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Why you should – and can – enjoy a sugar-free treat.
First let me start by saying that I am a huge fan of this recipe as well as the website it came from, Chocolate Covered Katie. As a health coach, I understand how important it is to enjoy your food. And most of all, I don’t believe that being healthy means starving yourself or denying yourself of a little sweetness.
That’s why I love to find healthy, filling foods that people can savor. And while I really love to eat, there isn’t enough time in the day for me to create, try, and tweak recipes. That’s why I resort to seeking out easy AND delicious recipes on the web.
Chocolate Covered Katie has been called the “queen of healthy desserts” and her website is incredible. She believes we should eat dessert every day. Who wouldn’t love her?!
This fudge recipe is dairy-free, soy-free, and sugar-free (more about why this is important below). Yet I promise you, it’s delicious.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup coconut butter
- 1 over-ripe banana (or 2/3 cup additional coconut butter)
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup or honey – or 2 packets of stevia for sugar-free version
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Directions:
- Make sure the coconut butter is melted
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor
- Combine all ingredients then smooth it into a container.
- Place in the fridge for a few hours, or freeze for a few minutes.
- Enjoy!
If you’re wondering if sugar-free is really necessary when it comes to the food we eat, I wanted to share why I recommend cutting down on your sugar intake:
Sugar and Your Health
Sugar is highly inflammatory to your body. So when you eliminate or reduce sugar from your diet, you will not only lose weight, but your overall health will improve.
Why? Because sugar is inflammatory to your body in many ways. Not only does it contribute to weight gain but sugar increases the uric acid in your body, which is a risk factor for both heart and kidney disease. Sugar also overloads liver function, and as a result can lead to liver damage. (click here to read my article, Sugar – The Bittersweet Truth).
Sugar Addiction
Now if we know this, can’t we just avoid sugar. Sure, some people can. But some are addicted.
Sugar addiction obviously begins when you crave anything that contains this sweet ingredient. Eating sugar triggers production of natural opioids in your brain. These hormones aid in relieving pain and are triggered in the same way one would consume illegal drugs. (source)
IF you are completely healthy, your body can handle about six teaspoons of sugar per day; if you look at many of the foods we eat, that’s not much.
Sugar and Diseases
Sugar has been linked to the following health conditions:
- ADHD
- Diabetes
- Hormone imbalance
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Inflammation
- Decreased energy
- Insomnia
- Cancer (a high-sugar diet throws off the candida in your digestive system, which can lead to infections, and eventually cancer. Sugar feeds cancer cells)
Want to find out what other foods are linked to ADHD, diabetes, asthma and even cancer? Get my Food Connection to a Child’s Behavior webinar.
Got a sweet tooth that you can’t kick? Or do you feel you have a sugar addiction? Let me help you rewire your brain. I will show you how to QUIT sugar and other health-sabotaging foods with my 10 Day Detox Program.
What’s your favorite sugar-free recipe? Please share in the comments below!
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Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.
