It is completely natural to desire something sweet. A sweet flavor is a signal to the body that there will be an abundance of easily-assimilated energy. With processed sugar, the body has been tricked into feeling satisfied, when in fact, the sweetness is completely deficient in essential vitamins, minerals, trace minerals and enzymes which would normally be present. A chocolate bar may satisfy hunger because of the high amount of sugar and fat, but it has created a deficit in the nutrients the body needs to run efficiently. Hence, we have people who are overweight, yet their bodies are starving for nutrients.

Trying to fight your sweet tooth by eliminating sugar from your diet is not the answer. Replacing man-made, processed, empty calories with natural sweeteners is the solution, and we have some practical suggestions.

* SUCANAT

For the sweet tooth, Sucanat is a joyous blessing from God. You can have your cake and eat it too. No feelings of guilt. No sneaking in the cookie jar. But enjoying one of the most delicious, natural sweeteners you have ever tasted. Sucanat is organically grown, freshly-squeezed sugar cane juice, evaporated by a special Swiss process. In its natural state, it is highly nutritious because the molasses is not removed. The flavor is quite extraordinary.

Brown sugar is simply white sugar with a bit of fancy molasses to give texture and color. Everything that you use white and brown sugar for can be replaced with Sucanat. Sucanat in water, hot or cold, is a refreshing beverage. A teaspoon of dried Sucanat will leven remove hiccups.

*UNPASTEURIZED HONEY

Raw honey has the plant enzyme amylase which is concentrated in the pollen of flowers. It is effective in helping the pre-digestion of starchy foods. Try spreading raw honey on a piece of bread and allow it to sit for 15 minutes. The honey will immediately begin to break down the starches in the bread. Most commercial honey has been pasteurized, heated for up to 24 hours to prevent it from turning hard or hazy. In 1930, the German Honey Ordinance ordered that honey could not be sold for table use unless the enzyme, amylase was intact. North America has no such requirement. Although not as high in vitamins and minerals as Sucanat, honey is a useful, natural sweetener.

*FROZEN JUICE CONCENTRATES

Keep in mind that all the frozen concentrates in your supermarket have been pasteurized. But we consider them far healthier for sweetening, a sauce or salad dressing than white sugar. Pineapple, apple and orange concentrates are excellent for sweetening salad dressings or perking up fresh juice combinations, making popsicles and for baking. A tablespoon of frozen pineapple concentrate can really liven up a fruit salad.

*DATES AND RAISINS

Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love (Solomon 2:5). Take a handful of dates, raisins or figs and place them in a blender with a 1/2 cup of water. Blend for 10 minutes or until desired consistency. Out of your blender will come a caramel pudding-like substance that is absolutely heavenly. It is hard to believe that this natural, healthy sweetener is so good for you! It can be used for salads and dressings, toppings for fruit salads, creating healthy desserts and baking.

*FRUCTOSE

Although it is assimilated into the body more slowly than white sugar, fructose has essentially the same nutritional value. Fructose is the sugar that is primarily found in fruit. It breaks down more slowly because it does not use insulin but is broken down by an enzyme in the bowel. Fructose sugar looks identical to common white sugar, but is significantly sweeter. It is a safer sugar to use for insulin . Fructose is certainly more desirable than common sugar, but is still void of nutrients. Use sparingly.

Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. And the LORD made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground – trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food… I give every green plant for food…

Genesis 1:30, 31, 2:8

Birds have nests, foxes have holes, but man was given a garden. A place to meet God. An oasis of life. The garden had endless varieties of food. Fruits that were pleasing to the eye and delicious to the palate. The hospitality of heaven. The living kitchen.

Imagine a Dietitian being transported back in time to the Garden of Eden. He sits down to counsel Adam and Eve on a diet program that will allow them to maintain optimum health. Cut down on animal products and processed food, and increase your intake of fruits and vegetables.

Yet, everything Adam and Eve ate was filled with life. No guilt, no need to read the ingredients, no food combining or referring to the Four Food Groups. They ate in freedom and simplicity. Flawless skin, warmed by God’s loving touch. Eyes that could see life dancing on fruit and flower. Ears that could hear the throb of Living Words. Nostrils, sensitive to the fragrant breath of God. They wore Eden like a garment. Eating from God’s Holy breast, they would experience oneness with the Creator.

Adam and Eve were perfect- perfect like God. Living in perfect contentment, perfect peace, perfect love and perfect communion. Vulgar clothing was unnecessary. There was nothing to hide.

In Eden, God had made two new friends. Companions He could speak to on His level, sharing His most intimate thoughts. Friends that He would die for. What conversation they must have had.

One morning, God took a walk in the garden in the cool of the morning, as He had done so many times. But something was different. He found himself alone. He called for His friends. Adam answered from behind a bush – I heard you in the Garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid (Genesis 3:10). I am naked. I am unworthy. I am sinful and dirty. I hide from God’s presence. I must find my own Eden – a new paradise.

This was the first fruit of a sinful inward focus that destroyed man’s fellowship with God.

North America has become the new paradise.

If all North Americans were to climb onto a huge scale, it is estimated that we would be 2,500,000,000 lbs. overweight! Enough caloric energy to fuel 1.3 million cars for a year. There are thousand of weightloss books, videos, and programs responding to a nation that is desperately trying to control body fat.

This is not another book on weightloss. Being overweight is not a problem – it is a symptom! Overweight, chronic fatigue, lack of energy, foggy-mindedness, allergies, susceptibility to flues, colds, depression, disease, body odor, poor complexion and even hair loss are common symptoms of eating in Satan’s new Eden.

Jesus wants to feed His children with all good things because He has a Father’s heart. Satan wants to feed your cravings to control you.

Being a dietitian is nothing new to Satan. Today, Satan controls the vast percentage of what enters the world’s mouth. A food industry whose heart has become darkened by greed and a nation that has made its stomach a god, sacrificing health on the altar of self-fulfillment and escapism. We refuse to adjust or play with such destructive system of eating! Instead, we are going to present a completely different approach.