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Maybe You Will Power Your Car With Sugar!

May 08, 2008 • Comments (0)

My friend Jason said he hopes gasoline prices climb to the $5 dollar per gallon mark so that people will actually do something about fossil fuels. His wish is coming true!

A New York City entrepreneur has collaboratively developed a device that can power your car with sin. That’s right! For $10,000 the E Fuel 100 turns sugar (feedstock, yeast, and discarded alcohol) into fuel that could power any car. That could be a lucrative alternative for farmers—or anyone—looking to open an alternative fuel station.

Maybe it will define a whole new set of moral principles in the way that the great depression had parents and grandparents hovering over children saying, “Finish all the food on your plate.”

Perhaps, in the future, children will be told to skip dessert so mommy and daddy can get to work on Monday. Parents will say how sugar and alcohol are bad for you and there was once a time when they were consumed by people.

The kids would laugh, “Don’t lie to us! NOBODY would eat sugar or alcohol, it’s automobile fuel!”

Source: For $9,995, your car could run on sugar and tequila.

Posted on May 08, 2008 • Comments (0)

Would You Power Your Car With Sugar?

May 03, 2008 • Comments (0)

When I lived in New York my Tai Chi teacher, Roberto, would ask me to come for lessons at 7 am. He was a morning person. I was not and still am not. 9 am wake up is the best I can do. However, some days I’d go early.

One morning I remember he was training me, as I had requested, but I just couldn’t keep up. In fact at one point I could barely breathe. Let me clarify that the Tai Chi we were practicing is a martial art and part of the training included a more rigorous workout. The thing I have come to understand that I didn’t know then was that sugar was ruining my life. I was fit, in decent shape, and exercising regularly. But I had zero stamina and very low energy levels because I was still eating copious amounts sugar on a daily basis.

Now that I’m off sugar I can do so much more. I currently exercise about 20-22 hours a week, not counting my bike rides to and from different locations. I know a big part of the ability to keep that up is avoiding sugar. The hardest part of being a fitness instructor and a sugar-addict in remission is seeing people come to my classes eating sugar. It surprises me but people show up to class sipping a coffee and sometimes drinking soft drinks. Starbucks is one of the worst things a person can drink and yet people use it as fuel to get through class.

What’s more is certain Yoga people. I knew a woman who had been practicing Yoga for close to twenty years with some well known teachers/practitioners. Yet she had all kinds of muscle pain and joint problems. The more I got to know her the more I heard her tell stories about her college days and partying all weekend. Then she’d “stretch and detoxify” her body on Monday in Yoga class. What’s worse was that it turned out she was still behaving like this even though she was in her forties. A weekend of partying meant she needed to spend more time doing more vigorous Yoga the following week to make up for the damage she did to her body over the weekend. Yikes.

You can’t fuel your body with sugar and expect it to run well. Remember, you are what you eat. If you eat sugar and then exercise, guess what’s going right into your muscles as you stretch. Sugar. Nutrition (something I’m learning more and more about) is more than just avoiding sugar and is a whole science in itself. By simply quitting sugar it forces you to eat things that aren’t products with long shelf lives. Avoid sugar.

Swap the coffee or energy drink for plain water and you’ll be amazed (after you get through the initial physical reaction) at how good H₂0 makes you feel. Fuel your workout with plenty of sleep and foods that are naturally colorful and delicious. If it’s so simple and easy, why is it so hard for people to do?

Posted on May 03, 2008 • Comments (0)

Check The Bulk Food Aisle

April 25, 2008 • Comments (4)

If you’re lucky enough to have a bulk food aisle at your local supermarket, check it out. I quite enjoy me some pay-by-the-pound cashews, peanuts, and even a few of the trail mixes.

But be careful! Lots of that stuff is sweetened with organic cane juice which is simply sugar. It will kick your butt!

The first time I saw a product sweetened with organic cane juice was in a health food store. It was Gorilla Munch cereal. I was so happy thinking I had found a natural alternative to sweets. I went home and ate the whole box. An hour later I crashed!

So, my advice for the bulk aisle is to stay unsweet. Try unsweetened carob chips instead of chocolate chips. Beware of grain sweetened stuff, it still packs a punch for anyone with sugar sensitivities.

Let us know if you find something good.

Posted on Apr 25, 2008 • Comments (4)

How To Avoid Sweets At Work

April 13, 2008 • Comments (1)

Everyone around you is addicted to coffee and donuts. Coworkers bring in bags of candy and leave them on the table next to your desk. What’s a sugar addict to do?

Bring in your own snacks. Make or purchase sliced fruit plates. Bring in mixed nuts. Go to the bulk aisle at your local supermarket and purchase lots of dried fruit. Buy unsweetened potato chips—not the healthiest but better than eating sugar.

Put the healthy dish right next to the junk food or keep it at your desk. Chances are you’re gonna want to eat something while everyone is chewing on the bowl of Hershey’s assorted candies.

Your goal is to eat good food instead of junk. The possible result of your actions would be that someone else appreciates the good food and follows your lead. It’s possible that other people in the office are trying to eat better. And even if not, lots of times the candy will still be eaten before the health food which is in your favor if you can manage to keep yourself away from the sugar.

Good luck!

Posted on Apr 13, 2008 • Comments (1)

How to Say No to Dessert at Someone’s House

April 11, 2008 • Comments (4)

I’m back from a friend’s birthday party. Of course there was cake for dessert. The cake was huge and it was chocolate. And there was ice cream. I didn’t eat any of it. I’ve eaten enough chocolate cake in my time to know what I’m missing.

The thing that fascinates me is that they asked me if I’m still not eating sugar. They can’t believe it. One of them asked why I’m not eating sugar. I’ve told them before. I’m not annoyed; I’m fascinated. Why don’t people believe me?

It’s interesting that they think I must have eaten sweets since the last time I declared, “No more sweets.” That was in November during my birthday dinner. They were there when I said it. People won’t believe you if you stop being sweet. They won’t know what to do with you. And I don’t know what to do with them. Normally I’ll eat some fruit after dinner. Is it okay to bring fruit to someone’s house for my own dessert? Bringing a sugar-free dessert just seems tacky. So what’s an unsweet person to do? Bring enough for everyone!

Perhaps make some fruit salad. Maybe bring some sugar-free date fudge. Then people could sample something healthy and delicious and decide for themselves. When I first tasted a sugar-free chocolate chip cookie from that vegan bakery on St. Marks St. in New York City I thought it was like eating cardboard. Your dinner friends will probably think the same but don’t worry. After quitting sugar, healthy desserts taste like heaven. And the best part is most people at the table will opt for the sugary junk and leave more of the good stuff for you!

Posted on Apr 11, 2008 • Comments (4)

Is Stevia Better Than Sugar?

February 20, 2008 • Comments (0)

I just read this article about Stevia, the wonder plant that’s super sweet and apparently better for us than refined sugar. The USDA won’t say if it’s good or bad and that makes me wonder.

Sugar is big business. Lots of companies rely on sugar as their bread and butter—so to speak. What would happen if the USDA suddenly gave Stevia the go ahead? Are sugar importers ready to change products? Are sugar growers ready to change crops? Is the general public interested in a healthy alternative? Does the average consumer count the amount of sugar in their baby formula? Care about what makes their Coke or Pepsi taste sweet? Want to find a brand of cookies that contains nothing but natural ingredients?

Should/would/could it take the USDA’s approval to remove the word “apparently” from the first sentence of this post?

Posted on Feb 20, 2008 • Comments (0)