Breaking Up With Sugar

Break ups are difficult. And this one was too. But I have to say, this one has been the most rewarding.

My torrid love affair with sugar gave me great highs and crashing lows. It wasn’t long before I became aware that it is so unnecessary.

The body gets the required amount of sugar from vegetables and fruit. Added sugar in any form is just going to get converted to fat, give you bad skin, cause headaches and contribute to tooth decay. Here are 146 reasons why sugar is bad for you.

As you grow older, you realize that your metabolism is not the same any more and there are some changes you need to make. When I decided to revamp my lifestyle, I knew that the best thing I can do for myself is eliminate sugar from my daily diet. Today, I take my coffee/tea without sugar, I do not drink soda or canned juice, I do not eat sugary cereal, candy or cookies and I eat dessert only occasionally. Still a long way to go because sugar is sneaky and creeps in to the diet in many hidden ways but at least I am not consuming anything with added sugar in it. That includes ketchup, packaged soups, sports drinks, chips, wafers, cookies, crisps, juices. All gone from my diet.

Was it easy? Well, fortunately I do not have a sweet tooth really so it isn’t really a big deal. But I know it is difficult for some to part with sugar.

Here are some tips:

The key here is to understand why you crave sugar in the first place. Is it the taste? Is it the stress eating? Is it the momentary high? Sugar releases dopamine into your blood stream and that is what gives you the high.

• To combat the craving, add the following to your diet. Things that release dopamine naturally. Almonds, banana, coffee, dark chocolate, apples.
• A healthy, hearty breakfast will keep cravings away. Include fiber, protein and fat.
• Drink more water! Yup, the age old rule. You just can’t avoid this. You can flavour your water with apples, cinnamon, mint, lemon, cucumbers.
• Take a walk. Whenever you find a craving creeping up on you, take a walk around the building. Clear your head.
• Stop being harsh with yourself. The journey to breaking up with sugar is not easy, so if you fall off the wagon a few times, forget, stand and keep walking.

Here’s to being a better version of yourself and eliminating bad things, one at a time. You’re better off without sugar. It is just a toxic relationship.

Happy breakup, you all.

xoxo

Neha