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The average American consumes about 160 pounds of refined sugar every year. Think about that for a minute. That’s a lot of sugar. Twelve months ago I was probably over that number myself. And just two hundred years ago we only used about 20 pounds of sugar per person per year. Scary! So learn how to sugar detox naturally with the 5 easy baby steps and avoid harsh withdrawal symptoms.
Why Do I Need to Detox From Sugar
We know all this sugar isn’t good for us. It’s rotting our teeth, giving us Type II Diabetes, and contributing to the obesity epidemic in the western world. And it’s addictive. For many people (myself included) the more I have it, the more I want it. No, I crave it! Or at least I used to before my detox.
The bad thing is that added sugar has found its way into all sorts of foods we consume on a daily basis and it isn’t just the sugary breakfast cereal or the ice cream that is the culprit. They really do put it just about everything. There’s sugar in our salad dressings, our frozen dinners, and pasta sauce to give you just a few examples.
What can we do to cut back on the amount of sugar we consume on a daily basis? Let’s start with some baby steps and cut out some of the big sugary filled offenders.
Detox from Sugary Sodas
Let’s start with something easy that will also have a huge impact. Stop drinking sodas. Just look at the labels and figure out how many teaspoons of sugar you are drinking each day. Then cut them out!
I was up to 3- 32 oz sodas a day at my worst. My Dr. Pepper addiction was horrible, and admittedly it was the hardest thing to cut from my diet. Don’t get my started on how they are filled with chemicals! Anywho, just cutting your daily soda habit can drastically reduce your sugar intake. I watched one mom only cut out sodas, and in 30 days she had dropped 10 lbs. Amazing huh!
Detox From Other Sugary Drinks
But don’t replace your soda habit with other sugary drinks. That includes seemingly innocent things like the sweet tea (a Texas tradition) or the fancy coffee drink but, it could also be your favorite juice beverage. Look at the labels and you might be surprised at some of those options at what you are really consuming each day. Then cut them out too. Stick to black coffee and herbal tea for a few days.
Detox From Sugar Naturally By Drinking More Water
The best option to drink will always be water. If you have trouble drinking enough water, join my 7 day water challenge and start your detox off right. I also bought a cute and fun water bottle that helps remind me to drink my water throughout the day. It’s not an easy transition, but it will be well worth it in the end.
Stop Indulging In Sugar Treats
Next it’s time to give up your favorite sugary treats. Enjoy a bowl of oatmeal or scramble up some eggs instead of pouring a bowl of sweet cereal in the morning. Looking for a snack? Skip the muffin, cake, cookies and candy. Instead reach for a piece of fruit or cut up some fresh veggies.
Find sugar free or low-sugar replacements for your favorite treats. My goto right now are nuts, cheese cubes, dried meats, and fat bombs (keto diet for the win!) Fix a sandwich if you’re hungry in the afternoon instead of raiding the cookie jar. Do your best to train your brain and taste buds to not crave sweet treats all day long.
Stick To Real, Natural Foods
Say no to convenience foods and reduce the added sugars and preservatives. Anything that’s labeled low fat, fat free or gluten free is worth avoiding since the fat is usually replaced by lots of sugar and salt to make it palatable. Your best bet is to stick to real food. Cook with single ingredients and prepare your meals from scratch. This allows you to control what’s going into the food you eat – including the sugar.
Avoid the Drive Throughs
Last but not least avoid going to fast food restaurants which have limited options. Drive throughs I am always tempted to have a soda. Then there is the hig carb count foods like fries, burgers, nuggets, and breads. And what will you dip your fries or nuggets in? Ketchups, BBQ and other sauces are riddled with hidden sugars.
Help with the Natural Sugar Detox
Don’t be afraid to need or want help. Detoxing from sugar is not pleasant or easy. I have found that water is your best friend here. If you are starting a keto diet, or thinking about it, the sugar detox is commonly called the keto flu. You can get help lessening the symptoms of the keto flu with exogenous ketones like those from Perfect Keto. They come in a variety of flavors and make a world of difference when detoxing. (Use code KETOROCKS15 for 15% off)