Beat your Sugar Addiction, Now!
You won’t realise that it is because of your sugar addiction that your weight-loss efforts aren’t paying off or you are not able to stick to your diet. Too much of sugar can have a negative impact on our health. On the other hand, cutting back on sweet cravings will leave you in better shape and energy. Let’s make this easy by breaking the task week-by-week. (Image source:Getty)
Limit Sugary Treats (0 to 2 weeks)
Always read the label before you buy. If you read sucrose, glucose, maltose and high fructose on the label, the product is high in sugar. There is another way to read the label; 2 grams of sugar per 100 grams is usually a low source, whereas 10 grams per 100 grams is considered a high source of sugar. Make changes in your dietary habits such as breaking the ritual of dessert after a meal by replacing it with a fruit such as grapes, apple or orange. (Image source:Getty)
Lower your Carbohydrate Intake (2 to 3 weeks)
Now that you have eliminated the sugary foods, the next step is to lower the amount of complex carbohydrates (a kind of carbohydrates that contain more than ten linked glucose units). These include potatoes, beans, cucumber, tomatoes, rice, corn, lentils, onions, strawberry wheat and oats. Since you need to meet a minimum requirement of complex carbohydrates, a good way is to pick the one you tend to overeat most, and do away with them one by one. (Image source:Getty)
Be wary of Hidden Sugar (2 to 3 weeks)
Those appetizing dressings and sauces that you love do add to your foods may make the food mouth-watering, but they may have hidden sugar in them. Just a little of these can make all your efforts go waste. Moreover, don’t get drawn towards products labelled as ‘sugar-free’ in the supermarket. Even if they are sugar-free, there is a chance that they contain fast-metabolizing carbohydrates. (Image source:Getty)
Switch to Natural Alternatives (3 to 4 weeks)
Now that you recognise hidden or lesser-known sugars in the foods, the challenge before you is to substitute them with natural foods. Natural alternatives (such as fruits and nuts) are a good idea when a sweet craving hits you. Fruits not only satisfy your sweet tooth but also give you important nutrients like vitamin C and potassium. For example – eat an apple in the morning or include it in the breakfast smoothie. To make the most out of nuts – you can sprinkle them on salads or mix them in yoghurt. (Image source:Getty)
Put an End to Sweet Cravings (4 to 6 weeks)
Now that you’ve reached halfway through the process of eliminating sugar, the next thing you need to do is to deal with sugar cravings. If you can fight these cravings, you can eliminate sugar completely. Instead of having a coffee at the coffee shop, make one at home without sugar, or make tea. Tea is a healthy option, loaded with healthy antioxidants. Keep the favourite foods away from your reach; get rid of all the sugary foods in the refrigerator and kitchen. When you’re shopping, be conscious that you don’t buy sweets. (Image source:Getty)
Practice this Way of Eating
It is impossible to think of eliminating sugar completely from your diet, but making an effort to do so will help you make a positive change in your health. Reaching this stage demands a lot of effort and you must reward yourself to have reached here. Each phase takes time; be patient. But, maintaining this way of eating a low-sugar diet is the key to good health. Now that you know the sugar sources and how to substitute them, the most crucial phase lies ahead of you. (Image source:Getty)
We all Make Mistakes
If you delve into a slice of cake and are fretting over it, don’t worry or give up on the plan because you made a mistake. Just correct the mistake right away and make sure you don’t give in to the same thing again. (Image source:Getty)
