7 Ways to Cut Sugar Out of Your Life
How can we eliminate sugar — the main source of heart disease, diabetes, and circulatory problems — from our lives? Here are the easiest methods.
Refined sugar, which began to be consumed heavily around 100 years ago, does nothing more than add sweetness to food and drinks — it provides no benefit to the human body. Sugar is widely regarded as the leading cause of obesity, as well as heart disease, diabetes, and circulatory problems. Generali Insurance, Turkey's first insurance company with a history spanning more than 150 years, has shared the following ways to reduce sugar consumption and cut it out of your life.
Get to know sugar
Refined sugar entered the human diet in significant quantities only recently. As such, it is a relatively new substance and is not a necessity for the human body. To quit sugar, you first need to understand it. Sugar comes in more than one form — from processed refined sugar to natural fruit sugar. It is therefore important to recognize which sugars are harmful and to avoid types such as glucose, fructose, and galactose.
Keep it out of the kitchen
One of the first steps to eliminating sugar from your life is to stop bringing it into the kitchen. Remove all artificially sweetened products from your kitchen — such as chocolate-hazelnut spreads, cookies, processed sauces, and carbonated or sugary drinks. Replace them with healthier, natural foods instead.
Change your snacking habits
When you feel hungry between meals, don't reach for sugary snacks. Instead, turn to natural foods that will actually benefit you. For example, choosing foods like apples, oranges, dried raisins, hazelnuts, or peanuts will more than satisfy your craving for something sweet.
Don't turn to artificial sweeteners
When trying to quit sugar, don't substitute it with artificial sweeteners — which are themselves just another form of sugar. Sweeteners are at least as sweet and as harmful as sugar itself.
Eat more protein
Drops in blood sugar aren't only caused by sugar consumption. Eating protein is one of the best ways to keep blood sugar balanced. Consuming protein-rich foods such as red meat, white meat, eggs, dairy products, and legumes will reduce your tendency to crave sugar.
Drink plenty of water
One of the best ways to flush sugar from your body is to drink plenty of water. Water cleanses the body of harmful substances — including sugar and salt — and helps keep you free from artificial food cravings.
Boost your serotonin levels
Serotonin, known as the happiness hormone, helps regulate blood sugar levels by keeping insulin secretion in check. So spend time doing things that bring you joy, pick up new hobbies, and make sure to exercise regularly.
