Give me some sugar, baby!

Ashley and I decided that between now and June (2008), we would not consume any refined sugars. This means no cakes, buns, cookies (see below), chocolate (see below), soda, candy etc. etc.

There are some allowances. For example, any natural sugars are allowed (fruits). Honey is ok, as is Splenda (sugar replacement). Recently added to our 'we can have it' list is Maltitol (a sugar alcohol). The Splenda allows us to make sugar-free cookies (swap out your butter for margarine too), and the Maltitol allows us to consume (small quantities of) sugar-free chocolate.

Now, the problem with sugar-free chocolate is (and I had to do some research on this), consumed in any large amount, sugar-free chocolate will act in a similar fashion to...a diarrheic.

"Why?" you ask? Well, the process is really quite simple. The sugar alcohol is not absorbed (as much as sugar) by your body, thus it makes it's way down to your intestine. When there, it begins to ferment; the fermentation process attracts water...and so, the affect is produced.

Now, you do have to consume a fair amount of sugar-free chocolate (or specifically, Maltitol; but you should be aware of this before pigging out of the (surprisingly) delicious chocolate, candy and peanut butter cups.

It should also be noted that the bars we buy are also trans-fat free, low sodium and rather tasty. The fact that they are sugar-free should not encourage you to eat any more, but as with all great things in life.....in moderation.

I'm off to enjoy the sweet life ;)