Friday 5 August 2016

Sugar Detox

Do you want to get rid of the toxins in your body which oftentimes make you feel bloated, make you look dull, make you more susceptible to diseases? Do you want to lose some weight? Do you want to boost your mood and your energy for you to have better days? Do you want to live a healthier, happier lifestyle? The easy, effective solution to that is Detox.

Among all the things you can work on when you detox, what is likely the most important to work on is the sugar addiction. Anyone who gets addicted to sugar cannot be blamed because like what is said, sugar is up to ten times more addictive than heroin or cocaine. Sugar is like an opiate within the brain. When one experiment was conducted wherein the subjects were given sugar on an intermittent-feeding schedule for a month, they began displaying behavior traits associated with drug abuse. When the subjects were no longer fed with sugar, they craved for it, and they experienced the same effect as those who stopped taking addictive drugs.

Why is it important to work on sugar addiction? Because if you have too much sugar in your system,

  • Pathogenic bacteria, parasites, and yeast, feed off sugar. This means that the more sugar you have in your body means you are inviting more of them in your system.

  • You will have high blood sugar level

  • There is a huge possibility that you will gain a lot of weight and it might even lead to obesity, which is starting to become a major concern in the world today with 13% of the population being obese.

  • Sugar, and not fat, highly contributes to the body’s tendency to get diseases which is why if you consume a lot of sugar, there is a bigger risk of you getting sick.

  • Your body will suffer from chronic diseases.

  • You will be diabetic.

  • You will have bad mood swings, terrible feelings, low sex drive, and you will feel tired most of the time.

  • It will affect your sex life

  • And many more…..

What should you do? Overcome that addiction through detox.


Saying it is not as easy as doing it. As what we have mentioned, sugar is very addictive which is why overcoming food addiction or sugar addiction is a struggle, an uphill climb. It does not mean, however, that it is because you are not disciplined, or that you lack willpower, or you are too weak to resist.

Say no to your sweets, especially the liquid ones.detox


This is probably the most difficult thing to do, which is to avoid sugar and artificial sweeteners. There is no secret or shortcut to cutting out the addiction from your routine. You just need to be strong and disciplined enough to truly cut it out.

That decadent cupcake near that is being sold by the popular bakeshop across the street? That irresistible brownies you saw when you were passing by a shop when you were on your way to a friend’s place? Turn your back on those. They are not filling so if you have them especially on an empty stomach, you tend to consume a lot before you become full and really satisfied.

That frappucino from your favorite coffee shop? That favorite powdered juice you love to have as refreshment? The tempting, sweet, refreshing soda? These are the drinks that encourage your cravings and consuming them on a regular basis leads to obesity and diabetes. It is said that a can of soda a day increases a kid’s chance of being obese by 60 percent and a woman’s chance of type 2 diabetes by 80 percent. So, aside from contributing too much sugar on your body when you consume them, it will tempt you to consume much more food. That is the perfect recipe for gaining weight really quick, for making the body weak, and for making your body more susceptible to diseases.

Switch to better and healthier food options. It is certainly not easy but, you will get along quite okay afterwards. It is always the first few steps that are challenging but, after a while, the healthier foods without those sweet foods or drinks will be your new “normal”.

Check if there are hidden allergies that trigger your cravings


It is going to be much more challenging for you to avoid sugar if you have an underlying condition that basically has put you into that state where you crave very often. You might need to go to the doctor if deemed necessary so that you would be able to detect. It is proven that you crave a lot for food you are allergic to and most often the culprits for that are gluten and dairy. Without them, you feel lousy and you then tend to want more of it.

Have protein-rich foods and fiber rich foods… and lots of it!detox


Protein plays a very vital role in balancing your blood sugar and insulin. It also aids in curbing your cravings. On top of those, it helps detoxify your liver so your liver can function much better. Consumption of protein-rich foods are very ideal for breakfast. That way, you can jumpstart your day happily and healthily, and you would feel full that you will not crave for anything in the middle of the day.

For foods that are great sources of proteins, go for eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt (preferably greek yogurt), cheese, beets, wheat germs, chicken, and nuts. If you can’t be bothered or when you are in a rush, you can always opt for protein shakes. They are generally very easy to prepare and can still provide you with a lot of protein that you will need to keep your body going. For Protein Shake recipes that are easy to make, or recipes that do not need protein powder, or recipes that are a bit complicated to do but can be great treats, click here.
For food that are great sources of fiber, you can go for cereals, wheat bread, muesli, apples, pears, lentils, brussel sprouts, kale, artichokes, cauliflower, asparagus, green beans, mushrooms, onions, zucchini, tomatoes, fennel, and broccoli. Not much into fruits and vegetables? You can juice them! If you want to check easy to make, truly enjoyable and refreshing juices, click here.

