5 WAYS: REDUCE SUGAR IN YOUR DIET

Last week I was privileged enough to write a post for the blog on the Samsara Skin website last week which talks about the sugar and how it affects the body and skin. I researched the content a lot and was exposed to a lot of new information that I wouldn't have been aware about otherwise. It really opened my eyes. If you'd like to read it then please take a look here. 

Since that post I've been trying to cut out sugar in small ways. It's not about cutting sugar out completely in one go because that's only going to give withdrawal symptoms similar to that of a drug abuser to simply go cold turkey. Instead it's easy to simply cut down whilst tricking the body into thinking it's getting it's usual sugary hit.

1. LOOK AT THE INGREDIENTS ON YOUR FOOD LABELS A little bit of sugar in shop bought foods is to be expected as sugar helps to preserve foods for longer periods than fresh food. However, the higher the amount of sugar a food contains the higher up the list of ingredients it will be placed. By looking at the labels on your food you can determine which brand does the product with the less amount of sugar. Beware that there can be different types of sugars all listed in the same ingredients label so take that into consideration too when checking which one is the lowest in sugar content.

2. SWITCH FROM SUGAR TO NECTAR/SWEETENERS Whilst most sweeteners contain aspartame, which is obviously very bad for you, there are some alternatives available. Truvia is a natural sweetener which doesn't contain aspartame and, whilst pricer than other brands, is a lot better for being natural. There's also 'nectars' available now which are natural and have a low GI that can be added to hot drinks and used in baking and cooking just as well as normal sugars. I use Agave Nectar which is available from most supermarkets.

3. LEARN TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THIRST AND HUNGER A lot of people can't tell the difference between simply being thirsty and thinking that they're hungry. This is when the attack of the mid-afternoon snack usually happens. That mid-afternoon snack is, more often than not, something sugary and sweet for that 'energy boost'. That energy boost only lasts, on average, for 45 minutes - during which time the bloody sugar level of the body has spiked and caused insulin levels to react. This could be stopped by simply keeping well hydrated and drinking more water more often.

4. FOCUS ON THE POSITIVES OF BEING SUGAR-FREE, NOT THE DEPRIVATION When you really feel the need for a sugar-fix remember it's simply not worth it in the long run. Think of your skin and think of your body and how much better it'll feel being sugar-free or even sugar-reduced. If you focus on the positives instead of feeling deprived and like you're forcing yourself to not eat it, making you feel depressed and motivation-less, you'll feel a lot better about avoiding the sugar in foods.

5. SWITCH FROM SUGARY MIXERS TO SODA WHEN YOU DRINK If you're used to having a vodka and lemonade when you go for a drink with your friends after work then try changing to a vodka, soda and lemon slice instead. The change from lemonade to soda will instantly cut the amount of sugar you consume over your night out by a drastic amount. Similarly, try soda instead of lemonade with your wine. Don't fall into the trap of switching to juice as carton juices are full of chemical sweeteners and sugar. Soda is really the only mixer that doesn't contain sugar.

If you really don't think that you can give up sugar entirely then remember that everything should be in moderation - including sugar. As long as you're aware of the problems that sugar can cause then you'll be better at making choices about the food you eat.