5 Ways to Detox Your Life of Excess Sugar
Most people just can’t get enough sugar! This sweet, little crystalline substance shows up in all types of foods that keeps our mouths salivating and our body craving for more. Sugar is difficult to quit cold turkey, because sugar is addictive. If you have ever attempted to kick your sugar habit, you probably have a good idea why it is so hard to eliminate it from your diet. Although it is almost impossible to completely eliminate sugar from your diet, as some sugars are actually good for you, the following list is a good place to start if you are looking to detoxify your life of excess sugar.
Skip the condiments
When you order something at a restaurant, your entree will most likely come with a heap of condiments, including ketchup, mayonaise, mustard and salad dressings of various flavours. Most packaged condiments contain refined sugar, which will begin to add up over time. Packaged condiments almost always contain added sugar. The American Heart Association recommends that women only consume six teaspoons of added sugar a day. Just a few teaspoons of side condiments can contain double that amount. If you are the type of person who enjoys dining out on a regular basis, skip the condiments, or use less of them.
Order your coffee black
If you cant go a day without a strong cup of coffee, but you are looking to slash sugar from your diet, then ask for your coffee black with a dash of skimmed milk. Artisan coffee and lattes from your favorite local coffee shops are often made with sugary syrups, creams, and decorative foams, which contain more than what you need for your daily recommended amount of sugar intake. By asking for your daily cup of coffee black (with a dash of skimmed milk) you can cut down on your sugar intake signifigantly. If you can’t fathom the idea of drinking your coffee black, try using stevia, a natural sweetener dervied from a plant. It will provide the sweetness you need without the added sugar.
Do not drink your sugar or calories
A twenty-ounce coca cola soda contains around 15 teaspoons of sugar. For women, that is almost double the recommended daily quota. Most sodas and fruit juices are loaded with added sugar. The worst part is, you may not even realize how much you are consuming in one day. If you are serious about eliminating sugar from your diet, skip the sodas, sports drinks, juices and sugary coffees mentioned above. Focus on drinking water, natural spritzers and add natural fruits like limes, lemons and cucumbers.
Know good carbs from bad carbs
Carbs are an important nutrient to keep your body energised and going strong all day long. If you are an athlete, carbs are even more crucial for keeping your blood-sugar regulated. Carbs are not bad, refined carbs however, contain enormous amounts of added sugar. Refined carbs can be found in breads, crackers, cookies, muffins, pancakes, pies, candies, etc. Most of these foods can be found in the interior aisles of your local grocery store. Good carbs can be found in starchy vegetables such as cauliflower, kale, asparagus, green beans, onions, fennel and eggplant. The best part about these types of carbs is that you can go back for seconds and thirds. Your body processes these types of carbs in a healthy way that will keep your energy levels up without weighing you down.
Detox with water
If you are looking to jumpstart your diet and detoxify your body of sugar, start drinking a full 8 glasses of water before every major meal. Drinking water may help decrease the amount of glucose that comes from food. There is a correlation between the amount of water you drink everyday and the amount of calories and sugar you ingest. If you want to cut back on both your calorie and sugar intake, start the morning with one glass of water and squeeze a lemon into it. Lemon has been shown to kickstart digestion and promote detoxification. Drinking a glass of water before major meals has also been said to curb your appetite.
