How to do a Sugar Detox

If you haven’t heard the news, we’re doing a Sugar-Free September Challenge!  If you’re in (and we hope you are!) you may still need some convincing to really do this sugar “detox”.  Let’s get into the why of doing a sugar detox!

It’s true that sugar was a major vice for us growing up.  It’s hard to say when it all began, but we can tell you that we loved the stuff.  Any sugary treat was gold and we were not sorry about eating it.

When we first learned about candida, sugar allergies and diabetes, it seemed like daunting, scary stuff.  But sadly, not scary or daunting enough for us to think about giving up sugar.  The idea of “sugar-free” sounded like death.  And maybe it was…  Until, a few years later, when we found that we actually had candida and discovered the impact sugar had on our health. This made us think twice. Luckily, this was also the time we learned about the world of natural sweeteners. This changed everything!

In this challenge, we’re here to help you bypass the horrible, scary feelings we had when asked to do a sugar-free diet and instead, we’re going to jump straight to the creative, fun and delicious part.  We promise that a Sugar-Free Challenge can be delicious and actually fun.

The beauty of a sugar detox is the renewed desire to eat well and feel well!  A sugar detox can be highly beneficial if you are experiencing any symptoms that you believe are associated with a food addiction. Do you have really low energy or feel sick after eating certain foods or have skin rashes?  These could be helped by giving sugar a break. Even if you feel you don’t have any negative reaction to sugar, cutting out sugar gives you the opportunity to honestly check-in with yourself about your cravings and habits. You’ll be amazed at how your cravings and habits drastically improve without sugar in your body!  Our bodies respond to what we put into them, for good or bad. We can change how we feel by changing what we feed out bodies.  It’s a really beautiful thing!

How to do a Sugar Detox

• The first secret to starting a sugar detox challenge is to create a positive outlook.  Avoid thinking “I can’t eat that.” or “I am on a diet.”   It’s best to begin telling yourself, “I don’t eat that”.  This instills in your mind that you are choosing not to eat something now but you always have the freedom to.
• Next: Never go hungry!  Fill yourself up with whole grains, proteins and lots of veggies!  This will help eliminate cravings. When you are nourished with proper foods, you are less likely to want to graze or snack on your old favorite sugar treats.
• One misconception when doing a sugar detox is that you can’t have dessert! There are a lot of natural sweeteners that can create delicious treats acceptable on a sugar-free diet. Look around our site! We believe desserts are mandatory!  We’ve got lots of nutritious breakfasts, snacks and dessert recipes available to you. And be sure to watch for new recipes posted in September, too!
• If you happen to break the Sugar-Free Challenge during the month, don’t worry about the mistake and get back on it.  The point of this challenge is to consciously think about the foods we eat.  Let’s get away from mindless eating and think about the sugar we consume.  You may be surprised to find how many hidden sugars sneak into your diet.

Eliminating sugar has been a positive experience for us and one that we truly hope you’ll try, too.  While we may not be 100% sugar-free all the time, doing sugar-free challenges has helped us determine our relationship with sugar. By cleansing ourselves of any addictions, we’re able to truly understand how foods impact our bodies.  We know that trying out a sugar detox next month will allow you to reboot your sugar cravings and honestly see where you stand with sugar.  It’s never too late to make positive changes! Get ready to see those changes next month!