sugar Archives - thedancingcucumber.com thedancingcucumber.com Sun, 19 Nov 2023 08:28:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 Healthy and Sweet Fruits That Can Easily Replace Sugar https://thedancingcucumber.com/healthy-and-sweet-fruits-that-can-easily-replace-sugar/ Sun, 19 Nov 2023 16:03:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=7698 There are plenty of ways to cut back on sugar and make your savory and sweet recipe even healthier. One of the ways to reduce the amount of sugar in your recipes is to use natural and healthy alternatives such as fruit. These fruits are healthy and sweet and can be easily used as a […]

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]]> There are plenty of ways to cut back on sugar and make your savory and sweet recipe even healthier. One of the ways to reduce the amount of sugar in your recipes is to use natural and healthy alternatives such as fruit. These fruits are healthy and sweet and can be easily used as a natural replacement for sugar.

Bananas

Bananas are probably one of the most popular natural sweeteners that you can easily add to your bread, cookies, pancakes, and muffins instead of sugar. Bananas are a great alternative to sugar that will make these foods super fluffy and flavorful.

Figs

Figs are also healthy and sweet fruits that you can soak for a few hours and blend to make a tasty fig puree. Use this puree as a spread or add them to cookies, muffins, pancakes, smoothies, and other dishes instead of sugar.

Apples

Much like pureed bananas, applesauce is an excellent alternative to sugar when it comes to preparing soft and fluffy baked goods. It’s inexpensive and very easy to prepare at home, so make sure to put your homemade applesauce to good use.

Dates

As you probably know, dates are one of the sweetest fruits out there, which means they’re an excellent natural sweetener. They have a wonderful caramel taste that will add more flavor to your smoothies, baked goods, salads, and more.

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]]> Watch Out For Hidden Sugars https://thedancingcucumber.com/watch-out-for-hidden-sugars/ Thu, 17 Aug 2023 10:59:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=8592 While sugar is known around the world as something that we’d like to avoid, it’s also everywhere, making it pretty darn hard to do so. Indeed, it’s not enough to just avoid surface-level sweets such as candy—we have to constantly be on our guard. So, if you’re wondering whether or not you’re consuming too much […]

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]]> While sugar is known around the world as something that we’d like to avoid, it’s also everywhere, making it pretty darn hard to do so. Indeed, it’s not enough to just avoid surface-level sweets such as candy—we have to constantly be on our guard. So, if you’re wondering whether or not you’re consuming too much sugar, here are a few places where sugar “sneaks” its way into your body.

The Healthy Sugar Trap

It’s so common for us to over-consume sugar because we think it’s okay since it’s a healthy sugar. Fruit is probably the best example of this. While fruits do contain healthy sugars, you should still only eat them in moderation because otherwise it’s too much sugar.

Fruit Juices

This leads us to classic drinks such as orange juice or apple juice. Similar to the last example, many operate under the assumption that because they’re fruit-based drinks, they must be healthy. But in addition to the healthy sugars we brought up, these juices also contain plenty of added sugars as well—at least in the store-bought varieties.

Too Much Tea and Coffee

And finally, it’s time to address the fact that so many people love their tea and coffee breaks. During these breaks, some assume that a small spoon of sugar in their coffee is no big deal. But when you add up multiple coffee breaks together, you have yourself a solid amount of sugar consumption.

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]]> Have Rock-Hard Brown Sugar? Here’s How to Soften It https://thedancingcucumber.com/have-rock-hard-brown-sugar-heres-how-to-soften-it/ Fri, 03 Jun 2022 16:52:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=4599 Brown sugar is used in everything from baked goods to pasta sauces as it adds a touch of sweetness and molasses flavor to any dish. But, if you’ve ever reached for a package of brown sugar after it’s been opened and realized that it’s hardened into a lump, cooking with it can be extremely frustrating […]

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]]> Brown sugar is used in everything from baked goods to pasta sauces as it adds a touch of sweetness and molasses flavor to any dish. But, if you’ve ever reached for a package of brown sugar after it’s been opened and realized that it’s hardened into a lump, cooking with it can be extremely frustrating as it’s hard to measure. Here’s everything to know about why brown sugar hardens and how to soften it.

Why Does Brown Sugar Harden?

Brown sugar is white granulated sugar coated with molasses and when it’s exposed to air, it hardens because the molasses coating evaporates over time and the sugar granulates stick back together.

How Can You Soften Brown Sugar?

Unless your brown sugar has gone bad, you should be able to soften it again. You’ll know if your brown sugar has gone bad because there will be bugs or contaminants in it. The fastest way to soften brown sugar is to put the sugar in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl, draping it with a napkin, and heating it up for 20-second intervals until it’s soft again. If you have more time, you can soften brown sugar by putting in a slice of bread in an airtight container for a day or two.

