Given that most of us prefer to eat sweet things, it is not surprising that foods high in sugar are frequently found on dinner tables. We always find ways to include sweets in our diets, whether it be bagels in the morning, cookies in between meals, or cakes or chocolates for dessert. Add to this the fact that we simply can’t resist the tempting candies and treats that are laid out in front of us during the holiday season.
Unfortunately, consuming too much sugar is not good for us, as shown by our tendency to break out in acne and the extra fat we carry around our hips and thighs. These are all caused by the calories from all the sweet foods we’ve been consuming. Despite our best efforts to reduce our intake of anything with sugar, it is almost certain that we will revert to our previous habits. Do you know how to completely give up sugar?
It appears that there are ways for us to cut back our addiction to sweets and some of these are:
Don’t drink the sweet stuff
Drinking soda, fruit juice, sports drinks, and other beverages with artificial sweeteners in them are adding to your calorie intake and may cause your blood sugar levels to spike as well. If you want to cut back on your sugar intake, you might want to avoid any beverages that have sweeteners in them.
Choose desserts wisely
Just because we are talking about desserts, it doesn’t have to mean that they should be high in sugar content. As a matter of fact, there are healthier alternatives available such as eating a piece of dark chocolate, a cup of fresh fruits, or some Greek yogurt with a few slices of fresh fruit. Not only do they contain nutrients, but they will also help regulate your blood sugar levels too.
Switch to vegetables and fruits
Most of us are focused on eating foods that are processed rather than whole foods. Unfortunately, these types of food contain artificial sweeteners and other trans fats that can cause our weight to go up. If you want to cut back your sugar intake, or at least regulate your blood sugar levels, add more vegetables and fruits to your diet instead since they are laden with vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to your overall health.
Watch out for canned foods
Canned fruits, canned vegetables, and other canned foods may also have some hidden sugar in them. Most of us make the mistake of just popping open the can since the contents are fruits or vegetables. However, if you take a closer look at the list of ingredients, you will find that they do have some sugar in them. If you can avoid drinking the syrup, then do so. In the case of vegetables, you can wash them first before eating to reduce the sugars in them.
Have more protein
Make it a point to have some protein during your meals because they can help with your blood sugar levels. This also helps with keeping your cravings at bay as well.
Choose natural sweeteners
Since table sugar is an artificial sweetener, you might want to look for natural sweeteners instead. Think organic raw honey if possible or Stevia to help sweeten your food minus the calories.
It’s not easy cutting off sugar from your diet unless you have complete control over your eating habits. That said, starting with these simple steps may teach you how to wean yourself from sugar laden foods.
