Americans are addicted to sugar, and it’s literally killing us. About 75% of Americans eat excessive amounts of sugar, many of whom could be classified as having a diagnosable sugar addiction.
While drastically cutting out foods for a short time is not as effective as a long-term lifestyle approach to healthy eating, this kind of detox is different. Reducing sugar from your diet can help you not only drop pounds but also reduce your risk of developing our country’s most life-threatening diseases.
Having that horrible sugar hangover? Crashing after indulging in a sweet treat is a common experience. The sugar high is quickly followed by that tired, dizzy, lethargic, or sick feeling. Could our bodies be trying to tell us something?
Excess sugar causes our bodies to experience a rush of energy followed by a drop in energy. It also leads to imbalanced blood sugar levels, which can leave us feeling sick and exhausted. Over time, sugar creates chronic inflammation throughout our bodies.
But the consequences of too much sugar don’t end with you feeling a little crummy. Too much sugar in our diets is associated with higher blood pressure, weight gain, diabetes, fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and even some cancers. What we think of as a “treat” is really quite harmful to our bodies.
Some people believe that any and all sugar is the same. But the sugar you find in natural whole food, like fresh fruit, for example, hits us differently than a traditional dessert. I’m sure you’ll agree that how you feel after eating an apple differs greatly from how you feel post-donut.
Naturally occurring sugars found in whole foods like fruit, vegetables, and dairy, don’t need to be strictly cut out unless you’re trying a special diet to address a condition like diabetes. These natural sugars (like fructose and lactose) are digested slower than added sugar. They keep your metabolism and blood glucose levels more stable over time.
Added sugars, on the other hand, are packed into desserts like candy, cookies, and cakes. Large amounts of added sugar are also frequently hidden in what many think of as healthy food. These include tomato sauce, granola, protein bars, yogurt, and most low-fat products.
These added sugars cause a spike in energy followed by a crash in energy levels. They also are one of the greatest threats to our cardiovascular health.
These ten tips will help you detox from sugar far easier:
If you’re hooked on sugar, it’s time to look at this supposedly sweet treat for what it really is. We’re addicted to an ingredient that tastes good for a moment but leads to lifelong health issues when overconsumed.
I know you can kick your sugar cravings! Try out my tips on how to detox sugar and see how good you feel (and look) once you’re free.
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