For ideal breakfast options that you will surely enjoy and love, click here.

Have foods that are anti-inflammatory.


Studies show that inflammation contributes to the imbalance of blood sugar, insulin resistance, pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes. This is why aside from avoiding foods that trigger inflammation like refined carbohydrates, sodas, shortenings like margarine, and fried foods like French fries, consumption of anti-inflammatory foods are equally essential.

Foods that fight inflammation are almost the same as those foods that are rich in fiber like spinach, broccoli, kale, beets, tomatoes, nuts, and fruits like strawberries, blueberries, and oranges. Some foods that are also good for fighting inflammation are fishes like salmon, tuna, trout, and mackerel.

Bring with you healthy snacks that you can eat when you are out


Ready your containers where you can put your snacks before you leave your apartment. It is best that you always have with you in your bag some foods that are good for you so that, in case you get hungry, you can just pull something out from your bag. When you are hungry, anything you see will look very tasty and you will want it. Usually when you are at public places, most of the foods that are readily available are sodas, chocolates, chips, and other unhealthy options. When you have something in your bag, you would be able to avoid those foods, and eat what you packed instead.

What are the snacks of foods you should pack? Those that are rich in fiber so that it is good for the health, good for curbing the appetite and the cravings, and are very filling. That way you will avoid overeating, you will feel full for a long period of time and you are keeping your body healthy. Those that are easy to pack and not messy to eat are slices of apples or pears, a cup or two of any kinds of berries like blueberries or strawberries, nuts, and fiber-rich crackers. For further options on what you can eat for snacks, click here.

Have enough Sleep


This is always a part of any advice for those who want to lose weight, for those who want to do detox, for those who want to build muscles. Yes, this is a common advice for those who want to live a healthier and happier lifestyle and it is for a reason. Sleep is what the body needs for it to rest, to recover from the stressful long day or any suffering it has endured, or any kind of recovery overall.

The best role that sleep portrays in getting rid of sugar consumption? Sleeping actually helps curb the sugar consumption by dealing with the appetite hormones. When you are awake, you tend to need enough energy to sustain you and the best option most people tend to go to for the energy they require is anything sweet. In one study conducted, when they deprived college students with just two hours of their recommended sleep has led the students to having higher hunger hormones, a decrease in their appetite-suppressing hormones, and a heightened increase in cravings for sugars and even refined carbohydrates.

Do some de-stressing


It might take some while off your day if you distress but it helps make a huge difference not ondetoxly in your mood, but also to your overall well being because your hormones will “act up”. When you are stressed, the cortisol in your body increases as well and that would result to hunger and cravings, and it will also cause belly fat storage.

When you de-stress, it does not mean that you should go to a spa and have a massage, or go to the beach to unwind, or go to the mountains for some fresh air. You can do this small activity that is proven by studies as an effective activity for de-stressing. Just do deep breaths. Deep breaths relax and soothes your body effectively. Aside from that, studies say that when you take deep breaths, you activate the vagus nerve, which is a special nerve in the body that shifts the metabolism of the body from storage of fat to burning of fat, and in result, would quickly take you out of that stressed state you are in.

The advised way of taking deep breathes to effectively de-stress is by breathing in for five seconds and breathing out for another five seconds. You do it seven to ten times, ideally before or after meals.

Take craving cutting supplements


Optimize your Vitamin D level because, studies show that when you have low Vitamin D level in your system, the hormone that helps you turn off your appetite will not work and you will tend to get hungry all the time regardless of whether you eat a lot of food or not.

Take a supplement that is rich in Omega 3 because high level of omega 3 does insulin control and also the body’s inflammation.

Also, consider taking natural supplements for craving control like glucomannan fiber which is a very helpful fiber in the reduction of spikes in insulin and sugar that drives cravings.

Chromium is also good for blood sugar balancing and it also helps in controlling cravings.

When it comes to taking good care of the body and getting rid of bad habits, it really is not very easy and it definitely is not effective in just a blink of an eye or just a snap of a finger. It is not magic. Do not get discouraged if you feel like there is no use. Do not give in even if it is super tempting already that the difference between you and that sugary food is just an inch away. Always remember that what you will do is hard but in the long run, you will benefit from it tremendously.

Nothing is much more important than a healthy mind and a healthy body. Diseases that you will acquire because you live a very unhealthy lifestyle where you just give in to your cravings or desires are difficult to live by as these diseases are chronic ones that you cannot easily get rid off with just proper diet and exercise and detox.

So, do the right choice and start you sugar detox now.

No comments:

Post a Comment