We are half way through our Sugar Challenge. Two weeks ago we challenged you to go Sugar Free, and you are doing it! Below is a list of 17 things we’ve learned so far. Join us on Facebook if you’d like to follow along or get started with your journey of busting out of your “Sugar Rut” … it’s never too late to start. We’ll provide you with daily tips, mind-blowing facts and words of encouragement.

  1. Sugar is addictive! It releases an opiate like substance that stimulates your brains reward system. Eating those sugars makes it harder to enjoy the sweet foods we should be eating – whole fresh fruit since they don’t seem as sweet by comparison.
  2. Research shows that Sugar promotes disease and aging … ouch!
  3. Throw it out! That’s right, empty your cabinets. Throw out any junk, sugary, toxic foods. If you are worried about throwing out money … consider that if you don’t throw out that food you are throwing out your health instead. So throw out that sugar!
  4. Natural sweeteners to avoid – brown rice syrup, honey, agave, maple syrup, stevia, raw sugar … and more.
  5. Remember that if you drink coffee or tea during the day and use sugar or some kind of sweetener, you’ll want to skip that part … I know it’s hard and uncomfortable, but it’s only 30 days … such a short time in the grand scheme of things and yet enough to accomplish so much.
  6. The first week in a Sugar Detox is notoriously the hardest – at the end of the day/after work we took the time to reward ourselves by enjoying a nice walk outside, buying some flowers or some other healthy treats. It was well deserved.
  7. The only form of “natural sweetners” are fruits. Fruits are awesome because they contain vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, fiber, and other nutrients. Our bodies are designed to digest a complete “package” of nutrition that appears in whole, fresh, ripe fruits.
  8. The longer you go without sugar the better your body will be able to digest and use the natural sugars from fruits. Meaning, no more of those post food crashes.
  9. Always prepare for the week ahead. Pack snacks! Those sugar cravings will kick in, especially during the stress of the day. Make sure you are prepared so you can make healthier choices.
  10. Cultured foods have been an integral part of the healthiest diets for thousands of years and are essential to a long, healthy life. They give birth to a lavish inner ecosystem (your gut), building resistance to infections, and greatly enhancing digestion. They are ideal for sugar, appetite and weight control, very alkaline and cleansing to the blood. Examples include fermented foods like raw sauerkraut, greek yogurt, miso, and probiotic supplements …
  11. Remember to drink plenty of water…as we’ve discussed, cravings often kick in when you are dehydrated. Drink lots and lots of H2O!
  12. Go for a walk! Yep, that’s right, try taking your mind off work, people, and other stresses that typically make you want to go for those M&Ms…so opt for a healthier, non-food reward like a walk. If it’s raining, then just walk the hallways or jump on a treadmill.
  13. Eat consistently. For some people when they don’t eat regularly, their blood sugar levels drop, which means they feel hungry and are more likely to crave sweet sugary snacks.
  14. The closer a food is to its original form, the less processed sugar it will contain. Food in its natural form, including fruits and vegetables, usually presents no metabolic problems for a normal body, especially when consumed in variety.
  15. Why shouldn’t you reach for agave as your natural sweetener? It is true, that agave syrup is low glycemic. However, we have to consider why agave syrup is “low glycemic.” It is due to the unusually high concentration of fructose (90%) compared to the small amount of glucose (10%). Nowhere in nature does this ratio of fructose to glucose occur naturally. One of the next closest foods that contain this concentration of glucose to fructose is high fructose corn syrup, which only contains 55% fructose.
  16. Spice it up! At your next trip to the Grocery Store buy some of the following – Coriander, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom, which will naturally sweeten your foods and reduce cravings.
  17. Share your (non-sugar) high with your friends. Let people know that you are committed to this sugar free journey and you need their support.

Remember, it’s not too late to still join us. All you have to do is join us on Facebook to receive your daily tips, facts and words of encouragement. I know you can do it!. Are you ready … join us now!