How to Store Brown Sugar

To prevent your brown sugar from going hard in the first place, you should store it in an air-tight container. If you don’t plan on using your brown sugar for a few weeks, you can store it in the freezer. It can stay frozen for as long as you need and it only takes two to three hours to defrost.

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]]> What are the Health Benefits of Honey https://thedancingcucumber.com/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-honey/ Mon, 17 Jan 2022 06:29:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=7891 Honey is often considered a natural superfood, but it’s still mostly made of sugar. Even still, it can have amazing health benefits when consumed moderately. Here’s a bit more about the health benefits of honey. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jim McKeever (@jim_camino) One tablespoon of honey (21 grams) comes with […]

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]]> Honey is often considered a natural superfood, but it’s still mostly made of sugar. Even still, it can have amazing health benefits when consumed moderately. Here’s a bit more about the health benefits of honey.

One tablespoon of honey (21 grams) comes with 64 calories and 17 grams of sugar. It is made of half glucose and half fructose. Honey doesn’t contain fat or protein. Its biggest strength is vitamins and minerals. The list includes B vitamins, calcium, copper, iron, zinc, etc. They are mostly derived from the soil and nectar-producing plants. The quality of honey comes from its source. Darker honey is generally more beneficial than pale honey.

When it comes to health benefits, honey has several. It’s great for soothing a cough. Honey also has a positive impact on treating irritable bowel syndrome, especially when taken on an empty stomach. It’s also known for promoting reproductive health and reducing PMS and menopausal symptoms. Although it can be an allergen, for most people it’s completely safe. With over 300 varieties to choose from, you’ll easily find a favorite to satisfy your sweet tooth.

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]]> Here’s What Happens to Your Brain After You Stop Eating Sugar https://thedancingcucumber.com/heres-what-happens-to-your-brain-after-you-stop-eating-sugar/ Sat, 23 Oct 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=7890 Some people love sugar while others consider it an enemy. Whatever group you belong to, you’ll probably agree that eating too much sugar isn’t exactly good. But what happens if you cut it out completely? The first thing many people notice when they cut it out is they feel nauseous, have a headache, and have […]

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]]> Some people love sugar while others consider it an enemy. Whatever group you belong to, you’ll probably agree that eating too much sugar isn’t exactly good. But what happens if you cut it out completely?

The first thing many people notice when they cut it out is they feel nauseous, have a headache, and have unexplainable mood swings. It’s not entirely clear why this happens, but it’s certain that sugar affects your brains a lot and that you can even become addicted to it.

Sugar causes a release of dopamine, so giving it up leads to biological changes in the brain. Dopamine is also called the reward chemical, which means that your brain releases it when you get a reward. Not getting the sugar you’re used to causes unpleasant side effects. The good news is that the symptoms of withdrawal will go away after a few weeks, so the key is to be patient and power through it.

One important thing to note is that cutting out sugar completely is not necessary, especially if you’re otherwise healthy. It’s enough to eat it moderately and prioritize other healthier food choices over it. An occasional dessert is fine as long as you don’t base your whole diet around sugary foods.

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]]> Foods and Drinks That Contain Hidden Sugar https://thedancingcucumber.com/foods-and-drinks-that-contain-hidden-sugar/ Wed, 22 Sep 2021 10:26:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=7655 A lot of food and drinks that we consume on a daily basis can contain hidden sugar, and we’re often not aware of that. These sneaky foods can make it really difficult for us to reduce the amount of sugar we eat every day. Here are some foods and drinks that you probably didn’t know […]

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]]> A lot of food and drinks that we consume on a daily basis can contain hidden sugar, and we’re often not aware of that. These sneaky foods can make it really difficult for us to reduce the amount of sugar we eat every day. Here are some foods and drinks that you probably didn’t know contain sugar.

Protein Bars

Protein bars are often considered healthy but most of them do actually hide sugar or unhealthy sweeteners. That’s why it could be smart to avoid eating protein bars often, or at least choose the ones that are lower in sugar.

Granola

Granola has become one of the most popular healthy breakfast foods, but that probably isn’t the case if you’re buying granola. Store-bought granola is often packed with added sugar so make sure to read the labels or make your own granola at home.

Beverages

Keep in mind that a lot of drinks we consume regularly such as soda, iced tea, cocktails, or even drinks that are considered healthy like lemonade or smoothies are surprisingly high in sugar.

Bread

Even though the amount of sugar that certain brands of bread contain is still not very significant, it’s worth knowing that this is also one type of food that can contain hidden sugar.

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]]> Here’s How You Can Beat the Afternoon Slump Without Sugar or Coffee https://thedancingcucumber.com/heres-how-you-can-beat-the-afternoon-slump-without-sugar-or-coffee/ Sun, 27 Sep 2020 14:37:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=3548 Once it’s past 2 p.m. and you’ve had your lunch, you probably experience a decrease in energy and motivation. The good news is that this happens to most people and that you don’t necessarily need sugar or coffee to fight this feeling. Here’s what to do instead. Drink Green Tea Although green tea contains caffeine, […]

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]]> Once it’s past 2 p.m. and you’ve had your lunch, you probably experience a decrease in energy and motivation. The good news is that this happens to most people and that you don’t necessarily need sugar or coffee to fight this feeling. Here’s what to do instead.

