Sweets Surrender: How to Finally Stamp Out Sugar
There are few things on earth as tasty -- or addictive -- as sugar. But as delicious as it may be, sugar has also been found to be extremely bad for you. From cavities to obesity and diabetes, excessive consumption of sugar can cause a host of dangerous and even deadly problems. Unfortunately, it can be very hard to cut sugar from your diet. If you’re ready to ditch sugar for good but aren’t sure how to do it, try these tips to help make your sweets surrender as easy as possible!
Purge Your Pantry
Before you get started on your sugar-free journey, make sure there’s nothing in your home to hamper your progress. If you don’t live alone and your family isn’t participating in your sugar cleanse, relocate the sweet stuff to another cabinet that you won’t drift over to absentmindedly, and where you won’t have to see the sweets every time you reach for a snack
Restock and Replenish
Now that you’ve eliminated as much temptation as possible, it’s time to restock your snack supplies with healthy, sugar-free options. Look for foods like load up on vegetables and protein like nuts, eggs, jerky and cheese.
Don’t Ditch the Fruit
Fruit is full of natural sugars, but it’s still good for you! If you are craving something sweet, have a bowl of strawberries or a slice of watermelon instead of that candy bar you’ve been dreaming about all day.
Quit Cold Turkey
For some people, one of the fastest and easiest ways to ditch the sugar habit is to quit cold turkey. Start on a Monday morning or another day when you’ll be busy enough to not have time to worry about sugar cravings, and don’t look back. It may be a few days before your sugar cravings subside, but don’t give in!
Check the Labels
Sugar can appear in some really sneaky places you probably never realized, such as condiments like salad dressings, barbecue sauces and ketchup. If you choose to use any of these sauces on your food, check the sugar content on the label before you eat. Many condiments come in low-sugar or sugar-free varieties.
Snack Often
Keeping your body satisfied will help prevent you from snacking on junk food when you’re feeling famished. Think of your food as fuel for your body, and you’ll make smarter snack choices throughout the day.
Drink Plenty of Water
Water won’t exactly flush sugar out of your system, but it will keep you feeling hydrated. Dehydration can often cause headaches, which won’t help you if you’re already withdrawing from sugar.
Spice Things Up
You may not be able to use sugar in your food, but that doesn’t mean it has to taste bland! Experiment with new spices instead of reaching for barbecue sauce, or try sprinkling some cinnamon in your coffee instead of sugar.
Remember, sugar is fine in moderation, but with so many hidden sources of sugar in our diet, moderation can be difficult to nail down. Eliminating or reducing the amount of sugar in your diet is not just good for your heart and waistline, it’s good for your smile, too!
If you have any questions or concerns about your oral health, give Dr. Lederman a call at 516-882-1764.