Dear Doug,
My keiki and I are surrounded by candy chaos, with bags, baskets, and buckets of sweet treats strewn all over the house. I know that sugar isn’t good, but I’m eating it with mixed emotions, joy and happiness. Seriously, is a little dandy candy really that bad? What’s your take on giving in?
— Mommy Michelle
Mahalo, Michelle. I love your candor … and your question. There’s no better time to discuss a hollowed weaning from your sacred sugars.
Sugar is an important nutrient. Yes, as a carbohydrate, it is a macronutrient. Your body runs primarily on sugar … and your brain is fueled almost exclusively by sugar. Nonetheless, this doesn’t mean that you can trick your body into thriving on treats. Some carbohydrates are a whole lot healthier than others.
Foods that grow (and can be picked or harvested) are the best source of healthy carbohydrates. These more “complex” carbs can be converted by your body into the “simple” sugars (glucose) that it needs to properly fuel your body and your brain. Processed sugars that you can pick (up on a doorstep) or harvest (house-to-house) are far from what your body requires, no matter how tasty.
1. The bitter truth about sweets
You’ve heard about “empty calories,” right? This means that you have lots of calories, but no nutrition. Not to be a total “Dougie Downer” here, but candy is about as bad as it gets. Processed sweets are not just empty calories, but also a veritable health hazard, associated with diabetes, inflammation, heart disease, mood disorders, cognitive decline, skin problems and gut health issues, inside and out. They also cause addictive dopamine spikes. For children, the stakes are even higher, affecting both current and future development. Candy feeds a craving, not your body.
2. Tricking us with treats
Do you read labels? Please start, and please read the fine print. Sugar dresses up in many costumes, too: sucrose, fructose, corn syrup, cane juice and even seemingly more “natural” options like agave, fruit sugars, and honey. I’m always amazed by people afraid of the sugars in a banana or carrot, but then dive, face first, into processed foods presented with misleading packaging. Do you want to see a woman who eats over 50 bananas a day? You’ll be amazed! I’ll post the video at the link below. Real food is really good!
3. Nutrient density
Nutritive fitness is the name of the game. Make it fun for you and your kiddos. Discover how to consume the most nutrients in the least number of calories. Consider vitamins, minerals, fiber and even phytonutrients. Sugar-laden snacks, which offer all bad and no good, create a nutrient deficit in our bodies. They don’t offer anything valuable, but also deplete our internal nutrient stockpile, essentially eroding our health from the inside out.
4. The whole food advantage
An apple a day? When we eat whole foods, we’re supporting our body, not sabotaging it. For example, processed and pasteurized apple juice contains 11 vitamins and minerals … and maybe another dozen or so potentially healthy phytonutrients. But, if you go straight to the source, like a freshly picked organic apple, you’ll be consuming over 400 nutrients. Sure, there is sugar in an apple, but it’s also loaded with hydration, fiber, and phytonutrients.
5. The bucket list
So, Michelle, what should you do with that leftover candy? At my fitness center back east, we’d have “Trash the Stash” parties. All of my (most dedicated) clients would dump all of their tricky treats into a pile on 11/1 and we’d stomp it silly. I would suggest that you and your kids each take out your 7 most favorite treats, and totally trash the rest. Your kids will thank you … later in life … hopefully. Ha ha.
6. Island alternatives
Here on Kauai, who says we need candy to celebrate? We’ve got nature’s playground right outside our doors. Instead of diving into sweets, how about a family walk to the rainbow eucalyptus trees on the Kuilau Ridge Trail or do a creepy cardio session at the tree bark forest (enjoy the spooky video on my site). I also suggest a shave ice reward after reaching the Sleeping Giant summit?
7. Health &hope
Especially for the keiki, I’ve incorporated a few of my animated “Father Fitness” videos into the online version of my column this month. As you’ll hopefully soon see, getting your kiddos interested in being healthy and fit can be a fun family adventure. Enjoy watching my alter ego online!
