Sugar — Just Say No

What comes to mind when you think, healthy eating?

Probably cutting back on fats, using less salt. Smaller portions.

Less processed foods.

Getting rid of sodas and sweet drinks, with their empty calories.

All good moves.

What about dessert?

Not as easy, is it? Not that dessert is necessarily bad. Who doesn’t love a sweet, decadent dessert? Occasionally.

Loaded with, among other things, sugar.

Kinda hard to resist, isn’t it?

Sugar In Our Diets

If dessert was the only place we’d get a sugar overload, we’d at least know what we’re dealing with.

At least then, you expect to be eating sugar.

It’s where sugar hides that’s the real problem.

Because it’s all too easy to eat way more than we should without realizing it.

And that’s bad.

Why We Crave Sugar

We all know people who really aren’t dessert eaters. Hard to believe, right?

They’re the lucky ones. They’re avoiding sugar.

Not so fast.

Avoiding desserts is only half the battle. Because sugar is lurking in the most unlikely places.

And it spikes our sugar cravings, whether we’re tasting it or not.

Foods loaded with sugar cause those spikes due to chemical responses that cause us to want more. It’s a vicious cycle.

And junk and processed foods are major culprits, with their high sugar concentration.

Where Sugar Lurks

So before you start thinking you’re immune because you’re one of those non-sweet lovers, think again.

What about that ketchup you put on your sandwich today? Or that fat-free salad dressing you had at dinner? Even your tonic water?

Yup, it hides in plain sight. We just don’t realize it.

In fact, most fat-free and low-fat foods are actually less healthy than their regular counterparts.

Why? Because sugars and sodium are increased to make those foods taste better.

Holy cannoly, Batman! What are you to do?

Fortunately, as with most things in life, forewarned is forearmed. Just knowing what you’re up against is half the battle.

Danger, Danger

Why must we be so vigilant? Is it really necessary? Haven’t people been eating sugar for centuries?

Yes and no. Yes, they’ve been eating sugar. No, not in today’s quantities.

Not by a long shot.

And once you learn the dangers of so much sugar in your diet, you may never want to eat a speck of it again.

Sugar is the root of a myriad of health problems.  Damage to your heart, the promotion of belly fat, and a direct hit to your brain power are just a few of the hidden dangers.

The Importance of Cutting Down Or Eliminating Sugar

Now that I have your attention, let’s talk about some of the reasons cutting down, or even completely eliminating sugar from your diet, is a good idea.

First and foremost, sugar makes you fat.  How’s that for a biggie? The more you eat, the worse it is.

But there are other, less obvious but no less important reasons.

Getting back to the whole sugar making you fat thing, consider this:

Have you ever stopped at the concession stand on your way into a movie theater and bought a bag of Twizzlers?

You think, I’ll just eat a few of them.

Then before the previews have even finished, you’ve scarfed down the entire bag?

And you don’t feel a bit full.

Why? 

Because unlike foods rich in fiber, protein and fat, sugar does not give you a feeling of fullness.

No doubt, after eating that whole bag, you’re still hungry.

Dinner anyone?

You also may feel a bit shaky. That’s not your imagination. That’s a sugar high.

Consuming too many calories, no matter the source,  causes weight gain. All those excess calories are stored as fat.

But sugar ups the ante considerably.  You fill up without feeling full. The these calories are empty.

That’s not good.

Add to that the ill effects on your heart, your brain, even the possible shortened life span, and it’s clear that action must be taken.

How To Start Your Sugar Detox

This calls for a sugar detox.

Can you cut out sugar completely? Some people can.

Most people can’t. Not easily.

But even cutting significantly back will improve your health.

And by the way, white flour is just as bad, if not worse, than actual sugar. Flour actually metabolizes in your system into sugar, raising your sugar levels. To higher levels than if you had eaten pure sugar.

Switch to whole wheat. Easy fix. Huge benefits.

And as you start your sugar detox, relax.  Small changes add up. No need to go cold turkey.

Start with a few simple steps:

• Become a label reader. Read labels on canned, bottled and boxed foods. Chose those with the lowest sugar content.
• Switch to whole fresh fruits and veggies over juices. Juices typically contain more refined sugar, whereas natural fruits and veggies contain simple sugars.  Much healthier.
• Eat more greens and protein. These foods are low in sugar, and what sugar exists is simple sugar. Again, not so bad.
• Get plenty of rest. Being sleep deprived makes you crave junk foods, high in sugar and other undesirable elements. Like sodium and fat. A good night’s sleep, alone, may help curb your sugar cravings.
• Exercise.  Not only is exercise healthy for you, it tends to make you more aware of what you’re eating. You’ll find you want to eat healthier overall.

Simple Changes = Big Benefits

These are some simple ways to get started cutting back on sugar. No need to jump in whole hog right out of the gate. Small steps lead to tremendous benefits.

It’s all about baby steps.

Then toddler steps.

Soon you’ll realize you don’t even want sugar anymore.

Once you know where it hides, you’ll eat less of it.

Then that dessert now and then won’t be so bad.

Because you know what you’re eating. No surprises.

Now doesn’t that sound great?

If you would like more help detoxing from your sugar addiction, or just want to start eating and living. It always helps to have guidance.  Click here now to access my Mind & Body Virtual Bootcamp