6 Things You Need to Help With Your Sugar Detox
Most people don’t realize (or at least don’t want to admit) that they have an addiction to sugar. From the various coffees and sodas we drink to the sugary snack overload, we have a problem – and it is time for a sugar detox.
Don’t believe us? Americans are consuming roughly 22 teaspoons of sugar EACH DAY. Yikes. Most of that sugar in our diets comes from processed foods, sweet breakfasts, and sweetened beverages. Let’s talk about how we can ease ourselves into a better lifestyle, at cut out most of that sugar from our diets for good!
Need Help With Your Sugar Detox? 6 Things That Will Get You Through It
It might sound silly, but sugar addiction is nothing to scoff at. Sugar cravings are some of the hardest to resist, and the brain reacts to sugar very much like it reacts to drugs and alcohol. Which is why sugar is so hard to resist – because you feel deprived and drained. Don’t worry though! We are going to give you six ideas for how to get through the detox process and get you back on track!
Let’s talk about 6 things you need or at least need to hear to get through the sugar detox.
Make the Decision to Change
This is the first step – admitting you have a problem. You’ve heard it before! We aren’t going through a 12 step program, but we DO want you to feel empowered to cut at least some of the sugar out of your life.
Once you make the decision to start a healthier lifestyle, that lifestyle starts to get a little easier. Start each day changing your mindset from negative to positive. Rather than thinking, “I can’t have sugar and I HAVE to give up everything good,” start thinking, “I want to live a better lifestyle, and I want to take care of my body.”
Change Up Your Breakfast Routine
Ditch the breakfast cereal and sugary breads. If you’re eating Cocoa Puffs for breakfast or syrup covered pancakes or maple glazed donuts every day, you’re not doing your body any favors. In fact, have you noticed a drop in energy around 10 or 11 am? Once that sugar high runs out, you’re left feeling drained and sluggish.
Try some unsweetened oatmeal with a scoop of peanut butter and bananas and maybe even a splash of almond milk. Or try a creamy Greek yogurt with honey and mixed berries. When you replace your sugar with fresh fruit, you’ll be surprised at how much longer that energy boosts will last!
Better yet, look at all of our delicious granola bowls on our menu. They might just be the best breakfast decision you’ll make all year! And bonus, no added sugar, only yummy fresh ingredients.
Combat Sugar With Fat
Fat gets a bad rep, but honestly fat doesn’t make you fat, sugar does. Sugar is obesity’s best friend. Fat, on the other hand, helps you feel full, balances your sugar levels, and also fuels your cells to do their job. We recommend pairing protein and healthy fats every time you snack or make a meal.
Good fats include extra virgin olive oil, coconut butter, avocados, omega 3 fats (from fish), and nuts and seeds. For a great list of healthy fats, you can eat to help you stay thin, click here.
Eat All the Carbs
You read that right. Eat so many carbs. Ok, there’s a catch. Eat the right kind of carbs. Did you know that vegetables are carbs? Specifically non-starchy veggies like asparagus, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, green beans, peppers, leafy greens, onions, zucchini, etc. Eat as much of those as you want! Unlimited refills on ALL healthy carbs.
If you are really trying to detox, as in clean out your body from the sugar toxins you’ve been poisoning yourself with, we recommend you stay away from the starchy carbs like potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, and beats. If you skip those, plus grains and beans for about a week, you’ll feel supercharged and refreshed.
Stop Drinking Sugar
Liquid sugar calories are much worse than solid sugar foods. Basically, when you drink sugar drinks all day, it goes straight to your liver, which turns off the fat storage machine in your body, and you start getting that unattractive belly fat. Plus drinks have a way of not filling us up the way good does, so you eat more than you should and start craving more sugar.
A typically 20 ounce soda has roughly 15 teaspoons of sugar in it. Most juices you get from the store are pasteurized and loaded with added sugars, so there is nothing nutritional left in them. Cut out some of the sugary drinks. We know its harder to give up coffee and soda, but this is a detox so if you’re ready to take the plunge, then we are here to help!
If you are really struggling with giving up that afternoon caffeine boost, try one of our healthy and delicious juices or smoothies instead. You won’t crash later on, and your liver would much rather process the nutrients from fresh fruits and veggies than the chemicals found in soda.
Replace Sugar With Fruit
Do you eat lunch and dinner only so you don’t feel guilty about having dessert? You might have a sugar addiction. Our pro tip is to replace your daily sugar with fruit. Craving a kit kat bar? Try an apple with nut butter. Love to drown your waffles in syrup? Try making 3 ingredient pancakes and topping them with fresh fruit and honey.
Do you have bowl of ice cream every night after dinner or before bed? Try one of these healthy and delicious homemade desserts instead to satisfy your sugar cravings without all the sugar!
Now you’re ready to start your sugar detox! It starts with your decision to be better, and with a little research, it doesn’t have to be so hard! When you start making small decisions, the big decisions get easier to make, and soon you won’t even miss it!
In fact, we dare you to try cutting sugar out of your diet. You will be amazed at how amazing you feel and soon it won’t feel like a sugar detox, and instead your old sugar crazed habits will be a distant memory!
Need help getting started on your journey to a healthier lifestyle? Come into the store or contact us today! Everything in our store is great for you, and all of our staff would love to give you ideas on how you can start small and still make a big impact on your overall health!
