The hustle, bustle and food of the holiday festivities are behind us. Now that all our baked goods have left the kitchen, it’s time to reflect on our sugar intake for the year to come! What better time than during National Sugar Awareness Week, happening now.
There are multiple health benefits to cutting down sugar in your diet. The most prominent are reducing your risk of developing diabetes and other diseases,boosting heart health and getting better sleep.
Not sure where to eliminate or cut down sugar? It’s true: It can be hard to ditch the sweet stuff. But reducing your daily sugar intake doesn’t have to be so intimidating. Try these ideas out:
Read labels: Sugar likes to disguise itself on food packaging. However, the best way to tell how much sugar is in your food is to read the nutrition information label. This will indicate how many grams of sugar is present in your food.
Beware of hidden sugars: Common culprits of food that have sugar are those we typically eat every day. This includes breakfast cereals, soft drinks and even hot dogs and spaghetti sauce. Learn to recognize the different names for sugar in the ingredient list of foods!
Switch to natural sweeteners: You can cut your sugar intake without giving up that sweet fix by opting for natural sweeteners like stevia or xylitol. Adding it into your morning coffee or afternoon snack is a great alternative.
Give in a little: If the idea of natural sweeteners doesn’t satisfy you, it is OK to eat just a small amount of what you may be craving. Enjoying a little bit of what you love in moderation can be a good lifestyle change rather than quitting cold turkey. An example of this is breaking that cookie in half and saving the second part for tomorrow, or reaching towards almonds but adding a tablespoon of chocolate chips into the mix. Combine the foods you crave with healthier options to avoid overdoing your sugar intake.
Grab gum: Maybe cutting out sugar cold turkey is something you’re interested in, though? Some people do find that going this route helps cravings diminish altogether in just a few days. If this is more your style, or if you’re in the right mindset, give it a try. A helpful hint to successfully do this is by chewing gum. Research shows that food cravings can drastically be reduced if a distraction is present.
Eat regularly: Whether limiting sugar intake, combining foods or completely going cold turkey, having a regular eating schedule is important. Do not forget this! Studies suggest that eating every three-to-five hours can help keep blood sugar stable. Balanced blood sugar helps keep our brain healthy, our energy levels stable and our mood balanced.
Finding the line between indulging in a healthy way and overindulgence can save you from future health issues. Let us lend a helping hand in figuring it all out!
