Experience the excitement as Clean Juice introduces a fresh-pressed juice, “The Rosey & Bright One,” for a limited time. This juice combines the beauty-enhancing properties of rose water with orange juice, apple juice, lemon, and beets. Bring your galentine or sweetheart to enjoy a free fresh-pressed juice with the purchase of The Rosey & Bright One on Feb. 13th – 14th. Rose water has been valued for centuries in beauty and wellness rituals, while orange juice provides vitamin C, apple juice adds sweetness, lemon brings a refreshing zing, and beets contribute earthy richness and vibrant color!
Celebrate love, health, and beauty this Valentine’s season with Clean Juice! This special offer showcases Clean Juice’s commitment to providing innovative and organic beverages to help guests reach their health objectives. Don’t miss out on this unique and delicious limited-time offer—visit us in stores!
Now, it’s hard to imagine a Valentine’s celebration without a little sweetness, right? That’s why our wellness blog topic this month is:
Natural Sugar for The Sweet Tooth!
At Clean Juice, we understand that most people have a sweet tooth… How could you not?
Whether it’s ice cream on a hot summer day, cookies during Christmas, chocolates on Valentine’s Day, or freshly baked treats on Sunday mornings, sweet indulgences are a delight.
If only there was a way to enjoy sweetness without the downsides of excessive refined sugar!
Fortunately, natural sweeteners are readily available to satisfy your sweet cravings, such as fruits (nature’s candy), dates, honey, and maple syrup!
At Clean Juice, we offer two delicious and naturally sweet Dessert Smoothies!
- The Banana Bread One: Almond milk, banana, cinnamon, vanilla, walnuts
- The Birthday Cake One: Almond milk, banana, vanilla, maple syrup
Fruits and natural sweeteners offer endless possibilities for creating delicious flavors. By blending natural and nutritious ingredients, we’ve crafted these smoothies to hit the sweet spot. It’s a wonderful way to indulge, nourish, and avoid refined sugars or artificial sweeteners.
Order Your Dessert Smoothie Today
All About Fruit Sugar, or Fructose:
Fruits contain natural sugars, a blend of sucrose, fructose, and glucose. Opting for whole fruits over foods with high-fructose corn syrup or refined sugars is a healthier way to satisfy your sweet tooth (1). The sugars to watch out for are what we call “free sugars,” which are sugars like fructose, glucose, and sucrose that have been extracted from their natural sources and added to food and drinks by manufacturers, cooks, or consumers (1). “Free sugars” include added sugars in your morning coffee, for example.
Natural sweeteners like maple syrup and honey are unprocessed and have a lower glycemic index than refined sugar. Foods with a lower glycemic index tend to cause smaller spikes in blood sugar levels compared to those with a higher index (2).
Here are some helpful tips for swapping sugars!
- Opt for plain dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate or candy
- Choose fruit over cookies and desserts
- Try granola and oats instead of sugary cereals
- Switch to sparkling flavored water and stevia-sweetened drinks over full-sugar sodas
- Use honey, maple syrup, or stevia to sweeten your coffee and tea
- Use bananas, applesauce, dates, honey, and maple syrup as natural sweeteners in baked goods
About 15% of the calories in the average American diet come from “free” added sugars, equivalent to about 22 teaspoons of added sugar daily. Sugar-sweetened beverages like soda and packaged sweets are major sources of added sugars in the diet, according to research (3).
The WHO and FDA recommend limiting “free” sugar intake to no more than 10% of daily calories, roughly 12 teaspoons of added sugar per day. Functional medicine guidelines suggest even lower limits, around 6 teaspoons daily for women and 9 teaspoons for men (4).
Sugar cravings can be challenging to manage, especially during times of stress or emotional highs. Cravings for sweets and carbs may also signal a need for more energy or point to certain nutrient deficiencies. By reducing refined carbohydrates and free sugars and replacing them with fruits, fiber, protein, and complex carbs, you may find that sugar cravings diminish. Exercise and stress management techniques can also be beneficial. For instance, a study found that a 15-minute brisk walk can significantly reduce stress and sugar cravings in overweight individuals (5).
Here are some effective strategies for overcoming sugar cravings!
- Take brisk walks
- Practice gentle movement and deep breathing
- Incorporate more protein and fiber into your meals
- Snack on fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds
- Stay hydrated
- Improve your sleep habits
Life should be sweet! Cutting back on refined sugar doesn’t mean giving up your sweet treats. By choosing alternatives like fruits, dark chocolate, or sugar-free options made with wholesome ingredients, you can satisfy your sweet tooth while staying true to your health goals. It’s all about balance—selecting nourishing choices that bring you joy and support your well-being. With the right mindset and choices, you can enjoy sweetness guilt-free! Next time you crave something naturally sweet and delicious, remember to visit your local Clean Juice for a dessert smoothie!
Warm wishes for a sweet Valentine’s Day,
The Clean Juice Family 😃
Disclaimer: These Statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. The information provided is for information purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Clean Juice products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please consult a qualified healthcare practitioner to determine your personal needs.
Sources:
- Stanhope KL, Schwarz JM, Havel PJ. Adverse metabolic effects of dietary fructose: results from recent epidemiological, clinical, and mechanistic studies. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2013 Jun;24(3):198-206. doi: 10.1097/MOL.0b013e3283613bca. PMID: 23594708; PMCID: PMC4251462.
- Brouns F. Saccharide Characteristics and Their Potential Health Effects in Perspective. Front Nutr. 2020 Jul 6;7:75. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2020.00075. PMID: 32733909; PMCID: PMC7357269.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2024, June 17). Sweet stuff. National Institutes of Health. https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2014/10/sweet-stuff
- Added sugar. The Nutrition Source. (2024, November 7).
- Ledochowski L, Ruedl G, Taylor AH, Kopp M. Acute effects of brisk walking on sugary snack cravings in overweight people, affect and responses to a manipulated stress situation and to a sugary snack cue: a crossover study. PLoS One. 2015 Mar 11;10(3):e0119278. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119278. PMID: 25760042; PMCID: PMC4356559.