Drink Green Tea

Although green tea contains caffeine, there’s a lot less of it in a cup of tea than in a typical cup of coffee. Just one cup of green tea can be enough to wake you up perfectly so that you can continue being productive until the end of the day.

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Lubię napić się herbaty z ładnej filiżanki😍 Nie tylko od święta, ale też na co dzień. Już dawno temu przestałam trzymać rzeczy na specjalne okazje bo przecież najlepsza okazja jest tu i teraz😊 A kiedyś myślałam totalnie odwrotnie🙈 Potrafiłam kupić coś i zamknąć w szafie na ten "wyjątkowy moment" i przypomnieć sobie o tym po długim czasie jak robiłam porządki😁 Jestem ciekawa jak to jest u Was?😉 Chomikujecie niektóre rzeczy na te wielkie chwile?😊 . . . . . . . . #herbatadobranawszystko #herbatka #teaoftheday #herbata #tealove #tealife #timefortea #drinktea #teaofinstagram #teadrinker #cupoftea #cuppatea #teaplease #whatsinyourcup #lovetea #teaaddicts #teastagram #creative_cups #teacups #vintageteacups #vintagecup #teacup #teamug #teamoment #tealifestyle #teaandseasons #cupsinframe #tablesituation #eveningtea

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Eat Fats

When our energy levels are down, we crave sugar and carbs. But if you fill up on fats instead, you will give your body a lasting energy source and it won’t make you feel sleepy and tired but keep you alert and going.

Don’t Skip Protein

It’s important to include protein in your lunch because it will make you feel full longer, providing you with enough energy and a clear mind. Eggs are a great choice and you can easily boil them at home and take with you to avoid buying lunch at work.

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]]> 3 Tips That Will Help You Stop Eating Sugar https://thedancingcucumber.com/3-tips-that-will-help-you-stop-eating-sugar/ Wed, 16 Oct 2019 09:40:33 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=2770 Sugar has many negative effects on our health. It contributes to obesity, diabetes, some types of cancer, tooth decay, and heart disease, as Healthline writes. Not all sugar is the same, and sugar that’s naturally found in fruits and vegetables isn’t as harmful as sugar found in processed foods. While fruits and vegetables contain sugar, […]

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]]> Sugar has many negative effects on our health. It contributes to obesity, diabetes, some types of cancer, tooth decay, and heart disease, as Healthline writes. Not all sugar is the same, and sugar that’s naturally found in fruits and vegetables isn’t as harmful as sugar found in processed foods.

While fruits and vegetables contain sugar, they are also packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which makes them good food choices with great nutritional value. On the other hand, processed foods are often full of sugar that’s not even necessary for taste, with the simple goal of making you addicted and wanting to buy more of the said food. Here are 3 tips that will help you reduce the amount of sugar you eat.

  1. Read the labels. You will be surprised when you find out about the sugar content in some foods that aren’t even sweet, like ketchup. 
  2. Eat clean and satisfy your sweet tooth with fruits. Pre-packed foods are much more likely to have added sugar that’s bad for you.
  3. Shop carefully. Don’t go shopping when you’re hungry or without a list. Planning your meals before shopping for the ingredients is the best way to avoid eating stuff that’s bad for you just because it’s convenient.

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]]> Top Five Fruits That Contain Most Sugar https://thedancingcucumber.com/top-five-fruits-that-contain-most-sugar/ Sun, 08 Jul 2018 08:22:36 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=628 Some of your favorite fruits are also the ones that contain a lot of sugar. So instead of completely avoiding them once you read the list, try simply reducing the intake. Check out the fruits with most sugar to get to know more about these delicious treats. Figs Figs and grapes are on top of […]

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]]> Some of your favorite fruits are also the ones that contain a lot of sugar. So instead of completely avoiding them once you read the list, try simply reducing the intake. Check out the fruits with most sugar to get to know more about these delicious treats.

Figs

Figs and grapes are on top of the fruits with most sugar list. That is the main reason why these tasty treats are so sweet. But it doesn’t mean that you should completely forget about figs. It only points out that you should limit how much you have.

