Did you know that there are at least 61 different names for sugar? That means that sugar can easily go undetected on food labels and sneak into your diet without you even knowing.
Sugar is in just about everything we eat? While not all sugar is bad such as the natural sugar you would find in fruit, the refined and artificial sweeteners found in processed foods are what we want to stay away from.
If you are trying to reduce your sugar intake, here are three tips to help you get started:
Tip #1: Support with Chromium
Chromium is a mineral needed for normal blood sugar control. It is also needed for normal metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Anecdotal evidence suggests thatchromium supplements can reduce cravings for refined carbohydrates and sugars and promote more stable sugar levels.
Tip #2: Take Baby Steps
Cutting sugar out cold turkey can lead to further cravings down the road. Instead of completely eliminating sugar from your diet try by removing 1-2 sugary food items per week. Before you know it your diet will almost be sugar free!
Tip #3: Snack on Healthy Fat & Quality Protein
Often times people will crave sugar when they are hungry and needing a meal or snack. Instead of grabbing something high in sugar, try snacking on some healthy fat such as sliced avocado and sea salt and some protein such as unsweetened Greek yogurt. The fat and protein will help to keep you feeling full longer and will help to curb cravings.
For this week’s challenge, I challenge you to eliminate at least 1 of these foods from your diet. These are hidden sources of sugar that many people may not even realize have added sugar in them.
- Sweetened yogurt
- Packaged treats
- Cereal
- Granola bars
- Frozen meals
- Fruit juice
- BBQ sauce and ketchup
- Certain salad dressings