by Kenda Robertson

Created on: September 30, 2010   Last Updated: October 02, 2010

Giving up sugar is never easy, especially if you have a raging sweet tooth. But it is also not impossible. Cravings for sugary treats can be as strong as cravings for cigarettes and alcohol. And in some cases, sweets can be just as addictive.

But like any other addictive substance, it isn’t always wise to attempt to give up sugar cold turkey. In other words,do not stop abruptly. If you do, you will likely have strong cravings that may lead you to eat more of it. But the good thing about reducing sugar is that it usually doesn’t require rehab or group meetings.

We have all heard about the nasty things sugar does to our bodies and skin. It also robs us of energy, decays our teeth and may even cause cancer. It is in our best interest to eat less and here’s how:

Read Food Labels

With so many processed foods containing hidden sugars (fructose) these days, it is important to look at labels if you really want to reduce your sugar intake. Whether it is called sugar, fructose, corn syrup or something else, if it is listed in the first three ingredients on the label, it probably means the product contains too much of the sweet stuff. Look for a less sugary brand.

Substitute Processed Sugar with Natural Sweets.

Instead of having chocolate cake or cookies for dessert or a snack, try eating a delicious and healthy apple, banana or other whole fruit, fruit salad, yogurt or a fresh fruit smoothie. Replacing processed sugar with raw honey, molasses or maple syrup also provides you with some added vitamins.

Natural sugars aren’t processed in the body the same way as table sugar, so they don’t spike your blood sugar and make you crave more sweets.

Replace Sugary Drinks.

Soft drinks and even fruit juices are loaded with high concentrations of fructose. Try substituting beverages with delicious freshly made flavored teas, such as peach ginger, mango, strawberry or vanilla. You can always add lemon, lime or other fruit and a little honey to zing it up. Even eliminating one sugary drink a day is helpful.

Make your Own.

Commercially prepared salad dressings, jams and jellies, cookies, pies, cakes, bread, and sauces usually contain extra sugar to make them taste good. By making your own, you control how much sugar goes into your food. Make your baked goodies with one-third less sugar and see if anyone notices. Most likely they won’t.

We all have become accustomed to eating sugar daily, and the more we eat the more we crave. By slowly cutting back on sugar in our diets, we can teach ourselves to eat less and appreciate it more.

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