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Figs are a highly prized and nourishing fruit that have been used to treat nearly every known disease since ancient times. They can provide phenomenal amounts of energy and vitality to the body as well as aid in the repair and restoration of the digestive, cardiovascular, lymphatic, reproductive, muscular, immune, and skeletal system. ___ Figs are one of the most alkaline fruits available and are rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, copper, potassium, selenium, and zinc. In fact, figs are one the highest sources of readily assimilable calcium in the plant world which makes them a great choice to help prevent osteoporosis and their potassium content can help to prevent hypertension as well. ___ Figs have the ability to bind to acids in the body that accumulate as fat globules and flush them from the body making them a good addition to any weight loss program. They also work as an excellent laxative and their high mucin content help to eliminate toxic wastes and mucus from the colon. Similarly, they also also very beneficial for people who suffer from asthma as they can help to drain phlegm from the body. ___ Figs have the ability to kill off bad bacteria while promoting the buildup of good bacteria such as acidophilus in the bowel. Figs contain chlorogenic acid which can help lower blood sugar levels and control blood glucose levels in Type 2 Diabetes. There are hundreds varieties of figs, but some of the more common ones found in supermarkets include Black Mission, Kadota, Brown Turkey, and Calimyrna. ___ Fresh figs are a decadent treat when in season, but when fresh figs are not available, try soaking some dried figs in water for a few hours and blend into a sweet and creamy fig pudding or add to a smoothie for a flavor and nutritional boost. Snack on fresh or dried figs for a powerhouse of nutrition and energy that can help your body function optimally all day long.

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Grapes

Just like figs, the grape is loaded on sugar. It is definitely something we all love to enjoy in it, especially at the end of the summer. Another amazing product from grapes is wine, so there is no chance in hell you should forget about this fruit.

Cherries

Cherries might be your favorite ones, but these fruits are packed with sugar. Only one cup of cherries has 18 grams of sugar. That sure does sound like quite a lot, but summer wouldn’t be the same without them.

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#FoodStyling: #Cherries Theme Week. Credit: @natalieokoneshnikova_ The winners of this week are @laila_hachimi (Best Photo of Week) and @nm_meiyee (Best Photo of Theme) Tag  your high quality photos #hautecuisines, @hautescuisines or direct message (please provide the short name of a submitted dish IN ENGLISH!) for a chance to be featured. Please submit only pictures taken by you (or in collaboration with another person, with a proper credit) Every Monday we announce two winners: the Best Photo of a Week (Received most of your likes) and the Best Photo of a Theme (Choice of HC). The theme of this week (Starts July 2nd) is Food Styling: Cherries. The theme of next week will be Cherry Desserts (both baked and no bake) We will have the following themes shortly: Ice Cream, Summer Salads, Fruit Pies&Cakes, Sorbet, Lemonade. #food #foodphotography #foodpics #foodphotob #foodstagram #foodofinstagram #foodstyling #foodstyle #delicious #yummyfood#tasty #yummy #beautifulpics #amazingtfood  #beautifulfood #stunningpicture #gorgeous #cherries #summerfruits

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Pears

Pears are another one of those sweet fruits that you simply can’t get enough. If you are trying to cut back on sugar, you might want to forget about pears.

Bananas

Bananas are extremely high in calories and also among the fruits with most sugar. But sugar is not the only thing they contain. Bananas are also packed in vitamins and minerals that make your life better.

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]]> This One Preparation Method Is Doubling The Glycemic Index Of Your Sweet Potato https://thedancingcucumber.com/this-one-preparation-method-is-doubling-the-glycemic-index-of-your-sweet-potato/ Sat, 28 Apr 2018 09:57:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=133 Sweet potatoes are a popular, relatively healthy choice around the country. They are full of fiber, potassium, iron, vitamins and many sources show they are healthier than an ordinary potato. How could anything take away from their nutritional value? The Glycemic Index In A Nutshell The glycemic index (GI) of a food is essentially a […]

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]]> Sweet potatoes are a popular, relatively healthy choice around the country. They are full of fiber, potassium, iron, vitamins and many sources show they are healthier than an ordinary potato. How could anything take away from their nutritional value?

The Glycemic Index In A Nutshell

The glycemic index (GI) of a food is essentially a measure of how much sugar they will produce in your blood after you eat them.

The lower the GI, the healthier that a food is likely to be for you. Aside from higher sugar levels in you blood, high GI foods make you stressed and could cause you to overeat.

How Are You Doubling A Sweet Potato’s GI?

Sweet potatoes are full of starch. Starch is a very complex molecule made up of lots of sugar molecules. When they’re bound together, these molecules can’t get into your bloodstream.

When you bake a sweet potato, you are keeping the potato at a high heat for a long time. This provides a long time for the starch to break down, something it does at high heat, and turn back into sugar; sugar that can get into your bloodstream.

While you do get some starch breakdown if you microwave or boil sweet potatoes, it happens more when you bake them. This is because microwaving and boiling tend to take much less time.

Please, don’t stop eating sweet potatoes; they’re still good for you. However, next time try to microwave or steam them rather than bake them to keep their GI down for maximum health benefits.

