Plain and simple…white sugar is one of THE WORST things you can put into your body.
You already know that it’s bad for your teeth, but you may not know that it also has detrimental effects on your metabolism and that it can contribute to all sorts of diseases.
Sugar also promotes weight gain – and, is a leading factor in obesity due to its effects on hormones and the brain, the perfect recipe for fat gain disaster!
The other problem with sugar is that it can be very addictive for many people – just like an abusive drug, it causes a release of dopamine in the reward center of the brain. Of course, that means putting an end to your sugar habit can be challenging.
It’s not all bad news though
Kicking those cravings to the curb can be made easier just by following a few tips, and believe me, the reward of a healthier, fitter body is well worth making the effort!
First, you need to know where sugar is, as added sugars go by many different names – often ending in “ose,” like maltose, lactose or sucrose.
Some of the other names for sugar are:
♦brown sugar ♦cane sugar ♦corn syrup
♦corn sugar ♦dextrose ♦fruit juice concentrate
♦high fructose corn syrup ♦honey ♦maltodextrin
♦molasses sucrose ♦raw sugar ♦turbinado sugar
By choosing whole foods, you know exactly what you’re getting. The closer a food is to its original form, the less, if any, processed sugar it will contain.
Food in its natural form, including fruits and vegetables, generally present no metabolic problems, especially when consuming a wide variety.
Avoid all forms of soda and other sweetened drinks. One of the biggest contributors to a sugar habit is soft drinks.
Just one 12-ounce can contains about 10 teaspoons of sugar, which means, if you eliminate soda and other sweetened drinks from your diet, you’ll instantly reduce your sugar intake dramatically.
Look for flavorful alternatives. If you’re used to adding sugar to flavor your meals, reach for spices and herbs instead, such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom and coriander, which naturally sweeten foods and even reduce cravings.
Satisfy sweet cravings with healthy options.
When you have an urge for something sweet:
Choose fresh fruit, which provides vitamins, minerals and fiber in addition to some hydration, which will help satisfy cravings and keep you feeling fuller longer. Drinking a glass of water with a squeeze of lemon or an herbal tea created from herbs that naturally offer sweet properties such as Celestial Seasonings Raspberry Zinger or Tazo Wild Sweet Orange Tea, can also help.
Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. If you’re eating a clean diet, it won’t take long to notice just how toxic sugar is to your body – and, you may not even want it at all anymore! That includes eating lean protein, healthy fats from foods like avocado, nuts, olive and coconut oil in moderate portions, as well as lots of veggies.
Don’t use artificial sweeteners. Most artificial sweeteners contain harmful chemicals that are just as bad as sugar, if not worse.
Use an unrefined, natural sweetener like raw, organic honey or coconut sugar, which offer some nutrition without raising blood sugar much.
Get moving. Exercise, dance around to your favorite tunes, do some yoga or any type of movement. Just get moving! Getting active helps to reduce stress and tension, increase energy levels and decrease the need for a sugar boost.
Remember, you can do anything you set your mind too – and, just by eliminating sugars from your diet, you’ll not only feel much better, you’ll see dramatic improvements in your appearance too!
Yours in Health,
Danette
