5 Helpful Tips To Detox From Sugar

The not-so-sweet truth is that massive sugar intake in this country is one of the major drivers of chronic disease. Like drug addiction, sugar causes food addiction in some people, which makes it very difficult to stop. Addictive drugs cause neurochemical changes in the brain, such as changes in the binding of dopamine and opioid receptors, that reinforce addictive behaviors. Similarly, sugar has been shown to stimulate the brain’s reward centers through the neurotransmitter dopamine. Consuming too much processed sugar has been linked to heart disease, cancer, dementia, obesity, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, depression, and even acne, infertility, and impotence. If you want to reset your body and detox from the damaging effects of sugar, follow the guidelines below.

1. Remove all processed foods from your home

The easiest way to detox from sugar is to quit smoking suddenly. To avoid reading food labels for hours on end, remove everything that is packaged, canned, frozen (with a few exceptions, such as frozen organic berries), or pre-cooked from your kitchen. There are a variety of names for many of the common forms of sugar. It can take forever to examine foods by reading labels, so commit to eating fresh, whole foods and nothing else. Ideally, for 10 days you should avoid any food that comes in a box, package, or can or has a label, and sticks to real, whole, fresh foods. Also, the best way to fully detox is to give up all grains for 10 days.

2. Stay with the water

Any form of liquid sugar is worse than solid foods with sugar because it enters the bloodstream faster. Imagine that sugar enters your liver directly and shuts down the fat storage mechanism within your liver, which in turn leads to the production of belly fat. Sugary drinks like soda and sports drinks do not fill the body. Furthermore, the energy they provide only lasts for a short period of time. While detoxifying, be sure to avoid fruit juices, sodas, sports drinks, and sweetened teas and coffees. Instead, drink plenty of water because thirst can often cause sugar cravings. To function properly, your liver needs water and glucose to make glycogen. When your body is dehydrated, it is much more difficult to produce glycogen, which triggers a sugar craving.

3. Get enough sleep

Sleep is a time for the body to rejuvenate and rebuild itself. Less sleep initiates sugar and carbohydrate cravings by affecting appetite hormones. Lack of sufficient amount of sleep affects your energy throughout the day. To compensate for the lack of energy, people tend to consume artificial sugars and beverages with excess caffeine that contain high levels of sugar. Getting 7-9 hours of sleep each night is the best way to fight the urge to overeat or feed your body excess sugar.

4. Start the day with a meal rich in protein.

Upon waking, your body may crave sweets due to the low carbohydrate levels and high insulin levels that result from overnight fasting. To combat this craving, it’s important to feed your body plenty of high-quality protein and fat. Nutrient-dense breakfast keeps the body full for an extended period of time and provides the nutrients it needs to function at optimal capacity. Tomorrow morning, instead of donuts or cakes, enjoy whole farm eggs with avocado and berries.

Be prepared with your own healthy snacks

When you’re on the go, you don’t want to be caught in an emergency situation, if your blood sugar is low, without healthy food; especially when traveling. You want to avoid airport food courts, so as not to be tempted. The best thing for you is to always have ready-made snacks filled with nuts, plant seeds, or fruits like bananas so you can pick me up quickly and in a healthy way.

A sugar detox is a great way to reset your body and improve your overall health. Although it may be difficult in the beginning, it will be worth it in the end once the addiction is gone. If you are looking to rid your body of excess sugar and unhealthy cravings and want professional assistance, be sure to visit a doctor who specializes in functional medicine in San Diego. For health and happiness in 2020!