Eliminating sugar from your diet is no easy task! It is after all a drug and like any other drug when you decide to ‘give up’ the sugar it can lead to withdrawal symptoms, cravings and relapse.
Sugar is very addictive and not many people know how addictive it really is as it floods the brain with dopamine which is just like cocaine or other drugs.
- Keep sugary foods out of the house – This is the simple solution but very effective! If you remove temptation then it will help the cravings disappear! If you live with family or other people then explain to them just how sugar has been impacting on your health. So throw away the biscuit barrel and give away the things that have sugar in it like fruit juices. The long term benefit of avoiding future health complications like heart disease and type 2 diabetes
- Find a good substitute. Not artificial sweeteners but something like stavia which is natural and allow us to enjoy the sweet taste without spiking your blood sugar. Short term they can reduce your sugar consumption although to reduce sugar cravings you should try to reduce sweet tasting foods altogether.
- Have some snacks ready to eat. Sugar cravings can come on really strong so its a good idea to have snacks that are handy and aren’t too sweet such as nuts, chopped up vegetables or sugar free homemade biscuits or cakes if you still feel the need to have a ‘treat’.
- Eat Small meals.If you can manage to regulate your blood levels throughout the day then this will certainly help towards beating your addiction to sugar. Every time you have an increase in your blood sugar you have a crash and large meals will certainly do that and it is also certain that it will result in a sugar craving after, hence the need for a pudding afterwards……You are far better eating 5 small meals a day rather than 3 large ones.
- Get Inventive with your cooking! There are loads of ways to make meals tasty and nutritious without sugar or sweet things! There are amazing spices and herbs that can liven a meal up such as allspice or cinnamon and they are great for you too!
- Take your time. A journey can be as long or as short as you want it to be but no need to rush things as your life will be far more comfortable reducing your sugar intake gradually…….Cold turkey is rarely a good idea – although it can work but try cutting your sugar down firstly by half in the first 1-2 weeks, then again after 3 to 4 weeks.
Remember there is no right or wrong its very much down to what works for you!