Sugar Detox
I want to consult Dr. Lustig who recommends three weeks of no added sugar. He says it will get your dopamine system back to normal. I have an addiction to Dr. Pepper. I can easily go through a 12 pack a day if it was available to me. I found that the craving went away after a few days. Once the 3 week detox is over you can safely add back in little treats like this, but not very often. I personally try not to have more than 1 sugary item a week.
What is Added Sugar?
Added sugar is in nearly every food item that is packaged. Even the so-called healthy foods. If it’s in a wrapper, it’s probably not healthy. To be sure, check out the many lists of hidden names of sugar.
When you scan the ingredients list of something there are things you can look for.
- the word “sugar” IE: raw sugar, brown sugar, cane sugar, etc…
- a word that ends in “ose”. Fructose, sucrose, dextrose, etc…
- any syrups
- fruit juices
Dextrose is particularly harmful to me. I learned over time that it was one main trigger of my migraines and trigeminal pain. I eliminated it from my diet many years ago. Next time you go to the grocery store, try to find food that doesn’t contain dextrose. Canned soups, frozen meals, snacks, hot dogs, deli meat, bacon, and sometimes dairy and spices all have it.
Dextrose is everywhere in the fast food world as well. Lucky for me fast food places have started adding ingredients to their websites. It’s slim pickings for me. Even Panda Express that promises all natural foods, is loaded with dextrose.
High Glycemic Carbs
In addition to the obvious sweets and sodas there are other food that turn into sugar in the body that should be avoided, or at least, greatly reduced in your diet.
- Bread
- Pasta
- White Potatoes
- Rice
Artificial Sweeteners: But they don’t raise my blood sugar!
True. Many artificial sweeteners don’t raise your blood sugar, but they do raise your insulin. They also contribute to the ruin of your gut biome which itself comes with a plethora of health issues.
Craving Something Sweet?
Fruits are great, just don’t blend or juice them. When you blend fruits, you’re destroying most of the benefits. Watch the quick video below to learn more.
Roasting vegetables is another great way to satisfy your sweet tooth. Vegetables do have small amounts of sugar in them, and when you roast them at a high temperature, the sugars come out and caramelize.
How to Quit Sugar
I’ve tried various methods to quit sugar. I’ve cut back gradually. I’ve tried just ditching sodas first then the rest. No, cold turkey was the easiest by far.
If you’re a soda drinker like I was I recommend swapping to water with a glass of unsweet tea here and there. I also find that protein and fiber really help with the cravings.
Best of luck on your journey!