6 Tips to Get Rid of Your Sugar Habit

Anybody who knows me, knows I love Harry Potter and these treats from Honeydukes are going to make it hard to get rid of my sugar habit.

Who doesn't love the occasional piece of chocolate, cookie, scoop of ice cream or piece of cake? Having a bit of a sweet tooth isn't the worst thing in the world, but often that small sugar habit turns into a big one, causing all sorts of health problems. Eating too much sugar can cause tooth decay, gum disease, obesity and has even been linked with heart disease and cancer. Americans on average today consume about 152 pounds of sugar per year, with this figure increasing every year. What many people don't realize is that sugar is extremely addictive. One study even shows that sugar may be eight times as addictive as cocaine. Getting rid of your sugar habit is not easy, but it can change your life. Here are a few tips that can help you reduce your sugar consumption.

Eat More Protein

Many people don't eat enough protein, which can lead to protein cravings that people mistake for sugar cravings. Try upping your daily protein intake to see if it helps you get rid of your sugar cravings.

Empty Your Cupboards

If you want to stop eating sugar, you have to stop buying it. It is much easier not to eat something when you don't buy it (obviously). While you may still be tempted to go to the store and buy a chocolate bar when there's nothing sugary to be found in your cupboards, when it is there, you are much more likely to consume way too much of it. Just stop buying it. This doesn't limit itself to candy and other obviously sugary foods. Many foods these days contain hidden sugars, often as added high fructose corn syrup (which is even worse than sugar). Check the ingredients on everything you buy at the supermarket and if there's any sugar or high fructose corn syrup in it, don't buy it.

Get Distracted

Any time you feel a sugar craving coming up, go do something. Read a book, go for a run, work on your website, or even take in a relaxing sauna. Often sugar cravings come up when you are feeling bored, so avoid getting bored!

Limit Intake of Artificial Sweeteners

While artificial sweeteners are probably healthier than sugar (though some of them have been linked with higher risk of cancer), they don't curb sugar cravings and can even make them worse.

Indulge in High Quality Sweets

When you do indulge in your cravings, eat a very dark piece of chocolate (anything upwards of 70% cocoa) instead of some low quality piece of candy full of sugar. Dark chocolate contains far less sugar than most sweets and has actually been shown to have positive health effects when consumed in moderation.

Eat Fruit

Eat a piece of fruit when you are craving sugar instead of something containing refined sugars. Most fruits are sweet but the sugar in them is easier to process by your liver. Healthy fruits also contain lots of vitamins and other healthy nutrients. Limit your intake of dried fruits though since they are very high in sugar.