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]]> ersion="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> sugar Archives - thedancingcucumber.com thedancingcucumber.com Sun, 19 Nov 2023 08:28:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 Healthy and Sweet Fruits That Can Easily Replace Sugar https://thedancingcucumber.com/healthy-and-sweet-fruits-that-can-easily-replace-sugar/ Sun, 19 Nov 2023 16:03:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=7698 There are plenty of ways to cut back on sugar and make your savory and sweet recipe even healthier. One of the ways to reduce the amount of sugar in your recipes is to use natural and healthy alternatives such as fruit. These fruits are healthy and sweet and can be easily used as a […]

The post Healthy and Sweet Fruits That Can Easily Replace Sugar appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

]]> There are plenty of ways to cut back on sugar and make your savory and sweet recipe even healthier. One of the ways to reduce the amount of sugar in your recipes is to use natural and healthy alternatives such as fruit. These fruits are healthy and sweet and can be easily used as a natural replacement for sugar.

Bananas

Bananas are probably one of the most popular natural sweeteners that you can easily add to your bread, cookies, pancakes, and muffins instead of sugar. Bananas are a great alternative to sugar that will make these foods super fluffy and flavorful.

Figs

Figs are also healthy and sweet fruits that you can soak for a few hours and blend to make a tasty fig puree. Use this puree as a spread or add them to cookies, muffins, pancakes, smoothies, and other dishes instead of sugar.

Apples

Much like pureed bananas, applesauce is an excellent alternative to sugar when it comes to preparing soft and fluffy baked goods. It’s inexpensive and very easy to prepare at home, so make sure to put your homemade applesauce to good use.

Dates

As you probably know, dates are one of the sweetest fruits out there, which means they’re an excellent natural sweetener. They have a wonderful caramel taste that will add more flavor to your smoothies, baked goods, salads, and more.

The post Healthy and Sweet Fruits That Can Easily Replace Sugar appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

]]> Watch Out For Hidden Sugars https://thedancingcucumber.com/watch-out-for-hidden-sugars/ Thu, 17 Aug 2023 10:59:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=8592 While sugar is known around the world as something that we’d like to avoid, it’s also everywhere, making it pretty darn hard to do so. Indeed, it’s not enough to just avoid surface-level sweets such as candy—we have to constantly be on our guard. So, if you’re wondering whether or not you’re consuming too much […]

The post Watch Out For Hidden Sugars appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

]]> While sugar is known around the world as something that we’d like to avoid, it’s also everywhere, making it pretty darn hard to do so. Indeed, it’s not enough to just avoid surface-level sweets such as candy—we have to constantly be on our guard. So, if you’re wondering whether or not you’re consuming too much sugar, here are a few places where sugar “sneaks” its way into your body.

The Healthy Sugar Trap

It’s so common for us to over-consume sugar because we think it’s okay since it’s a healthy sugar. Fruit is probably the best example of this. While fruits do contain healthy sugars, you should still only eat them in moderation because otherwise it’s too much sugar.

Fruit Juices

This leads us to classic drinks such as orange juice or apple juice. Similar to the last example, many operate under the assumption that because they’re fruit-based drinks, they must be healthy. But in addition to the healthy sugars we brought up, these juices also contain plenty of added sugars as well—at least in the store-bought varieties.

Too Much Tea and Coffee

And finally, it’s time to address the fact that so many people love their tea and coffee breaks. During these breaks, some assume that a small spoon of sugar in their coffee is no big deal. But when you add up multiple coffee breaks together, you have yourself a solid amount of sugar consumption.

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]]> Have Rock-Hard Brown Sugar? Here’s How to Soften It https://thedancingcucumber.com/have-rock-hard-brown-sugar-heres-how-to-soften-it/ Fri, 03 Jun 2022 16:52:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=4599 Brown sugar is used in everything from baked goods to pasta sauces as it adds a touch of sweetness and molasses flavor to any dish. But, if you’ve ever reached for a package of brown sugar after it’s been opened and realized that it’s hardened into a lump, cooking with it can be extremely frustrating […]

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]]> Brown sugar is used in everything from baked goods to pasta sauces as it adds a touch of sweetness and molasses flavor to any dish. But, if you’ve ever reached for a package of brown sugar after it’s been opened and realized that it’s hardened into a lump, cooking with it can be extremely frustrating as it’s hard to measure. Here’s everything to know about why brown sugar hardens and how to soften it.

Why Does Brown Sugar Harden?

Brown sugar is white granulated sugar coated with molasses and when it’s exposed to air, it hardens because the molasses coating evaporates over time and the sugar granulates stick back together.

How Can You Soften Brown Sugar?

Unless your brown sugar has gone bad, you should be able to soften it again. You’ll know if your brown sugar has gone bad because there will be bugs or contaminants in it. The fastest way to soften brown sugar is to put the sugar in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl, draping it with a napkin, and heating it up for 20-second intervals until it’s soft again. If you have more time, you can soften brown sugar by putting in a slice of bread in an airtight container for a day or two.

