5 Ways To Kick A Sugar Addiction

April Schum
Jun 5, 2017
4 min read

Most of us know that sugar is horrible for our health. If you didn't know, then I'm here to break the news to you. Sugar can cause many health problems such as heart problems, diabetes, headaches, digestive and mood imbalances, fatigue, obesity... the list goes on. If you feel tired, fatigued or moody throughout the day, try removing ALL forms of sugar from your diet for 30 days and see if that makes a difference in how you feel. Chances are you'll start to feel like a million bucks and may even drop some unwanted bloat and weight. Sugar is a sneaky addiction, I'll admit I'm a recovering sugar addict and still struggle with it from time to time. Most aren't aware of how much sugar they're consuming each day because sugar is hidden in A LOT of different foods; not just in your typical candy, cake and ice cream. Next time you pick a food item from the shelf look at the ingredient list to see if sugar is listed. I bet 9 out of 10 times you'll find that there is. Which is sad. Many processed foods on the shelf have some form of sugar added to them, which is where we start to get in trouble with eating too much of it and then later causing us health issues. Before I get into ways to break up with a sugar addiction, first let's look at ALL of the sneaky names for sugar so you know what to look for when you take your first steps towards breaking up with it.

barley malt cane juice

corn syrup

corn syrup solids

dextrose evaporated cane juice (crystals) fructose glucose/glucose syrup high fructose corn syrup Honey lactose

maltodextrin maltose mannitol Maple Syrup sorbitol sucrose

How's that long list for an eye opener?! These names for sugar are hidden in all sorts of things, anything from your typical loaf of bread, yogurt, salad dressings, hummus, salsa to your protein powders and other workout supplements! Just when you thought you were being healthy...BAM they disguise sugar in your 'health' food and it automatically brings down the health benefits and ups your daily sugar intake. The cycle of sugar is vicious, the more we eat it, the more we crave it and want it. Even having just a little bit creates a desire for more. So what's the answer? How does one kick a sugar addiction to the curb? Other than the obvious, stop eating all things with sugar, take these steps to kick the cravings and stay energized when eliminating it from your diet. Here are 5 Steps to kicking a sugar addiction:

Step 1: DRINK WATER - I get it, you're tired of hearing this one, but drinking a ton of water is SO important. It keeps us hydrated! When we are dehydrated we have the tendency to give into junk food cravings. Water will kill the cravings, boost your energy and does wonders for the digestive system. I personally drink between 12-16 cups of water/day. If you're just starting to drink more water, aim to drink at least half of your body weight in oz. So a 150lb person should be drinking about 9 cups of water a day.

Step 2: REDUCE CAFFEINE - Healthy adrenal glands secrete the stress hormone cortisol, which helps us start our day. When we don't get enough sleep we don't produce enough cortisol. So we hit the coffee pot in hopes to perk up and find energy. We may start to feel awake for an hour or so only finding ourselves to crash again. It's our cells telling us that we're in need of insulin in the form of sugar. Could be why we enjoy coffee and donuts so much? So if you are someone who needs your daily cup of coffee, that's fine as long as you're not over doing it. Stick to drinking 1 cup a day and having it with food. Also, make it healthier by adding unsweetened full fat coconut milk, ghee butter or coconut oil. Coffee alone, first thing in the morning is a set yourself up for a disaster later.

Step 3: GET MOVING - Exercise raises your serotonin levels just like sugar

does! So exercising can help tremendously! The best exercises for raising serotonin is HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) or heavy weight lifting.

Step 4: EAT PROTEIN AND FATS - Eating enough lean protein will reduce your desire for sugar. Eating a diet higher in healthy fats and lower in carbs will force your body to use fat as it's primary source of energy instead of sugar and carbs. Next time you crave something sugary eat a handful of cashews, almonds or walnuts and see if your sugar craving goes away.

Step 5: EAT STARCHY VEGETABLES IN PLACE OF PROCESSED CARBS - If you're a sugarholic, eat a serving of a starchy vegetable, such as potatoes, butternut squash, yams or parsnips with breakfast, lunch or dinner. When you're a true addict to sugar, you need complex carbohydrates to slow the release of glucose in your blood stream. This will even out the highs and lows that cause mood and energy imbalances.