It seems as though everyone faces sugar cravings on a reasonably regular basis. Some believe that sugar has become an addiction as a result of it being surreptitiously added to many of the processed foods we eat. Sugar certainly is a sneaky substance – it seems to creep up on us – the more we have the more we want. Who can remember as a child rarely having sugar treats – soda and soft drinks, lollies and desserts were the rarity rather than the norm. Nowadays, sugar is omnipresent!

For the pancreatitis sufferer, added sugar (in fact as we’ve heard previously – added anything – most food additives can prove problematic for pancreatitis) can be a real source of concern. In really basic terms, added sugar means added calories which mean added workload for the pancreas. People with pancreatitis must be concerned with what they put in their mouths and one thing they’ve got to be careful of is adding empty, non-nutritious substances like sugar.

So, what to do about this if you happen to be one of those (let’s face it, that’s all of us!) who can’t seem to crack the sugar habit? Here’s a step process to help you overcome the sugar cravings.

1. Stop adding sugar to the food you eat. People who love sugar in their coffee hate this one, but as any coffee aficionado will tell you, sugar spoils the coffee taste. So, stop putting the 2-3 lumps or teaspoons into your latest brew. Give it a try for awhile and see how it goes – after awhile you really will start to enjoy the flavor!
2. If you really must have a sweet flavor added to your coffee or other food, then replace the sugar with one of the natural sweeteners such as stevia. As we’ve written, Stevia is a naturally occurring substance with minimal calorific value. It’s not quite the same taste as sugar, but it is still adds a sweetness – and what’s more it only takes a very small amount to add the flavor. You can get stevia in powder or liquid form from your nearest health store. I prefer the powdered form.
3. Take a note of what sugar you are consuming. As pancreatitis sufferers we must be reviewing food labels and now you must pay particular attention to the amount of sugar in the food you eat. Remember – look out for anything that has ‘ose’ in it. Sucrose, fructose, - it’s all sugar! As is any form of ‘syrup’!
4. Finally, think before you eat! Consider the food you are about to it. Tell yourself it is nourishing, is adding to your ability to control pancreatitis and that it is naturally sweet. Might sound strange, but try it. As you gradually remove sugar from you life, you begin to realize the sweetness that occurs naturally in the food you eat. And finally –
5. If all this fails, just go ‘cold turkey’. Cut out all added sugar. If you give it a go for a few weeks you’ll be amazed at how your tastes change and if you stick with it, soon you’ll be wondering what all the fuss was about!

Well, everyone, this is probably going to be my last post before Christmas. We really do hope you have an enjoyable, peaceful and pain-free festive period. All the best to you all for 2009 and thank you for being a part of our community.

Oh, nearly forgot! Given the season, here’s a little egg-nog replacement recipe that I really like that is low in fat and high in flavor.

Fill a cup with warm to hot, low-fat milk or soy. (Only use the product you are able to tolerate. If milk or soy don’t agree with you, then try rice milk) Add a small (one quarter teaspoon of stevia powder and a sprinkling of cinnamon. Stir or whisk to add a froth. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Please let us know if you have any thoughts on this. Leave a comment here or email us at info@pancreatitis-advice.com

Bill & Jenny

http://www.pancreatitis-diet.com