Peep Peep: Putting the Brakes on Your Sugar Intake

It’s Easter and, as with many holidays, that means excess sugar is pretty much everywhere. Easter can be especially excessive as a holiday that essentially revolves around sugary treats like chocolate and those love ‘em or hate ‘em monstrosities called Peeps.🐥🤮 Here's a look at what's typically inside these marshmallow devils:

Sugar – The main ingredient.
Corn Syrup – Another form of sugar; helps with texture.
Gelatin – Gives Peeps their squishy texture.
Yellow #5 (or other dyes) – For the bright colors.
Potassium Sorbate – A preservative.
Natural Flavors – A vague term that can include a lot of things.

Eating too much sugar (especially added sugars) can mess with our health in several ways:

1. Blood Sugar Spikes & Crashes
   → Leads to fatigue, irritability, and cravings for more sugar.
   → Over time, this rollercoaster can contribute to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

2. Weight Gain & Obesity
   → Sugar (especially in liquid or fast-digesting forms like corn syrup) doesn't keep you full, so you eat more.
   → Excess calories are stored as fat, particularly visceral fat, which surrounds organs.

3. Increased Risk of Heart Disease
   → High sugar diets raise blood pressure, increase inflammation, and raise levels of fat in the blood (triglycerides).

4. Tooth Decay
   → Sugar feeds bacteria in your mouth, which produce acids that erode enamel.

5. Fatty Liver
   → Too much fructose (from corn syrup, for example) is processed in the liver and can lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

6. Addiction-Like Effects
   → Sugar activates the brain's reward system, releasing dopamine, just like with addictive substances. That’s why it’s so hard to have just one sugary treat

You can satisfy a sweet tooth without the sugar crash. Here are some healthier alternatives to sugary treats that still feel indulgent but are way better for your body:

Fresh Fruit - berries, apples, oranges, mangoes – sweet, juicy, packed with fiber and vitamins. Bonus: Add a little cinnamon or nut butter for extra flavor.

Frozen Banana Bites - dip banana slices in dark chocolate (70%+ cocoa) and freeze them. 

Dates with Nut Butter - nature's caramel. Slice a Medjool date, add almond or peanut butter, maybe a sprinkle of sea salt.

Dark Chocolate (70%+ cocoa) - less sugar, more antioxidants. Stick to 1–2 squares.

Cocoa Chia Pudding - mix chia seeds, almond milk, a little maple syrup or mashed banana, and cocoa powder. Let it set overnight.

Homemade Energy Balls - blend oats, nut butter, a touch of honey or dates, and dark chocolate chips or coconut flakes. No baking needed. Bonus: add a scoop of protein powder.

As you can see there are lots of ways to skip the Peeps and chocolate bunnies and still satisfy that sweet tooth. Try these alternatives not just on holidays but any time of year! And maybe save the Peeps for the microwave😏