Last week, we spoke about Sugar Addiction, and why sugar is so darn bad for you. (Read Article)
Now that you’re all informed, here are some Great Tips on How to Stop Eating Sugar and Carbs:
Drink water.
Our brains can give us mixed signals telling us we’re hungry when we really are dehydrated. Water also reduces cravings by making you feel full and flushing excess sugar out of the body. Stay away from sugary drinks and juices. Stick to water, coconut water, or decaffeinated tea.
Read ingredient labels.
As said above sugar is often called other names on labels. Try to stay away from packaged foods as much as possible.
Spice things up.
Many spices will add sweetness and flavor to your food without having to add sugar. Try: cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, or cloves.
Cut out the fake stuff.
Not only are artificial sweeteners unnatural, they’ve been linked to numerous health issues, and now a Yale study has shown that certain sweeteners like aspartame and Sucralose can actually increase your sugar cravings. If you must have sugar, stick to natural stuff like: raw honey, coconut sugar. and pure maple syrup.
Find the Root of the Problem.
For many, sugar has become a way to deal with depression and stress. Before you reach for the sweet stuff take the time to ask yourself why you are craving. Perhaps a positive mantra or meditation can be great stress relief and eliminate your need for a treat.
Exercise.
Exercising helps balance your blood sugar levels. It has also been linked to better moods and more energy, which in turn can reduce cravings.
Get more down time.
When you’re tired, run down, or stressed the body naturally craves carbs. The more relaxed and rested you are, the less you’ll crave sugar.
Eat sour foods.
Sour food get rid of sugar cravings. Who knew! Try sauerkraut or kimchi.
Protein & fat.
Protein and/or fat eaten with carbs lessens the carb’s affect on blood sugar. They also keep you feeling fuller, longer. Aim for about 25% of your meal to come from protein with good fats, like Omega 3s. Click Here for more info on Good Fat
Start your day off right.
Make sure to have protein for breakfast. This will help you maintain a steady blood sugar level throughout the day. Sugar cravings are much easier to avoid if you keep your blood sugar levels from yo-yoing. Try eggs or a protein shake.
Do Sugar Detox Diets Work?
There is a new trend of sugar detoxes which urge you to eliminate all fruit, dairy, and refined grains from your diet. I in no way suggest that you completely cut grains and fruits from your diet. Cutting these things out completely is too severe and will eventually cause backlash. Apart from containing sugar, the foods mentioned also contain much needed vitamins. As with everything else, awareness and moderation are of critical importance.
Resources: essentiallivingmaine.com, calorie.com, mindbodygreen, gnolls.org, webMD
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