How to Cut Sugar Out of Your Diet (For Real This Time)

By Karla Walsh

 

Here’s some not-so-sweet news: The average American consumes 57 pounds of added sugar per year. Boil that down to daily consumption, and it’s about 17 teaspoons (more than ⅓ cup). The American Heart Association’s recommended daily cap? Just six teaspoons. Yikes.

“Most people are unaware of all the places sugar hides,” says Michele Promaulayko, author of Sugar-Free 3. “Sugar is nearly everywhere, even slipped into foods we don’t even think of as ‘sweet,’ like spaghetti sauce, ketchup, bread, crackers, salad dressings, and yogurt.” 

RELATED: This Is What Too Much Sugar Does to Your Body

These hidden sugars, and the fact that we consume so much sugar on the regular, is why Promaulayko decided to write Sugar-Free 3. Don’t be thrown off by the title: The three-week plan does not ask you to go completely without any sweet foods whatsoever. 

“It’s not restrictive. There’s so much you can eat and there’s no calorie counting, so you’ll never be hungry,” Promaulayko says.

Follow the related OpenFit app and commit to eliminating added sugars, artificial sweeteners, and refined carbs for 21 days, “about the time it takes to form healthy new habits and to start experiencing significant results,” Promaulayko says.

At the same time, you’ll learn how to read a nutrition label to spot hidden sources of sugar. (Get a head start with the Nutritious Life guide to being more sugar savvy.) 

You can still eat fruit, potatoes, and whole-grain pastas and breads, but by limiting excess sugar, research shows you’ll sleep better, experience less inflammation, and reduce your risk for chronic diseases including heart disease and some cancers.

RELATED: Is Natural Sugar in Whole Foods Healthier Than Added Sugars?

“Ditching sugar—even just for three weeks, as a start—can be incredibly beneficial to overall health,” Promaulayko says. “And the longer you stay with it, the healthier you get, obviously. You’ll have more stable blood sugar, which controls hunger and energy, sleep more soundly, and have better digestion.”

Ready to cut sweets without going insane? Promaulayko shares three sugar-savvy steps.

3 Easy Ways to Cut Sugar Out of Your Diet

  1. Plan your meals in advance. “A little planning goes a long way to prevent you from falling prey to easy-to-grab processed foods when you’re hungry,” Promaulayko says. Our recipe database is jam-packed with low-sugar menu inspiration.
  2. Find sweet substitutes. When your sweet cravings just won’t quit, try herbal tea with a sweet note (like vanilla or cinnamon) or a piece of whole fruit. Since the sugars are natural and come along with fiber, they won’t increase your blood sugar the same way a store-bought cake spiked with high fructose corn syrup would.
  3. Team up. “Enlist a friend, spouse or a group of coworkers to cut sugar with you,” Promaulayko says. “You can help hold each other accountable.” Sweet!

 

(Featured photo: Shutterstock)

About Karla Walsh
Health, Food, Wine and Relationship Writer + Cooking and Wine Event Host

WANT A SNEAK PEEK INSIDE THE PROGRAM?

Get FREE access to some of the core training materials that make up our signature program
– Become a Nutrition Coach.

Don’t Miss Out on Living a Nutritious Life

Sign Up for our newsletter!

Nutritious Life Newsletter - articles sidebar

WANT TO KNOW THE RIGHT MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENT FOR YOU?

Magnesium Breakthrough contains all 7 forms of magnesium designed to help calm your mind and help you fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up refreshed.

For an exclusive offer, go to bioptimizers.com/nlkeri and use promo code NLKERI for 10% off any order.

Interested in joining our wellness community and becoming a Nutritious Life Master Certified Nutrition and Wellness Coach?

Enter your info, get free access now to a sample class!

Inside Articles page - take a free class form

"*" indicates required fields

I agree*
I would like to receive text messages, and agree to the Terms of Service & Privacy Policy. Reply STOP to cancel, HELP for help. Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency varies.