Are You Addicted to Sugar?

Are you addicted to sugar?!?!

Answer the questions below and get on with finding out what you can do TODAY to overcome the addiction, kick the cravings to the curb and start experiencing the benefits of a “lightly-sweetened” life.

1. Do you eat or think about sugary foods even when you’re not hungry?

2. Does eating sweets make you feel better if you’re in a bad mood?

3. Does eating high carbohydrate containing meals leave you in a “food coma” after eating?

4. Do you ever feel guilty about eating certain foods like starches or sweets or avoid certain social events for fear of overeating those types of foods?

5. Does your daily routine depend on some type of beverage sweetened?

6. Does your daily routine include a crash around 3pm followed by a snack or beverage to help pick you up?

If you answered yes to 3 or more of the questions above, then chances are you and sugar have established the Facebook status of “in a relationship” and this relationship is NOT one that you want to take to the next level.

We all know it, we all have heard it “Sugar is NOT GOOD FOR YOU”. But why? Eating an excessive amount of sugar (more than 30 grams/6 teaspoons per day for women and 45 grams/ 9 teaspoons for men). The average adult consumes 22 teaspoons/ 110 grams per day. WHOA.

So what can you do TODAY to cut cravings, start sleeping better, experience a more calm and improved mood, and have your skin clear up and look radiant? Well, you can head back to the “less sweet” single life and break up with sugar for good!

1. If you can read it (nutrition facts on a label that is), you don’t need it.

> Start by trying to stick as close as you can to a REAL, WHOLE, and FRESH food diet.

> No, or limited, processed, packaged and prepared food. Avoid cans, boxes, containers, take-out, packages, etc. If you can read it (nutrition facts on a label that is), you don’t need it. (Remember, food companies are SNEAKY- sugar can be disguised by any of the following names: erythritol, glycerol, isomalt, lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, and hydrogenated starch hydrolysates (HSH)).

2. Sorry Starbucks Unicorn- your magic is not welcome here.

> Save yourself some money, and about 6 teaspoons of sugar by skipping the beverages that have been altered in any way by natural or artificial sweetener, syrup, toppings or flavors.

> This includes sodas-diet and regular, teas, coffees, JUICES-yes, even the fancy-schmancy fresh pressed and bottled, electrolyte and sports drinks, and lastly sweetened sparkling waters.

3. Pump up the protein and DON’T skip the good fats.

> Protein and fat are much more complex food molecules than sugar and thus take longer to digest leaving your body occupied for hours more than it would have been digesting that doughnut.

> Choose lean sources of protein such as chicken, turkey, tuna, and whitefish, eggs, nuts and seeds, tofu, edamame, peanut butter or a protein shake.

> Choose to include good fats from foods such as nut and seeds, extra-virgin olive oil, avocados, flax meal and fatty fish.

4. Yes, you CAN have TOO much of a good thing.

> While it is recommended to have 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables per day, those servings can contribute a serious amount of sugar to your daily intake if they come from mostly fruit. 1 cup of mangos has 23g of sugar- that’s almost your entire daily allowance!

> Consume mostly non-starchy, high fiber vegetables to help you feel fuller longer and reduce sugar cravings.

5. Sorry Sally, you should stay sober.

> Beer and wine can contain between: 1.5- 8g of sugar per serving.

> Mixed drinks, such as margaritas, pina coladas and daiquiris, can contain over 30 grams of sugar per serving.(DAYUUMMM!!!!!!)

If you’d like to start a serious sugar detox program consider the Happy Body 5-Day Nutrition Reset. For $49 its one hell-uv-a deal to get you feeling lighter, fresher, cleaner, better and healthier with minimal work! Not only will you kick sugar to the curb, but you’ll also receive meal plans, recipes, shopping lists, guidelines on dos and don’ts, and constant support from knowledgeable Registered Dietitians.

Check it out here.