NatNews

Many of the foods and beverages people consume on a regular basis contain more sugar than they might realize. Too much sugar in one’s diet can contribute to detrimental health issues, including obesity, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and tooth decay.

Some individuals choose to reduce the amount of sugar in their diets or even remove it for a period of time. Dallas-area resident and registered dietitian Lyndsey Kohn said doing so can be an effective way to help “reset” one’s taste buds and become more cognizant of products that contain added sugars.

“A lot of folks aren’t even aware of how much sugar they consume, and it can be a little shocking when you start adding it all up,” she said. “Removing added sugars for a period of time can help with blood glucose regulation, decrease your appetite for sugary products, and possibly increase other whole-food consumption since you may be swapping out a few regular food items (e.g., Dr. Pepper vs. a Spindrift or a couple of M&M’s vs. veggies and hummus).”

Dallas resident Ben Sewell has recently lowered his sugar intake and said that while sugar is helpful with many body functions, giving up excessive sugar consumption can help with weight loss, maintaining balanced blood sugar levels, and improving skin tone and appearance, among other benefits.

“There are abundant sources of naturally occurring sugar in healthy foods, so making conscious choices to eliminate sugar really means getting rid of processed sugars,” he said. “Cutting sugar from your diet, however, is easier said than done. It’s in everything, so some trial and error is to be expected when you are first starting to go sugar-free. I gave it up completely for Lent a few years ago, and there was a period of two weeks or so in which I felt fatigued and mentally unfocused.”

Sewell said because sugary foods are also associated with lifestyle, it took him a bit of time to quit having desserts with every dinner. He said the difficulty passes, though, and it’s possible to reduce or eliminate the sweets with some creativity and perseverance.

“Nowadays, there are far more options for sugar-free foods that make the effort easier,” he said. “After Lent, I stayed off sugar for several more months and gradually brought back select treats but in much lower portions and far less frequently than before.”

Like Sewell, Dallas resident Laura Hays knows the challenges of not allowing sugar in her diet for a certain amount of time, as she does so every January for 30 days as part of Whole30, a short-term elimination diet that avoids sugar, grains, and dairy.

“This is a great way for me to reset for the new year after overindulging during the holidays,” she said. “While I usually slip back to old habits afterward, it has raised my awareness of how much sugar I am consuming.”

Kohn has also taken part in the Whole30 diet as well as the 75 Hard challenge and said she found them both to be interesting experiments on how food affects people’s bodies, from both cognitive and physical standpoints.

“Added sugars was one for which it was easy to see the effects,” she said. “After 30 or 60 days, I vividly remember eating ice cream for the first time and thinking it tasted too sweet, and I didn’t like it. It’s shocking, I know—I love a good vanilla bean ice cream.”

Whether one is reducing or eliminating sugar temporarily or permanently, Kohn said doing so is no easy feat.

“You are essentially retraining your brain and daily habits not to default to high amounts of sugar,” she said. “You are really training your blood glucose response not to fluctuate so drastically throughout the day and to become more stabilized. It takes time to shift this, so give it a week or so to start feeling the benefits of it.”

And Kohn said she certainly does not eliminate sugar from her diet completely, as she believes that added sugars are delicious and fun treats to have on occasion, especially on the recent Fourth of July holiday and as part of various summer festivities.

“It’s just a matter of being mindful around it,” she said. “People like to say it’s good to be a conscious consumer, and I say it’s important to be a conscious eater and be aware but also to have fun.”

While Hays only rids of sugar once a year, she said she has become more mindful of where sugar may be unexpectedly found.

“If I’m eating candy or dessert, I expect it to be full of sugar, but now I look for it hidden in things like sauces, soups, nut butters, and milk alternatives, where it really isn’t necessary and tastes just as good without,” she said. “Primal Kitchen’s sugar-free spicy ketchup is my absolute favorite, even after Whole30 ends. I feel like small changes add up to make a difference.”

And though Sewell has reduced his overall sugar intake, he said like most everything else in life, it is OK to enjoy the sweetness in moderation.

“During extra-long work days or after heavy workouts, I’ll enjoy a Coke or something similar, but discipline is important to make sure you don’t fall back into bad habits and start having things like that every day,” he said. “It’s important to reward oneself from time to time, but since I dialed back my sugar intake, I don’t crave it as much anymore, and that leads to a much healthier lifestyle.”

Originally known as dinner suits, tuxedos got their name from Tuxedo Park, a small town in New York that was home to a private hunting and fishing club during the 1800s.

