruits and herbs.

If you need help deciphering food labels or want help with meal planning, schedule an appointment with Registered Holistic Nutritionist Chelsey Prince by calling 613-422-8939