You’d be surprised how easy it is for big companies to hide sugar in their food products. It’s in almost everything we eat! One of the best ways to curb your sugar addiction is to figure out which foods you eat on a regular basis have a ton of sugar in them and slowly begin to weed them out of your diet. Learn to read a food label because it tells you exactly how much sugar is in food, even meats!
Very few people can successfully quit a bad habit cold-turkey. You know how it goes. You quit eating sugar for a few days, maybe even a week, and then someone offers you cookies. Next thing you know, you’ve eaten twelve, and you sure don’t feel too good. The simple solution? Wean yourself off slowly. It’ll help prevent your binge relapses.
One of the best ways to stop eating sugar is to swap out your sugary snacks for healthy ones. For example, eat foods that aren’t pure sugar, like vegetables, which have other vitamins and minerals in them. This will help your body absorb the sugar in a healthy way. Berries are another great snack that are low on the glycemic index. Try drinking seltzer waters like La Croix and Bubbly to break your soda addiction.
Another great way to quit eating sugar is to pretend to be a bodybuilder. No, we’re not talking about five-hour gym sessions and kale smoothies. Just eat more protein. A lot of it. It’s a complex energy source that will leave you feeling more full for a longer time than sugar does. Specifically, eat protein at breakfast. Your sugar cravings will drop dramatically.
Think sugar is the only way to make bland food exciting? Think again. Adding cinnamon will not only add the flavor you need, but it’ll also help curb your sugar urges. It’s a very nutritious spice with a lot of benefits. A great one is the spice’s ability to help regulate your blood sugar levels. Cinnamon is an easy way to help you get over your sugar cravings.
We know, we know. “30 minutes of exercise five days a week is good for us, blah blah blah.” You’ve heard it all before, but when was the last time you hit the pavement? Studies have proven that 15 minutes of moderate exercise can help your sugar cravings. Your brain is aching for the release of the feel-good chemical that sugar gives it: dopamine. Guess what else releases dopamine? Exercise. Try it next time you’re hit with a craving.
It's all about balance. Other cultures, like France, allow you to eat whatever you want as long as the portions are controlled. It's alright to eat something sweet every now and then as long as you don't consume too much. Choose something small like a small parfait instead of a large slice of cake. Also, balance it with a healthy meal instead of something heavy and bulky.
Sometimes we cave to our bad addictions out of habit. If this is the case, do your best to establish new habits during your weak moments. For example, if you crave sugar while binge-watching your favorite sitcom, don’t binge-watch your favorite sitcom. Watch an episode or two, then do something else. Don’t give yourself the opportunity to cave to your bad habits.
Processed sugars are bad. Honey is lower on the glycemic index and comes with a host of other benefits. High-quality honey is an antioxidant and antiseptic, so it can help fight off illness. Honey may also be able to lower triglycerides. The trick to this is to not eat too much. A tablespoon is alright as long as you watch your sugar content throughout the day.
When your body has a deficiency, it starts craving foods. Sadly, sugar can trick our bodies into thinking it’s something that will fix our deficiencies. Because of this, we start craving it, and then our bodies start to rely on sugar to meet those deficiencies. Try taking a multivitamin while you wean yourself off of sugar. It should help a ton.
Healthy foods aren’t always so healthy. Health smoothies, juices, and shakes are often loaded with sugar. Naked’s Green Machine has a shocking 53 grams of sugar, which is twice your daily value! As always, read the label and pay special attention to the amount of sugar in the product and the ingredients. Don’t just assume something is healthy because the label says so.
Americans are notorious for drinking our calories, and that also goes for sugar. Sodas, smoothies, coffee, and teas usually have sugar, especially if it’s purchased pre-made. Coffee and tea are even strong enough to cover the sugary taste. Ask for unsweetened drinks when out or make everything at home. As a note, it’s also cheaper made at home!
Drinking soy milk doesn’t always equate to a healthy alternative. Many cow milk alternatives have tons of sugar, and that’s precisely why you should search for “unsweetened” products. You may be surprised how many items have unsweetened versions! Tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, and bread are three items you can find unsweetened, making your sugar detox much easier.
Ace-K or acesulfame potassium is one of the most common artificial sweeteners on the market. It’s in most diet sodas, and it’s not great for everyone. It can cause serious inflammation, which could make you feel worse. Maltitol is another one to look out for. It can cause inflammation in some, but the real danger is eating too much. You’ll likely spend your afternoon in the bathroom if you do.
Whether it’s a buddy at work or a Facebook support group, talking to people that have chosen a similar lifestyle is everything. They’ll usually have tips on how to curb sugar cravings or suggest products that are sugar-free and delicious. Just be careful. Not everything you read on these groups is scientifically accurate, so do your own research if something seems too good to be true.
