Did you know that sugar is more addictive than cocaine?
Sugar is in almost everything we eat, and we are all struggling with an addiction to it without even realizing it. I’m going to go over 7 things to help you break free from your sugar addiction while cutting carbs fast.
The average American eats 150 pounds of sugar every year. It has so many codenames that it can be hard to tell which foods have it. There are 61 different names for sugar that are all hidden inside the foods that we’re eating every day.
You can find the entire list in my book so you can know how to avoid them.
There is a growing body of evidence linking sugar to several chronic diseases. These include conditions such as:
- Diabetes
- Excess Weight
- Lower Energy
- Candida and Bacteria Buildup
- Poor Dental Health
- Poor Gum Health
- Cancer
- Depression
- Increased Rates of Heart Disease
- High Cholesterol
- High Blood Pressure
- Kidney Disease
- Decreased Kidney Function
- Decreased Mental Focus
- Dementia
The link between sugar and Alzheimer’s disease is so strong that it is being referred to as type 3 diabetes. If that’s not a big enough reason to kick this habit, I don’t know what is.
I’m going to show you how to prevent these diseases and addictions while still being able to enjoy food in 7 simple steps.
7 Steps to Breaking Your Sugar Addiction
1. Do A Sugar Fast
Doing a sugar fast is much easier than you think. You should be cutting out sugar for 21-28 days in order to reduce your cravings. I also recommend cutting out some of the foods that are healthy but contain natural sugars such as honey and fruit for this period as well.
If you want more motivation for your fast, you can join one of the challenges that are featured in my book. Not only will it help you with your fast, but will also help you understand where sugars are coming from in your diet.
If you taste the sugary foods you eat or drink regularly after a fast, you’ll realize how sweet they are and what you’ve been putting in your body. Your taste buds, mental dependence, and body are reprogrammable, and nothing is better for doing that than a sugar fast.
2. Use Healthy Substitutes For Sugar
Don’t be fooled by drinks that are labeled “Diet,” “Light,” or “Skinny.” These contain toxic substitutes such as:
- Aspartame
- Ace-K
- Sucralose
- Splenda
These have all been shown to be more harmful than sugar, and increase your addiction. If you’re looking for good natural substitutes, try some of the following:
- Monk Fruit – This comes from a fruit, and doesn’t have a nasty chemical aftertaste.
- Stevia – Stevia is a good substitute for sugar—just don’t use too much, because it does have an aftertaste.
- Sugar Alcohols – Be careful with what type you get, because some of them can cause gastric irritation.
- Allulose – Allulose is another good, clean substitute that you can use in drinks instead of sugar.
3. Take Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has been shown in studies to decrease sugar cravings, especially right before a meal that contains carbohydrates.
I recommend taking a cap full of apple cider vinegar before each meal, or two tablespoons twice a day.
This will help you break a sugar addiction in a natural way that’s healthy for you.
4. Take Konjac Root
This is a root that is very high in glucomannan, which has been shown to lower blood sugar levels and help you feel more full. This will help you feel satisfied after a meal, leaving no room for any sugary treats.
You can find glucomannan in other forms, but the easiest is through collagen powder. It’s a simple way to get a full dose of vitamins and clean protein while combating sugar.
5. Decrease Stress & Increase Sleep
The more stressed you are, the more you’re going to stimulate the hormone ghrelin. Ghrelin is the hunger hormone, and it is what drives your sugar addiction.
If you want to decrease your ghrelin try the following:
- Practice Breathing
- Movement/Exercise – I have an easy 10-minute exercise that you can do at home now without weights
- Sleep More
- Adaptogenic Herbs
6. Replace Your Hunger With A Drink
Are you actually hungry, or are you thirsty? Next time you get a craving for sugar, replace it with something to drink. I would recommend trying any of these delicious drinks:
- Regular water
- Sparkling water
- Lemon Water
- Cucumber Water
- Greens Mix
- Electrolyte Mix
If you do plan on having a drink instead of sugar, make sure it doesn’t have any diet chemicals or sugar in it.
7. Break Your “Comfort Food” Habit
The cycle that many people get stuck in is when we get stressed out, we start eating to comfort ourselves. This then leads back to feeling stressed because the food we’re eating is not good for us.
- Acknowledge Your Stress – You need to realize that this is an unhealthy long-term habit to be stuck in, and make a decision that you want to change.
- Exercise – Walking is an easy way to get exercise. It suppresses the urge to eat because our nervous system responds by decreasing ghrelin and digestion.
- Writing/Reading –This will stimulate your brain, and redirect the stress from your brain into something useful.
- Cleaning – Cleaning is a productive way to keep your mind and hands busy, and improves your quality of life!
- Sleep – Sleep is not only good for you, but it’s a good way to avoid eating away your stress.
Summary
Those are my 7 easy ways to end your sugar and carb addiction fast. If you need more help taking sugar out of your diet, check out my daily metabolism & hormone support.
