5 Ways to Break Your Sugar Addiction

Wednesday - August 10th, 2016

You may already know the health risks of consuming sugar. Eating lots of it can cause cavities and increase risk of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Knowing all this, it’s easy to want to stay away from sugar. However, it’s much harder to actually do!

Eating sugar releases dopamine in the reward center of the brain, making it highly addictive and hard to break away from. So to help you out this summer, here are five tips to curb your sugar addition.

Go cold turkey. Like with other addictions, making a clean break may be the best method for you. Stopping consumption of all types of sugar can give your brain a chance to reset, and help you lose your sugar cravings.
Clear the kitchen of sugar. Get rid of all the sweets in your house that could be sabotaging your efforts. Stock up on sugar-free, healthy snacks instead.
Look for sneaky sugars. Sugar may be lurking where you don’t expect it. Read food labels labels carefully and look for different ways sugar can be named. If it ends in “-ose” (like fructose, dextrose, sucrose) it’s probably a form of sugar. Other sneaky terms for sugar are: maltrodextrain, corn syrup, glucose and malt.
Conquer your cravings. Learn how to manage sugar cravings when they pop up. Try using diversions techniques (like going on a walk) or drinking a glass of water instead. Most food cravings will pass if ignored. If your craving persists, eat food with natural sugar, such as fruit.
Keep blood sugar levels balanced. Maintaining a balanced blood sugar level can help you avoid intense sugar cravings. Try eating smaller, nutritious meals throughout the day, every three to four hours. Make sure your meals and snacks are loaded with protein.

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