How to Store Brown Sugar

To prevent your brown sugar from going hard in the first place, you should store it in an air-tight container. If you don’t plan on using your brown sugar for a few weeks, you can store it in the freezer. It can stay frozen for as long as you need and it only takes two to three hours to defrost.

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]]> What are the Health Benefits of Honey https://thedancingcucumber.com/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-honey/ Mon, 17 Jan 2022 06:29:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=7891 Honey is often considered a natural superfood, but it’s still mostly made of sugar. Even still, it can have amazing health benefits when consumed moderately. Here’s a bit more about the health benefits of honey. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jim McKeever (@jim_camino) One tablespoon of honey (21 grams) comes with […]

The post What are the Health Benefits of Honey appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

]]> Honey is often considered a natural superfood, but it’s still mostly made of sugar. Even still, it can have amazing health benefits when consumed moderately. Here’s a bit more about the health benefits of honey.

One tablespoon of honey (21 grams) comes with 64 calories and 17 grams of sugar. It is made of half glucose and half fructose. Honey doesn’t contain fat or protein. Its biggest strength is vitamins and minerals. The list includes B vitamins, calcium, copper, iron, zinc, etc. They are mostly derived from the soil and nectar-producing plants. The quality of honey comes from its source. Darker honey is generally more beneficial than pale honey.

When it comes to health benefits, honey has several. It’s great for soothing a cough. Honey also has a positive impact on treating irritable bowel syndrome, especially when taken on an empty stomach. It’s also known for promoting reproductive health and reducing PMS and menopausal symptoms. Although it can be an allergen, for most people it’s completely safe. With over 300 varieties to choose from, you’ll easily find a favorite to satisfy your sweet tooth.

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]]> Here’s What Happens to Your Brain After You Stop Eating Sugar https://thedancingcucumber.com/heres-what-happens-to-your-brain-after-you-stop-eating-sugar/ Sat, 23 Oct 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=7890 Some people love sugar while others consider it an enemy. Whatever group you belong to, you’ll probably agree that eating too much sugar isn’t exactly good. But what happens if you cut it out completely? The first thing many people notice when they cut it out is they feel nauseous, have a headache, and have […]

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]]> Some people love sugar while others consider it an enemy. Whatever group you belong to, you’ll probably agree that eating too much sugar isn’t exactly good. But what happens if you cut it out completely?

The first thing many people notice when they cut it out is they feel nauseous, have a headache, and have unexplainable mood swings. It’s not entirely clear why this happens, but it’s certain that sugar affects your brains a lot and that you can even become addicted to it.

Sugar causes a release of dopamine, so giving it up leads to biological changes in the brain. Dopamine is also called the reward chemical, which means that your brain releases it when you get a reward. Not getting the sugar you’re used to causes unpleasant side effects. The good news is that the symptoms of withdrawal will go away after a few weeks, so the key is to be patient and power through it.

One important thing to note is that cutting out sugar completely is not necessary, especially if you’re otherwise healthy. It’s enough to eat it moderately and prioritize other healthier food choices over it. An occasional dessert is fine as long as you don’t base your whole diet around sugary foods.

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]]> Foods and Drinks That Contain Hidden Sugar https://thedancingcucumber.com/foods-and-drinks-that-contain-hidden-sugar/ Wed, 22 Sep 2021 10:26:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=7655 A lot of food and drinks that we consume on a daily basis can contain hidden sugar, and we’re often not aware of that. These sneaky foods can make it really difficult for us to reduce the amount of sugar we eat every day. Here are some foods and drinks that you probably didn’t know […]

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]]> A lot of food and drinks that we consume on a daily basis can contain hidden sugar, and we’re often not aware of that. These sneaky foods can make it really difficult for us to reduce the amount of sugar we eat every day. Here are some foods and drinks that you probably didn’t know contain sugar.

Protein Bars

Protein bars are often considered healthy but most of them do actually hide sugar or unhealthy sweeteners. That’s why it could be smart to avoid eating protein bars often, or at least choose the ones that are lower in sugar.

Granola

Granola has become one of the most popular healthy breakfast foods, but that probably isn’t the case if you’re buying granola. Store-bought granola is often packed with added sugar so make sure to read the labels or make your own granola at home.

Beverages

Keep in mind that a lot of drinks we consume regularly such as soda, iced tea, cocktails, or even drinks that are considered healthy like lemonade or smoothies are surprisingly high in sugar.

Bread

Even though the amount of sugar that certain brands of bread contain is still not very significant, it’s worth knowing that this is also one type of food that can contain hidden sugar.

