How to cut down on sugar and keep it that way

Quitting sugar is not only one of the greatest things to do for your health, but also one of the hardest. I can give you over a 100 reasons why sugar ruins health, and still it can be irresistible. 

Sugar is highly addictive and the effects can literally hijack the brain making us want more and more.

How To Know If You're Addicted To Sugar

• you eat sugar even when you're not hungry 
• you need more and more to satisfy the craving
• you crave sweets
• you crave salty foods
• you go out of your way to get sugar

HERE ARE 10 "EASIER" WAYS TO QUIT SUGAR AND BREAK THE CYCLE.

1. Go cold-turkey

Sugar is addictive. The more we eat, the more we want. By going cold turkey for a month you can recalibrate the taste buds and cravings will subside.

2. Detox your home and desk

Out of sight, out of mind really does help.
Clear the kitchen cupboards and desk space of all temptations.

3. Tell your family, friends and co-workers

By confiding in friends and co-workers about your plans, they will be less likely to wave the office cake tray under your nose.

4. Read every food label

Hidden sugar is found in the strangest places!!
Simple rule – if the food product contains more than 5g per 100g, this will be in the amber/red zone of the traffic light label – this should ring alarm bells.

Photo: Igor Ovsyannykov

5. Kill your cravings with a low sugar treat

If you really need a sweet fix, try whizzing some berries in a blender with natural yoghurt and seeds. This low sugar snack will curb those cravings.
*Top tip - add a pinch of cinnamon to curb the cravings even further

6. Cook from scratch

This is the easiest way to control sugar intake – say goodbye to hidden sugar, additives, colourings, chemicals and flavourings.

7. Eat protein and healthy fats at each meal

Protein and healthy fats are great for balancing blood sugar levels. They keep you fuller for longer, prevent energy dips and reduce sugar cravings.
Eat lean meats, fish, nuts and seeds, tofu, avocado, cold-pressed oils, beans and pulses, natural yoghurt, eggs and nut and seed butters.

8. A teaspoon of cinnamon a day keeps the cravings away

Numerous studies have shown that cinnamon can reduce sugar cravings by controlling blood glucose levels. Try adding 1 tsp of Ceylon cinnamon to your diet each day.

9. Flex your ‘I’m not eating sugar’ muscle daily

Each time you flex your ‘I’m not eating sugar’ muscle you are forming a new neural pathway in the brain – over time this will form into a healthy habit. Each time you resist sugar, don’t think of it as a burden think of it as a strengthening exercise.

10. Indulge in life, not sugar

Don’t use sugar to change your mood. Instead, use nourishing life pleasures; have a bath, get a massage, laugh with a friend, watch your favourite film – the list is endless.

Photo Credit: Kamboompics
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