We all know that learning to eat healthier is about eating the right things and minimizing the wrong things. But when it comes to sugar, it’s one of those things that is incredibly difficult to give up. We know the impact of having too much sugar, such as weight gain, obesity, risk of diabetes, strokes, and heart disease, but we still can’t give up the sweet stuff. So what does it really take for us to cut back on our sugar intake?
Get Your Teeth Checked
You may have a very generous sugar habit that hasn’t impacted your teeth yet, but you can’t outrun a bad diet. Places like Parkshore Dentistry can provide advice to ensure that you look after your teeth and will always tell you about what sugar does. Of course, dental providers can provide support and give you fillings and fix that impacted tooth, but the reality is that you’ve got to get into a more preventative approach. Good oral health is not just about your teeth, if you don’t look after your mouth, you can run the risk of other oral diseases, such as gum disease or even oral cancer.
Looking for Hidden Sugars
If you look at your diet and think about how many teaspoons of sugar you consume in a given day, you may be incredibly surprised, especially if you think you are eating healthily. Hidden sugars can be found in many common foodstuffs, from cereal to yogurt. The best thing you can do is to look at everything you consume and add up how much sugar there is. You can use programs like MyFitnessPal to break it down for you so you’re not just seeing how much sugar you are consuming but also how much protein, fat, carbohydrates, and other macronutrients are in your diet.
Filling Up on the Right Things
If you find yourself hungry a lot of the time and you are consuming a lot of sugar, sugar is partly to do with why you are feeling so hungry. Because they are empty calories with little nutritional value the body is craving sustenance in the right ways. Filling up on the right things, for example, protein will ensure that you feel satisfied and have more energy. If you feel tired and lethargic you should get the basics in place, such as sleeping well and having a moderate amount of exercise, but you should also consume the right things that your body is craving. In addition to protein, consuming healthy fats can make a difference. Healthy fats from coconut oil, olive oil, and butter can make you feel more sated.
The toughest thing about reducing sugar is the withdrawal symptoms. It’s important to have a diet that is in moderation of everything that we like. The problem we all have is that there is too much choice, and we end up gorging on too much of the unhealthy stuff. When it comes to making a break with sugar, it’s not the easiest thing in the world, but once you do you can feel the benefits instantly.
*Collaborative Post