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]]> Here’s How You Can Beat the Afternoon Slump Without Sugar or Coffee https://thedancingcucumber.com/heres-how-you-can-beat-the-afternoon-slump-without-sugar-or-coffee/ Sun, 27 Sep 2020 14:37:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=3548 Once it’s past 2 p.m. and you’ve had your lunch, you probably experience a decrease in energy and motivation. The good news is that this happens to most people and that you don’t necessarily need sugar or coffee to fight this feeling. Here’s what to do instead. Drink Green Tea Although green tea contains caffeine, […]

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]]> Once it’s past 2 p.m. and you’ve had your lunch, you probably experience a decrease in energy and motivation. The good news is that this happens to most people and that you don’t necessarily need sugar or coffee to fight this feeling. Here’s what to do instead.

Drink Green Tea

Although green tea contains caffeine, there’s a lot less of it in a cup of tea than in a typical cup of coffee. Just one cup of green tea can be enough to wake you up perfectly so that you can continue being productive until the end of the day.

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Lubię napić się herbaty z ładnej filiżanki😍 Nie tylko od święta, ale też na co dzień. Już dawno temu przestałam trzymać rzeczy na specjalne okazje bo przecież najlepsza okazja jest tu i teraz😊 A kiedyś myślałam totalnie odwrotnie🙈 Potrafiłam kupić coś i zamknąć w szafie na ten "wyjątkowy moment" i przypomnieć sobie o tym po długim czasie jak robiłam porządki😁 Jestem ciekawa jak to jest u Was?😉 Chomikujecie niektóre rzeczy na te wielkie chwile?😊 . . . . . . . . #herbatadobranawszystko #herbatka #teaoftheday #herbata #tealove #tealife #timefortea #drinktea #teaofinstagram #teadrinker #cupoftea #cuppatea #teaplease #whatsinyourcup #lovetea #teaaddicts #teastagram #creative_cups #teacups #vintageteacups #vintagecup #teacup #teamug #teamoment #tealifestyle #teaandseasons #cupsinframe #tablesituation #eveningtea

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Eat Fats

When our energy levels are down, we crave sugar and carbs. But if you fill up on fats instead, you will give your body a lasting energy source and it won’t make you feel sleepy and tired but keep you alert and going.

Don’t Skip Protein

It’s important to include protein in your lunch because it will make you feel full longer, providing you with enough energy and a clear mind. Eggs are a great choice and you can easily boil them at home and take with you to avoid buying lunch at work.

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]]> 3 Tips That Will Help You Stop Eating Sugar https://thedancingcucumber.com/3-tips-that-will-help-you-stop-eating-sugar/ Wed, 16 Oct 2019 09:40:33 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=2770 Sugar has many negative effects on our health. It contributes to obesity, diabetes, some types of cancer, tooth decay, and heart disease, as Healthline writes. Not all sugar is the same, and sugar that’s naturally found in fruits and vegetables isn’t as harmful as sugar found in processed foods. While fruits and vegetables contain sugar, […]

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]]> Sugar has many negative effects on our health. It contributes to obesity, diabetes, some types of cancer, tooth decay, and heart disease, as Healthline writes. Not all sugar is the same, and sugar that’s naturally found in fruits and vegetables isn’t as harmful as sugar found in processed foods.

While fruits and vegetables contain sugar, they are also packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which makes them good food choices with great nutritional value. On the other hand, processed foods are often full of sugar that’s not even necessary for taste, with the simple goal of making you addicted and wanting to buy more of the said food. Here are 3 tips that will help you reduce the amount of sugar you eat.

  1. Read the labels. You will be surprised when you find out about the sugar content in some foods that aren’t even sweet, like ketchup. 
  2. Eat clean and satisfy your sweet tooth with fruits. Pre-packed foods are much more likely to have added sugar that’s bad for you.
  3. Shop carefully. Don’t go shopping when you’re hungry or without a list. Planning your meals before shopping for the ingredients is the best way to avoid eating stuff that’s bad for you just because it’s convenient.

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]]> Top Five Fruits That Contain Most Sugar https://thedancingcucumber.com/top-five-fruits-that-contain-most-sugar/ Sun, 08 Jul 2018 08:22:36 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=628 Some of your favorite fruits are also the ones that contain a lot of sugar. So instead of completely avoiding them once you read the list, try simply reducing the intake. Check out the fruits with most sugar to get to know more about these delicious treats. Figs Figs and grapes are on top of […]

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]]> Some of your favorite fruits are also the ones that contain a lot of sugar. So instead of completely avoiding them once you read the list, try simply reducing the intake. Check out the fruits with most sugar to get to know more about these delicious treats.

Figs

Figs and grapes are on top of the fruits with most sugar list. That is the main reason why these tasty treats are so sweet. But it doesn’t mean that you should completely forget about figs. It only points out that you should limit how much you have.

