Espedilla: Wants to stop sugar craving

Dear Dr. Fritz,

I am writing you because I have weight problems. I attribute this to my sweet tooth. I just love sugar. Who doesn't? hehe.. What I wanted to get help right now - are ways to stop me from sugar cravings. I think, if I can wean myself off from sugary foods, my weight problems could be addressed. I hope you can help me here.

Thanks again and more power!

Tennessee W.

Dear Tennessee W.,

You are right. Your weight problem could be attributed to your love of sugar. Actually, there are a host of other reasons why you should give up sugar - aside from giving you weight problems. It can make you nervous as there is a clear association between excess sugar and anxiety, depression and schizophrenia. It also causes diabetes, kidney and heart problems. It even suppresses your immune system. Moreover, it also damages your teeth and gives you wrinkles.

So, let's deal now - on how to make you get off from sugar. Remember, you need time to get the addiction out of your system - and this is about seven days. So, we need to wean you off slowly, then. Here's how!

1. Go for fresh and dried fruit.
This is a much healthier choice. It is alright to eat large quantity at first - then, slowly, wean off.

2. Rule of thumb for desserts:
1st week - once a day
2nd week - twice a week
3rd week - once a week
Make sure you have raw fruit with you - half of the time.

3. Give Stevia a go
Stevia is a natural sugar alternative that nourishes the pancreas and this has no calories.

4. No skipping of meals

Missing a regular meal would make you starve - and thus, you will eat anything just to bring back your blood sugar level to normal.

5. Avoid soft drinks
Instead, make lemonade and iced tea sweetened with natural sweetener, like Stevia. If you want that carbonated zing, try adding some sparkling mineral water.

6. Don't put sweets in your cupboards or fridge
You will be tempted, my dear - or anything within your reach.
7. Sweat it out when cravings hit you
Cravings would go down after exercise. As a matter of fact, athletes would go for salty foods after sweating it out.

I have more tips for you to help you avoid unnecessary sugar. Be sure to read the labels - as some foods may hide sugar and sugar can also have aliases. So, here it is:

• Sugar can hide in tomato sauce, baked beans, packaged foods, chewing gum, mints, and lunch meats.

• Sugar can have the following aliases: corn syrup, dextrin, dextrose, fructose, fruit juice concentrate, high-fructose corn syrup, galactose, glucose, honey, hydrogenated starch, invert sugar maltose, lactose, mannitol, maple syrup, molasses, polyols, sorghum, sucrose, sorbitol, and xylitol.

Good luck!

Dr. Fritz
( For your questions, you may send them to Dear Dr. Fritz, c/o Sunstar Davao, Granlan Building, R. Castillo St., Davao City or you e-mail them to dokfritz@yahoo.com. )