My Journey to Going Sugar Free
Sugar gets a bad rep. I have read many different articles and studies that have differing views. Some say it has more addictive properties than some drugs, whilst others suggest there is no evidence it has any additive properties. We know nutrition is a relatively complex new science that impacts everybody so differently so I thought the only way to find out for myself was to go sugar free for a period of time. To clarify when I talk about sugar, I am referring to processed sugar not the sugars found in fruit (fructose).
I decided to use Lent as my opportunity to give up the white stuff. I didn’t overly publicise that I would be giving it up as i wasn’t sure if I would find it too difficult. I generally have a well balanced diet but I would find myself eating chocolate and cakes mindlessly and by the end of a day I had eaten more sugary snacks than I realised. I definitely live by the moto everything in moderation and this is by no means something I want to abstain from permanently as a) I don’t think that is realistic and b) I love cake and chocolate too much.
The first few days are definitely the hardest, I think this is because of habit. After lunch and dinner I would generally always have a sugary snack and this stems from childhood. After 7 days I found this resided significantly and if I ever did get a craving I would have some fruit and yogurt with nuts and seeds, which seemed to work.
After the initial post meal cravings went, my next challenge was eating out and temptation in the office. I was actually less bothered about the snacks around me at work, I would make sure I had alternatives with me (more on what that looks like later). Eating out I would go for starters and mains, which usually filled me so I didn’t need something sweet. The longer I went without sugar the less I craved it and felt like I was missing out. I honestly think half the battle was mindset; i would ask myself 2 questions whenever I was tempted;
- Why do I want it? Am i eating it to satisfy another emotion? Boredom? Stress? Happy?
- How will I feel once I have eaten it?
Food is a celebration and if we are eating from a good place then I think you should absolutely have the cake or the croissant, if you are eating to serve another purpose maybe just think is there something else you can do? Go for a walk, talk, drink some water, bath, book etc etc
How do I feel after 25 days of no processed sugar?
- Less Bloated/Gas
- Reduced Mood Swings
- My tongue felt less swollen (have you ever noticed how your tongue feels in your mouth?)
- Better Quality Sleep (particularly when I stopped eating chocolate before bed)
- No Cravings
- Improved Skin Clarity
To get through the initial period I would make sure that I had lots of snacks available, these would include things like chopped up veg, carrots, peppers, cucumber. I would bake banana bread and Raw Brownies (Deliciously Ella has great recipes in her new cook book). I tried to include as may green leafy vegetables in my diet as these have a bitter taste profile, which helps reduce sugar cravings. In the evenings I would take a relaxing Epsom salt bath and read a book if I wanted to snack.
I have another couple of weeks until the end of lent but so far my key learnings have been:
- Question why you are eating? Is there something else that can satisfy your craving
- Sugar is in everything, check the back of packets before you eat foods
- We all have habits around eating and cravings sweet foods, take note of what these are for you.
Have you ever gone sugar free? I would love to know your views on sugar and health. Email me or get in touch via social media.
Sarah x