Overcoming Sugar Addiction

1. Admit that you’re a sugar addict. Just like with any addiction, the first step in overcoming sugar addiction is to accept that you’re an addict and understand the consequences. Sugar addiction can cause:

• Weight gain from eating more fattening food to get your sugar-fix.
• High triglycerides, increasing your risk of heart disease.
• Tooth decay from excessive bacterial growth.
• Metabolic syndrome, leading to diabetes.
• Poor nutrition from empty calories.
• Lack of immunity to disease.
• Periods of depression.

2. Know the benefits of a sugar-free life. Besides reversing all the drawbacks listed above, overcoming sugar addiction helps you lose weight, greatly improve your health, energy and endurance – both now and in the future – and makes you look and feel younger and healthier.

3. Become a “hidden sugar” detective. Sugar is hiding everywhere. Don’t stick your head in the sugar bowl or get blind-sided by sweet temptation. Know all the different sugar names and choose healthy low glycemic foods from the glycemic foods index to keep blood sugar stable

4. Extract your sweet tooth – cold turkey. Sugar is too addictive to wean yourself slowly.

– clean out your pantry and take some time off for withdrawal symptoms to pass.

– like a warm bath and good book.

– Drink a big glass of water

5. Learn to love nature’s natural sweeteners. Once you get through the first few days, fruits and other natural foods will start tasting sweeter. Stevia, a naturally sweet herb, can help sweeten food and drinks, but don’t go overboard.

6. Make friends with naturally sweet people. If you were a recovering alcoholic, you wouldn’t hang out in bars with drunks. So make friends who support your sugar-free lifestyle. When eating out, break whole grain bread with wholesome people and choose tasty sugar-free foods.

7. Clean sugar out of your body and mind. It takes 3 to 7 days to overcome the physical addiction. But overcoming emotional attachments to sweet comfort foods could take longer.

• Do research and find lists of low glycemic foods to help you choose healthier, more appropriate comfort foods to sooth cravings.
• Eat smaller meals 5 or 6 times a day.
• Drink plenty of water to help wash out sugar and toxins.
• Make overcoming sugar addiction you’re main focus. Don’t start a new diet or exercise program while still going through sugar withdrawal. Weight loss is usually a natural result of giving up sugar.