It’s no secret that a lot of people have a weakness for sweets. When you eat sugar, you are only left wanting more of it. Whether your poison is soda, cake, candy, chocolate, or sweetened coffee drinks that are popular during the holidays, sugar can take a toll on your health and ultimately put you at risk of developing health conditions like diabetes, obesity, or heart disease.
It’s important to know that sugar in processed foods and candy is much different than the sugar, which naturally occurs in fruits and vegetables. The sugar you get from an apple is most definitely not the same sugar that’s in a chocolate bar. To help kick your sugar cravings to the curb, we have some great tips. We recommend implementing 2-3 of these at a time and not doing them all at once. If you feel like doing all 5, then more power to you!
#1: Scare Yourself Away From Sugar
Sugar may not look like a fire-breathing dragon, but there are definitely reasons to be scared of it. This means informing yourself about what sugar does to the body. When you eat a lot of sugar, your pancreas and liver become stressed, inflammation around joints can occur, and you can develop diabetes and cancer. Too much sugar can stress you out and interrupt proper hormonal function. Plus, high sugar intake can lead to obesity and depression, both of which are major health conditions in America. Are you scared of sugar yet?
#2: Get Excited About Healthy Food
It can be hard to trick yourself into going on a diet. Don’t go on a diet; rather, think of it as embarking on a healthier lifestyle. Start making smoothies in the morning with fresh fruits and vegetables. Eat superfoods like chia seeds, avocados, and snack on almonds or walnuts. Start buying more produce items that you aren’t used to and learn how awesome they are.
#3: Drink a Lot of Water
It’s important to understand that sugar cravings are usually because the body is deficient in something. Most people don’t drink the recommended 8-10 glasses of water every day to stay properly hydrated. If you are dehydrated, you can crave sugar. A great way to drink a lot of water is to carry around a stainless steel thermos so you can refill it all day.
#4: Get Plenty of Sleep
Sleep is one of the best ways for your body to recuperate and repair itself. It is recommended that you get 7-8 hours of sleep every night to stay healthy. A refreshed, well-rested person is less likely to reach for sugary treats throughout the day. Someone who is constantly tired will reach for sweets and unhealthy snacks because they don’t have the mental clarity to make healthy choices.
#5: Do A Cleanse
The time after Thanksgiving is the perfect time to do a cleanse. When you take part in our Full Body Cleanse, you’ll be eliminating sugar, processed foods, meat, dairy, and caffeine from your diet. It is a drastic change from what you’re used to, but it’ll definitely help curb your sugar addiction. The sugar you’ll be getting will be from fresh fruits and raw nut butters. If you cleanse now, you’ll be able to show off your slimmer, healthier body to your family when you see them over the holidays.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