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Figs are a highly prized and nourishing fruit that have been used to treat nearly every known disease since ancient times. They can provide phenomenal amounts of energy and vitality to the body as well as aid in the repair and restoration of the digestive, cardiovascular, lymphatic, reproductive, muscular, immune, and skeletal system. ___ Figs are one of the most alkaline fruits available and are rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, copper, potassium, selenium, and zinc. In fact, figs are one the highest sources of readily assimilable calcium in the plant world which makes them a great choice to help prevent osteoporosis and their potassium content can help to prevent hypertension as well. ___ Figs have the ability to bind to acids in the body that accumulate as fat globules and flush them from the body making them a good addition to any weight loss program. They also work as an excellent laxative and their high mucin content help to eliminate toxic wastes and mucus from the colon. Similarly, they also also very beneficial for people who suffer from asthma as they can help to drain phlegm from the body. ___ Figs have the ability to kill off bad bacteria while promoting the buildup of good bacteria such as acidophilus in the bowel. Figs contain chlorogenic acid which can help lower blood sugar levels and control blood glucose levels in Type 2 Diabetes. There are hundreds varieties of figs, but some of the more common ones found in supermarkets include Black Mission, Kadota, Brown Turkey, and Calimyrna. ___ Fresh figs are a decadent treat when in season, but when fresh figs are not available, try soaking some dried figs in water for a few hours and blend into a sweet and creamy fig pudding or add to a smoothie for a flavor and nutritional boost. Snack on fresh or dried figs for a powerhouse of nutrition and energy that can help your body function optimally all day long.

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Grapes

Just like figs, the grape is loaded on sugar. It is definitely something we all love to enjoy in it, especially at the end of the summer. Another amazing product from grapes is wine, so there is no chance in hell you should forget about this fruit.

Cherries

Cherries might be your favorite ones, but these fruits are packed with sugar. Only one cup of cherries has 18 grams of sugar. That sure does sound like quite a lot, but summer wouldn’t be the same without them.

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#FoodStyling: #Cherries Theme Week. Credit: @natalieokoneshnikova_ The winners of this week are @laila_hachimi (Best Photo of Week) and @nm_meiyee (Best Photo of Theme) Tag  your high quality photos #hautecuisines, @hautescuisines or direct message (please provide the short name of a submitted dish IN ENGLISH!) for a chance to be featured. Please submit only pictures taken by you (or in collaboration with another person, with a proper credit) Every Monday we announce two winners: the Best Photo of a Week (Received most of your likes) and the Best Photo of a Theme (Choice of HC). The theme of this week (Starts July 2nd) is Food Styling: Cherries. The theme of next week will be Cherry Desserts (both baked and no bake) We will have the following themes shortly: Ice Cream, Summer Salads, Fruit Pies&Cakes, Sorbet, Lemonade. #food #foodphotography #foodpics #foodphotob #foodstagram #foodofinstagram #foodstyling #foodstyle #delicious #yummyfood#tasty #yummy #beautifulpics #amazingtfood  #beautifulfood #stunningpicture #gorgeous #cherries #summerfruits

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Pears

Pears are another one of those sweet fruits that you simply can’t get enough. If you are trying to cut back on sugar, you might want to forget about pears.

Bananas

Bananas are extremely high in calories and also among the fruits with most sugar. But sugar is not the only thing they contain. Bananas are also packed in vitamins and minerals that make your life better.

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]]> This One Preparation Method Is Doubling The Glycemic Index Of Your Sweet Potato https://thedancingcucumber.com/this-one-preparation-method-is-doubling-the-glycemic-index-of-your-sweet-potato/ Sat, 28 Apr 2018 09:57:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=133 Sweet potatoes are a popular, relatively healthy choice around the country. They are full of fiber, potassium, iron, vitamins and many sources show they are healthier than an ordinary potato. How could anything take away from their nutritional value? The Glycemic Index In A Nutshell The glycemic index (GI) of a food is essentially a […]

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]]> Sweet potatoes are a popular, relatively healthy choice around the country. They are full of fiber, potassium, iron, vitamins and many sources show they are healthier than an ordinary potato. How could anything take away from their nutritional value?

The Glycemic Index In A Nutshell

The glycemic index (GI) of a food is essentially a measure of how much sugar they will produce in your blood after you eat them.

The lower the GI, the healthier that a food is likely to be for you. Aside from higher sugar levels in you blood, high GI foods make you stressed and could cause you to overeat.

How Are You Doubling A Sweet Potato’s GI?

Sweet potatoes are full of starch. Starch is a very complex molecule made up of lots of sugar molecules. When they’re bound together, these molecules can’t get into your bloodstream.

When you bake a sweet potato, you are keeping the potato at a high heat for a long time. This provides a long time for the starch to break down, something it does at high heat, and turn back into sugar; sugar that can get into your bloodstream.

While you do get some starch breakdown if you microwave or boil sweet potatoes, it happens more when you bake them. This is because microwaving and boiling tend to take much less time.

Please, don’t stop eating sweet potatoes; they’re still good for you. However, next time try to microwave or steam them rather than bake them to keep their GI down for maximum health benefits.

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