We know sugar is terrible for our skin, and if you don’t, then you’ll want to check out this post here. In short, sugar is super inflammatory and can spike your blood sugar levels, triggering an increased production of insulin and IGF-1 to help balance things out. This surge of insulin and IGF-1 will, in turn, trigger a release of androgen hormones – one of the key hormones causes acne breakouts! An excess of androgens means that our skin will produce too much sebum, which will then lead to clogged pores, blackheads and whiteheads which can then lead to acne inflammation.
Processed sugar, such as refined white sugar and high fructose corn syrup, are the ultimate worst! Not only do they spike your blood sugars crazy high, but they also contain NO nutritional value and aggravate inflammation in the body. NOT good news for acne suffers!
Giving up refined sugar doesn’t mean you have to shut your self away this weekend while your friends stuff their faces with high volumes of chocolate and sweets. While healthier sugar alternatives still shouldn’t be consumed on a daily basis, you can definitely enjoy some treats sweetened with more natural alternatives such as maple syrup, raw honey, coconut sugar, xylitol, stevia and whole fruits – without having to worry about causing an acne breakout!
Remember, if you’re like me and try to stick to zero carb sugars then the below recipes that call for honey, coconut or maple syrup can be substituted with powdered Xylitol or Erythritol!
9 refined sugar free treats to try this weekend
With Halloween just around the corner, I thought it would be a great idea to round up some fun, inspiring ideas for healthier, refined sugar free treats!
TOFFEE APPLES – 40 APRONS
A rich, chewy caramel apple made from dates and nut butter. This classic autumnal treat is a great combination of healthy fats, protein and fibre to slow down sugar absorption and escape those dreaded spikes!
CANDY CORN – GREENS OF THE STONE AGE
These Paleo Candy Corn have the same browned sugar, caramel, and milky marshmallow notes as their original unhealthy counterparts but minus the dairy and processed corn syrup!
‘BLOODY’ CUPS – ELEPHANTASTIC VEGAN
These Bloody Cups are like Peanut Butter Cups – but filled with a raspberry sauce instead, making it the perfect treat for Halloween! They are vegan, gluten-free and only need 3 ingredients – the ideal last minute recipe. Try using 85% dark chocolate and add a few drops of stevia extract to sweeten it to your taste. You can also replace the rice syrup with maple syrup or add a little stevia to the raspberry puree.
ZOMBIE GUMMY BEARS – DESSERTS WITH BENEFITS
Ok, so I just made up the zombie thing… these gummy bears are actually just green coloured, apple flavoured chews but I couldn’t find ANY Halloween inspired gummies (you’d think someone would have created some sugar free halloween ‘strawberry and cream’ worms or raspberry brains!?) Anyway, these were the closest I thing I could find to a ghoulish gummy and I HAD to include a gummy treat in my round up as they often contain gelatin – an awesome ingredient to help heal your gut and clear your skin!
BLOODY EYEBALL BROWNIES – TEXAS ERIN
These bloody eyeball brownies are frosted with coconut butter frosting and then topped with lychees and strawberry jam. The brownies are paleo, grain-free, gluten-free and dairy-free but any brownie base could be used!
WITCH FINGER COOKIES – FOOD FAITH FITNESS
These witch fingers cookies along with its blood-like strawberry dip are gluten free, paleo AND vegan! They’re super easy to make and will go down a treat at your Halloween party!
STRAWBERRY GHOSTS – LOVE FROM THE OVEN
These are such a simple idea, but so much fun! Plus, who doesn’t love a chocolate coated strawberry?! I couldn’t find a recipe that was free from refined sugar, so if you want to give these cuties a go, I recommend purchasing some raw ‘white’ chocolate (The Raw Chocolate Co do one) or you can make some yourself! (See GOTSA’s Oozing Blood Skulls below for a brilliant refined sugar free ‘white’ chocolate recipe)
OOZING BLOOD SKULLS – GREENS OF THE STONE AGE
The ‘skulls’ are made of a deliciously melt in your mouth, raw and dairy-free, white chocolate and are filled with a berry ‘blood’ coulis – but don’t worry no puppies, lambs, babies, or ghouls were sacrificed in the making of these devilishly delicious treats!
GRAVEYARD MOUSSE POT – WALLFLOWER KITCHEN
If you’re looking for a sophisticated way to impress your friends this week, these lemon poppy seed tombstone cookies paired with velvety chocolate mousse makes the perfect dinner party dessert!
Will you be trying any of these sugar free Halloween treats this weekend? Got some fun ideas? Share your favourite healthier Halloween ideas in the comments below!
Peace, Love & Clear Skin
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Sugar free chocolate for acne (paleo + vegan)
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