Kick the Sugar Habit
People are addicted to sugar and don’t even know it. They don’t think they eat a lot of sugar because they don’t eat a lot of candy, cakes, and pies. Yet they do.
The problem is that sugar is hidden in many foods, including breads, muffins, and even dried fruit. We get more than we need. In fact, the average American’s sugar load is over 120 pounds per year.
Sugar has no nutritional value, and while it is an important source of energy, it’s highly addictive, and it makes you sick and fat.
Are you having a panic attack right now just thinking about giving up sugar? You have to look at kicking the sugar habit as though you are ending an addiction. The key is to understand where your sugar is coming from and then find alternatives to eating so much sugar in your foods.
You can kick the sugar habit by following these 5 easy steps:
1. Just say NO! Quit Eating Sugar! Go Cold Turkey
Expect cravings, headaches, and irritability for 3- 5 days. This is a good sign that you’re making progress. Just keep sugar out of your diet and the cravings will disappear over time.
2. Use Stevia Instead of Sugar
To sweeten foods, it is always better to use stevia rather than sugar. Stevia is a natural, herbal sweetener that is calorie-free and does not affect blood glucose, which makes it a great alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners.
3. Read the Food Labels
Find the Hidden Sugars: Make sure you read labels to look for names that sugar is disguised as in our foods. Refined white sugar, or table sugar, is the form that is most familiar to people. However, the other sugars that are commonly found in food are listed on labels as high-fructose corn syrup, dextrose (corn sugar), maltose (malt sugar), lactose (milk sugar), corn sweetener, brown sugar, powdered sugar, and maple sugar. Then avoid these foods.
4. Eat Foods That Have 5 Grams of Sugar or Less Per Serving
When the drink or food item has 5 grams or less of sugar per serving size, the body doesn’t overreact to the sugar. This means your pancreas will not have to release too much insulin, which can result in fat storage in the body. Have only one serving! Control what you eat.
5. Eat More Fruit To Curb Sugar Cravings
When you crave sweets, try fruit as a better alternative; it is high in fiber and phytonutrients and will curb the sweet tooth.
To find out if you are addicted to sugar, take the Are You Addicted to Sugar? Quiz in JJ Smith’s book, Lose Weight Without Dieting or Working Out! In the book, there are numerous strategies to help you kick the sugar habit so you can lose weight and get healthy!
About JJ Smith
JJ Smith is a nutritionist and certified weight-management specialist who has been featured on The Montel Williams Show and The Jamie Foxx Show and on the NBC, FOX, CBS, and CW Network television stations, as well as in the pages of Glamour, Essence, and Ladies Home Journal. Since reclaiming her health, losing weight, and discovering a "second youth" in her forties, bestselling author JJ Smith has become the voice of inspiration to women who want to lose weight, be healthy, and get their sexy back!
More information can be found at www.jjsmithonline.com.
