Candy, cakes, cookies – these are some pleasures in life. And I’m all for you treating yourself from time to time. But did you know that these treats are probably only the tip of the iceberg in your sugar consumption? There is so much sweetness hidden in your daily foods that even those abstaining from dessert are probably eating too much sugar. And all this sugar might be making you fat and sick.
The good news is that there are easy ways to cut down on all this extra unhealthy sugar. And the best part is that you probably won’t even miss it! And that can leave you thinner, more energetic and less sick! Pretty amazing, huh?
How To Eliminate Sugar From Your Diet?
Ready to look and feel your best? Here are 15 sugary suspects that you can replace with healthier alternatives:
1. Protein Powder
You’ll be throwing in all sorts of sweet fruit into your smoothie anyway. Do you really need the extra sweetness from sugar? Purchase unsweetened protein powder and not only will your smoothie taste just as sweet, but will be sweeter to your body as well.
2. Cereals and Granola
Add sliced almonds, cashews, walnuts, dried coconut flakes, raisins and dates into your bowl. Voila! You have cereal with no added sweeteners. Most commercial granola has the same amount of sugar as your candy bar. Also, even if cereal is sweetened with agave or honey, it is still extra sugar for the body.
3. Nuts
Nuts can be a healthy snack, but you’ll also find many unhealthy nut varieties in the store. Think honey roasted, ranch flavored or barbecued. These nut options are usually sweetened.
Instead, try drizzling raw cashews with melted coconut oil, chili powder and a touch of whole leaf stevia. Bake for an hour on low (200 degrees or lower). Healthy and tasty nuts made easy!
4. Non-dairy Milk
More and more people are opting for non-dairy milk. Store shelves are filled with almond milk, coconut milk, hemp milk and rice milk. But these non-dairy milk varieties usually come with lots and lots of added sugar. And you’re often adding milk to things like cereal or coffee which may already be sweetened. So make sure to look for brands that are unsweetened. You won’t miss the sugar, I swear.
5. Salad Dressing
A salad sounds healthy, doesn’t it? But, it’s not so healthy when you throw sugar on top of it in the form of salad dressing. Many store-bought salad dressings are packed with sugar. Make your own salad dressing at home using oil or vinegar. Else, find a favorite recipe and substitute whole leaf stevia for the recommended sweetener.
6. Cough Drops
When your throat is sore, any type of relief is greatly appreciated. But most cough drops have as much sugar as any other hard candy. And sugar weakens your immunity, which is the last thing you need when fighting a cold. Try relying more on tea with lemon for a scratchy throat. Your sugar intake will decrease, your immunity will strengthen and you’ll feel amazing before you know it!
7. Canned Soup
My husband bought a “healthy” brand of low-sodium lentil soup the other day. How did the soup compensate for the lack of sodium? Extra sugar! And this brand is marketed specifically to those watching their health. Just because you’re buying vegetable soup, doesn’t mean it’s wholesome. If you’re going to buy soup in a can or in a box, make sure to check the label for added sweet stuff.
8. Kombucha
Many consider this drink to be a healing, miracle elixir. But the problem with most store bought brands of kombucha is that they are overloaded with sweeteners. If you really want a healthy drink that isn’t water, try an unsweetened green tea. Or, if you want something fermented – try unsweetened kefir.
9. Pasta Sauce
You can make a pretty quick healthy pasta sauce at home. Just combine diced tomatoes with their juice, tomato paste, garlic and onions and spices like oregano, basil, and red pepper. Simmer for about 15 minutes and serve. Fresh food doesn’t have to be complicated. But, when you buy store bought pasta sauce, you might be pouring sugar right onto your dinner.
10. Multi-Grain Bread
There are a few brands of bread that aren’t sweetened. But, you have to be diligent when reading labels. Even wholesome-sounding bread varieties like wheat bread, whole grain bread and sprouted grain bread have added sugar. And you probably don’t enjoy the sugar in bread like you do in a cake. Don’t waste your sugar intake on foods you’re eating to nourish your body! Read labels and find a bread that doesn’t rely on sugar to taste good.
11. Fruit Cocktail
All fruit is naturally sweet, but that’s ok because the fiber in fruit slows the speed of sugar digestion. This means that sugar consumed as whole fruit isn’t damaging to the body. However, fruit sold in a can or a cup is a different story. That fruit is often is sitting in a liquid of corn syrup and other sugars. This is the type of sweetener that is damaging. If you don’t have the time to cut your own homemade fruit salad, purchase chopped frozen fruit and let it defrost an hour before eating. Frozen fruit rarely contains added sweeteners.
12. Bran Muffins
People often assume that foods containing the word bran are healing foods. However, bran muffins contain as much sugar as a chocolate chip muffin. This doesn’t mean you can never eat a bran muffin. But, it needs to be consumed as a treat. The problem with bran muffins is that people eat them thinking they are nutritious and then they reward themselves with a cookie. They’ve had a double dose of sugar!
13. Yogurt
Most commercial yogurts contain so much added sugar. This is frustrating because people choose yogurt thinking it’s a nutritious snack. Instead, let your frozen fruit defrost for about a half hour and mix it into your plain yogurt. The fruit will sweeten the yogurt in a way that is much healthier for blood sugar. And you won’t miss the store bought fruit on the bottom variety.
14. Dried Fruit
Avoid the usual sugary cranberries and pineapple chunks. Instead, purchase your dried fruit naturally dried without additives. The natural sweetness is sure to keep you get you hooked!
15. Instant Oatmeal
While oats can be healthy, these little bags of instant oatmeal are usually dessert disguised as breakfast. A better choice is to get plain oatmeal and liven it up yourself. Add nuts, coconut flakes and fresh fruit. This will taste even better than the processed stuff. And you’ll cut a whole bunch of unnecessary sugar out of your diet.
