So we’ve established that added sugar is not good in any way, you may be wondering what you can do to cut down on this unnecessary nasty. Here are a few simple tips to help you on the road to freedom from sugar cravings:
- Always choose whole grains over white processed grains – think quinoa, millet, buckwheat, brown rice, black rice.
- Throw out anything in your pantry that has high fructose corn syrup or more than 10gm sugar per 100gm. This includes sauces, vinegars and flavourings.
- Remove sweets from your home, and do not buy chocolates, biscuits, ice cream etc. If you have them handy, when the cravings hit you are more likely to succumb to them.
- Make sure you consume quality proteins and fats at each meal – think avocado, nuts and seeds, eggs, lean meats. These offer nutrients to your body and can help alleviate cravings.
- If a sugar craving hits, have a piece of fruit, a glass of water with strawberries or a berry smoothie
Sugar Replacements.
Cutting out processed sugar doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy something sweet every now and then. There are natural sources of sugar that you can replace refined sugar with. Remember moderation is key, as these foods are still sweet and need to be treated as a sometimes foods.
- Coconut sugar
- Fresh fruits – apples are a great addition to sweeten a smoothies or satisfy a sugar craving
- Maple syrup
- Stevia
These alternatives are great to use in baking and cooking. You can find them at your health food store and most supermarkets too.