While a wedding is typically meant to be a beautiful event to celebrate the union of two individuals committing their lives to each other, there can be some stressful moments of planning and preparation included leading up to the special day. Sometimes, this involves controversial decisions as to whether or not guests will have the option to bring plus-ones with them.

As one might expect, not everyone is on the same page regarding the plus-one debate. Should everyone be able to bring a plus-one? Should that option be limited to those who are married, engaged, or in serious long-term relationships? Does it depend on the wedding? Or should plus-ones never be an option at all?

Dallas resident Whitney Phinyawatana said she believes that if the budget allows, any adult wedding guest should have the option to bring a plus-one, especially if that individual will not recognize many familiar faces.

“I imagine it can feel very awkward to attend when you know no one there and have no one by your side,” she said.

Some weddings are more expensive than others, though, and Dallas-area resident Madison Royal said while there is no real set rule, she thinks that if the wedding reception includes a sit-down dinner in which the married couple must pay per person, then in most cases, plus-ones should be reserved for married or engaged individuals.

“That’s what we did for our wedding,” she said. “We tried to account for the fact that as much as we love people, we wanted significant others to be involved because it was such a special day for us. I like that solely because then you’re getting someone who’s committed to your friend or family member. But at the same point, if money’s not an issue, I think everybody gets a plus-one because that’s just super considerate and makes people feel more comfortable at times.”

Royal also said that keeping plus-ones to those who are in more committed relationships can limit awkward future Photoshop requests.

“Not at my own wedding but at a couple of family weddings, family members have brought current girlfriends and boyfriends, and they end up in some of the family photos,” she said. “Later on down the line, you have these wedding photos of your family with somebody your cousin, friend, sister, or whoever wants to crop out. It’s not a great situation, and I think that you are more likely to avoid that if you keep plus-ones solely for those who are engaged or married.”

Every wedding is different, and couples have different budgets and desires for their ceremonies and receptions. Dallas-area resident Brandy Hoskins, who is currently engaged, said she thinks whether or not wedding guests should be able to bring plus-ones depends on the intimacy of the particular wedding.

“I think it’s up to the couple and their budget when it comes to whether there should be plus-ones,” she said. “The only plus-ones coming to our wedding are those who technically aren’t plus-ones. They just happen to be part of a couple we have a relationship with. I think the standard etiquette is to adhere to whatever is on the invitation. If there’s any question, ask the folks getting married.”

And then there are those like Dallas resident Drew Mbiam who don’t think there should be any extras amongst attendees.

“A plus-one is a variable, and in planning, you want to limit your variables,” he said. “If you are close enough with that person who is a plus-one, you should be able to have them added to the guest list. It’ll make it easier for the planners to make seating charts and check at the door, which will reduce friction during the reception—fewer wandering chairs and people such as family members losing seats.”

Mbiam said he has been a frequent victim of his chair getting stolen, as he enjoys working the room a bit and ensuring that he gets enough food. He thinks such situations could be avoided if wedding guests simply followed what he believes is proper protocol, which includes not bringing plus-ones.

“It’s not your wedding, and you’re not footing the bill for it,” he said. “So respect the couple’s time and money by sticking to the program and not introducing any X factors.”

Though Phinyawatana would like for every adult wedding guest to be able to bring a plus-one, she said she knows that there are certain exceptions and that some couples’ budgets simply can’t allow for that reality. She is also rather grateful that she didn’t have to make such decisions.

“As a pathological people pleaser, putting together a guest list gave me massive anxiety,” she said. “It’s one of the (many) reasons my husband and I eloped in Hawaii and are still so happy with that decision.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Half of the NatNews staff and some dear readers enjoyed a lovely Fourth of July with old and new friends

Monday, July 8: National Blueberry Day
Tuesday, July 9: Free Rooftop Movie — Think Like a Man at Sundown at Granada; SOJA at House of Blues Dallas
Wednesday, July 10: Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night at Community Beer Co.
Thursday, July 11: Cool Thursdays Concert Series — Desperados, Eagles Tribute Band at the Dallas Arboretum; Candlelight — A Tribute to Pink Floyd at First Presbyterian Church of Dallas
Friday, July 12: Tom Petty Tribute — American Petty at Sundown at Granada; HBCU Swingman Classic at Globe Life Field; Deana Carter at The Kessler Theater
Saturday, July 13: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; All-Star Saturday at Globe Life Field; FC Dallas vs. LA Galaxy at Toyota Stadium; Dallas Wings vs. LA Sparks at College Park Center
Sunday, July 14: Painting with a View at Sky Blu Rooftop; Sunset Sessions at Greenlight Social