Sugar Busting Plan: Living The Detox Life
So you've finished the plan and you're sugar-free - now what? How do you live a low-sugar life? Here are some easy-to-follow guidelines.
- Stick to the 40g (1 Vioz) rule. Once you come off the Sugar-busting Plan, it's all right to introduce sugar again, but try not to go over this amount per day. Eat non-processed foods where possible and, if you do eat canned or ready prepared foods choose no-added-sugar brands. After all, what would you rather spend your reduced sugar allowance on - a creme brulee, or a can of baked beans and some ketchup?
- Keep refined carbohydrate levels as low as possible. This can help stop the blood-sugar swings that can trigger cravings for fast-fix sugars.
- Know your sugar substitutes. The flavours of some herbs and spices can reduce the need for sugar. In recipes, reduce the amount of sugar used by half by adding a little nutmeg, vanilla or cinnamon to take its place. Cinnamon can reduce tartness in an apple pie, for example.
- Don't eat sugar on an empty stomach. Grabbing a chocolate bar at 3pm or knocking back a doughnut for breakfast is going to cause a bigger sugar rush (and fall) than eating sugar with other foods, as in the latter case insulin will have other foods to tackle as well. If you really want something sweet, make sure you eat sugar as part of a meal or as a dessert.
- If you do have a major sugar binge, you can reduce the damage caused. The antioxidant alpha lipoic acid is known as being 'anti-sugar', because it actually stops sugar attaching to proteins in the body. It is found within foods such as broccoli, spinach, red meat and liver so make sure you eat these regularly.