Very few material objects in this world are as comforting as a good dessert. Binging on foods like ice-cream and cake when you need a little pick me up is almost an accepted stereotype today. But sugar is a dangerous thing and even if you avoid dessert, it creeps into your life in many different ways. Even your energy boosting protein shake in the morning won’t be as healthy as you think if you keep adding sugar to improve the taste.
70-year-old Carolyn Hartz is sugar-free for 28 years!!
A living example of what life can look like if you give up sugar is Carolyn Hartz. Now in her early 70s, Hartz has kept herself healthy and fit, so much so that people in their 20s would be in awe of her. How does she do it? By giving up sugar! This isn’t just something as simple as avoiding pastries. Carolyn gave up sugar when she was in her 40s. She’s stuck to that decision for about thirty years now and for her, it was worth it.
Giving up sugar was no easy task because as Carolyn herself admits, she had an addiction to sweet things. But her desire to stay fit and healthy finally won over her love for sugary treats. Her advice for those who’d like to follow in her footsteps is to make sure that protein is a big part of your diet. This is especially important when it comes to breakfast because it prevents you from craving sugar.
She’s also never prevented herself from eating or missed meals to maintain her figure. But as she rightly points out, our metabolic system becomes less efficient with age, so it is important to eat the right food in the right amounts. While this is not easy, we all need to make a conscious decision about our health.
Of course, it is also essential to point out that Carolyn didn’t fully give up eating anything sweet. She substituted sugar with Xylitol, a naturally occurring substance derived from berries and vegetables. She also runs her own sweetener company.
A healthy diet and a good night’s sleep
Besides the changes in her diet, Hartz is also very conscious of her sleep cycle. She believes that it is a major contributing factor to her wellness even in her old age. She tries to set aside a minimum of eight hours every night for sleep and this is a practice she’s been following for years. This way, her body gets the time it needs to rest so that she can feel refreshed when she wakes up.
Another important piece of advice that Carolyn has to offer is to wear sunscreen. She had skin cancer on her nose when she was just 30 and ever since then, she’s used sunscreen every day. In Australia where she lives, this is a necessity and she’s all too aware of how harmful exposure to the sun’s rays can be.
But the most important thing she has to say to young people is to just be happy. Worrying about how old you’re getting isn’t going to get you anywhere. Stay optimistic and always look for the silver lining.
