Leah Gehlsen Morlan
Try your hand at giving up (or even just decreasing) your sugar intake this year. Read on for 3 simple tips for going sugar-free and staying that way!
I love treats. I love them. I love to finish off a meal with a little something sweet and sugary. It just feels right. And according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), I guess it also feels like an increased risk for heart disease, weight gain, and a decrease in the nutrients that are actually good for me. So, I’ve decided that, this year, my family and I will try letting go of that need for the candied life and maybe, just maybe, going sugar-free.
3 Simple Tips for Going Sugar-Free
1. Eat some sweet stuff, if you need to.
Just don’t turn to refined sugar. Throw some tasty fresh (or frozen!) fruits into your daily smoothies. Grab a piece of whole fruit. Try out this recipe (minus the sugar, of course — don’t worry, it will still be delicious) or this vibrant superfood bowl (make sure to skip add-ins, such as granola, that contain refined sugar).
A favorite sweet-tooth soother of mine is as follows: mix half an avocado, one ripe banana, a tablespoon of cocoa powder and almond or peanut butter (no sugar added!) to taste. Puree in the food processor and enjoy a chocolate-y treat.
2. Please don’t turn to aspartame.
Keep it out of your house and out of your system. When I talk about going sugar-free and getting rid of the crud in my diet, I’m not down with replacing it with aspartame. Read on here and here for more information on the dangers of faux sugar.
Juice might seem like a good alternative to sugar or artificial sweeteners, but sweet fruit juices are basically just sugar water.
3) Eat less refined flour.
White flour is a big baddie too. All of its nutrients have been stripped, and it’s a simple carb, just like its friend refined sugar. In fact, those refined carbohydrates turn into sugar when your body digests it. It does, however, have an excellent shelf-life, which is kind of the point.
Replace your pasta with zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash. Try out this muffin recipe which is a new favorite of mine (and the kids can’t get enough of it).
Carry your post-holiday detox tips (more info on detox here as well) further into the new year by really giving your body a break. Going sugar-free is a tough one, but well worth the energy and health benefits.
Images via Shutterstock.
