First off that commercial on TV about corn syrup? DON”T LISTEN TO IT! That has to be the worse commercial ever made! Horrible. Drives me crazy. High fructose corn syrup has to be one of the most terrible things in the world for you. It is highly processed and it is in everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING! Start reading your labels. Do you NEED high fructose corn syrup in your hot dogs? Not that I eat hot dogs, but really do you???

The only thing they get right is when they say, “with moderation”. Sugar, any form of sugar, is not the best thing in the world for you. But if you are going to use it, use the natural alternatives. Not highly processed, nutrients sucked out of it high fructose corn syrup.

The next thing is those sugar substitutes. We are going organic and as local as we can. We are trying to get rid of those toxic chemicals in our diets. To be really honest the sugar substitutes are making people FAT. That is right FAT. You may think you are doing the right thing by picking up that diet soda or tea instead of regular, but have you noticed you aren’t losing any weight? Chance are not.

Diet products that are sugar free or fat free are pumped full of chemicals and are highly processed. Studies have been done that people that consume these don’t lose the weight. I wish that I could put my hand on one of them. I will look and see if I can post one for you later.

So what are the alternatives, if sugar is so bad for you? You like the things you eat sweet? Well yes there are natural alternatives. Agave and Honey are the two we use here most often.

Honey is great. Especially if you suffer from allergies. A locally produced honey can act as a mini allergy shot. Honey is a natural product and is easier for your system to digest. It also contains less calories than sugar.

Agave is from a succulent plant grown in the south west US, Mexico and South America. It is very sweet and if you buy a reputable brand, 100% natural. I haven’t looked into it’s health benefits, but have tried in coffee and tea. I have also heard you can cook with it. It definitely hits that sweet tooth that I have every morning!

And yes I do use sugar when I bake. In moderation remember. You can swap out some of the sugar for things like applesauce, I make my own. But sugar is ok, pure and natural sugar. I found over the weekend organic, fair trade sugar. Unbleached, no pesticides used. This makes me a happy little camper!

So remember the whole point of this blog post. Highly processed, chemical ladened sugar substitutes are the enemy! Massive amounts of sugar are the enemy. A teaspoon of sugar to make the yeast rise in your bread is ok. Learn moderation and go for the natural stuff!

Eating this way is not for everyone. It does have it’s advantages. Many would argue that our digestive system is not made to digest meat products. It works much more efficiently digesting fruits and vegetables. Meat products, all meat products, are hard to break down. Even going meatless a few days a week, will give your digestive system a break.

That does lead to question though, how do we get all the essential nutrients that we need. While I do not have all the answers, I am learning them. Being a vegetarian is not just about avoiding eating meat. It is learning to eat in a healthier manner that will serve us down the line.

As we learn how to go more vegetarian and more natural in this home, be assured I will be sharing this information with you!

The difference between teas is fermentation. Green tea is processed so it does not ferment. Black tea does ferment. That is what gives it the deeper color. Oolong tea is somewhere between the two.

You will usually find that people like one or the other or both types of tea. Then there are those of us who enjoy herbal teas as well. These are made from herbs not the actual tea leaves. The world is full of different types of tea to enjoy. Each and everyone of them offers benefits unique to its plant and the way it it processed.

In some studies black tea has been shown to improve arteries. The black tea helps to open up clogged arteries. Further studies are being done on this benefit. Clogged arteries are a major factor in heart attacks and strokes.

Studies at Rutgers University have shown that the chemicals in black tea inhibit cancer growth. While black tea has long been linked to lowering risk of colon, breast and stomach cancers. Studies are now showing that it may be linked to prevent cancer cells to grow. Studies are being done on this aspect of black tea as well.

As further studies are done, more beneifts will be found. Both black and green tea are filled with antioxidants. No matter what tea you drink you can benefit. So drink your tea.