Welcome to HWLH News Letter
August Issue # 021 - The Sugar Detox - Help Eliminate Cravings
Looking for a sugar detox to cleanse the system and help eliminate those cravings?
Having a huge sweet tooth myself, every once in a while it is nice to cleanse the body or as I like to call it, doing some internal housekeeping.
Any kind of detox is a definite plus for our bodies, but sugar can be a hard one because not only is it highly addictive, it is in almost everything we eat like cereal, bread, pasta, fruits and even table salt.
In fact, meats and oils are about the only foods that do not contain sugar and of course manufactured products that are specifically made to be sugar free.
So it is important to know which foods offer healthier sugars and which foods we should try to limit or avoid.
Healthier sources of sugar can come from:
Fruit
Vegetables
Whole Grain Products
Natural Sweeteners
Dairy Products
Bad Sugar Sources Come From:
Processed foods
Refined foods
Greatly altered foods
Too much bad sugar can cause the following health risks:
Sugar offers no nutrients and only adds empty calories to your diet. This is why sugar causes weight gain and obesity in so many children and adults.
Eating too much sugar impairs the immune system making it harder for your body to fight off bacteria, viruses and illness.
May contribute to diabetes by elevating blood sugars. A diet high in sugar and other refined carbohydrates can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Sugar is bad for our teeth and the major cause of tooth decay.
Too much sugar may overload the liver and in some cases can even cause fatty liver disease.
A diet high in sugar may increase your risk of developing heart disease.
So if we tend to eat a fair share of the "bad sugars" then it's a great idea to do a sugar detox to help cleanse the body, boost the immune system and increase your energy levels.
There are several sugar detox programs to chose from, some which seem too short and others way too long.
Then we came across this detox program offered and explained by Dr. Mark Hyman, MD (from the Cleveland Clinic), which I thought was well thought out.
How to do a Sugar Detox by Dr. Hyman:
According to Dr. Hyman, the more sugar you eat the more you crave. Luckily it only takes 10 days to break a sugar habit.
Here are the steps you need to take to succeed.
First decide to make the change in your life. That's right. Decide to stop eating sugar.
Quit cold turkey.
Stop eating all forms of sugar, artificial sweeteners and flour. (Remember this is only for 10 days.)
Also don't drink your calories. Eliminate sodas, sport drinks, sweetened teas and coffees, and juices.
Eat protein at every meal, such as lean meats, eggs and nuts. This will help curb your sugar cravings. Protein is great as it keeps you feeling full longer and doesn't make your blood sugar spike.
Eat only non starchy vegetables.
Quit gluten and dairy for these 10 days.
Try to achieve 8 hours of sleep nightly.
Click here for Dr. Hyman's Sugar Detox Video
Conclusion:
Once you finish your sugar detox it is a good idea to incorporate foods into your diet that offer healthier sugars and avoid foods that contain bad ones.
The bottom line is that refined sugar provides empty calories. It is a stimulant and not a nutrient that can be found in many products such as sodas, chocolate, candy, chips, baked goods and processed foods.
When you consume more calories than your body needs it begins to turn and store it as fat adding on unwanted weight.
Indulge a Little:
A little sweet treat now and then isn’t going to hurt. Everything in moderation they say.
The main goal is to try and consume healthier calories whenever possible and limit the useless ones that only cause weight gain.
Useful Tip:
Of course we all know the important of exercise. Getting active can help reduce those sugar cravings.
Not only that, but exercising can also help:
burn off more calories
weight loss
increased energy levels
improved self esteem
reduced stress levels and depression
increased body strength
longevity
and so much more.
So if you feel like trying the sugar detox then check out Dr. Hayman's short video, then stock up on lean meats and vegetables.
Wishing you health and happiness.
Till next time.
Catherine :)
