Quitting sugar for good

SUGAR is largely considered the devil of the dietary world with it leading to spiralling obesity rates and ill health.

More and more people are attempting to banish sugar from their diet but it may not be as difficult as you think with some simple steps to get you on the path to a sugar detox:

Choose wisely

Sugar can be hidden in a lot of products so pay attention to food labels when shopping.  Look at the ingredients list and anything ending in ‘ose’ such as glucose, sucrose and fructose, is a form of sugar, as are honey, agave, molasses and syrups like corn and rice syrup. The higher up the ingredients list the more sugar the product contains.

Smaller steps

For those who particularly eat a lot of sugar, going cold turkey can be difficult so take smaller steps and don’t beat yourself up if you fall off the wagon once in a while. But if you do, immediately go back to better eating the next day. After a week or so, most people report feeling more alert, having more energy and a clearer mind after not eating sugar so start feeling those benefits and you are less likely to want to go back to eating it.

Balance your gut

Scientific studies are producing a growing amount of evidence about the importance of the microscopic bacteria that inhabit our guts. Taking probiotics can help balance the microbes and reduce sugar cravings.

Stay fuller for longer

When hunger strikes, it is hard to resist the urge to quickly grab the chocolate or other sweet treats but these hunger pangs are more likely to signal that your body is needing protein. One way to help prevent sugar cravings is to try and ensure you include a portion of protein with every meal as this is broken down more slowly and therefore stays in the stomach longer, helping you feel fuller for longer.