Are you trying to lose weight but have a sweet tooth? Very often, the more you try to resist sugar, the more you yearn to have something sweet.
Not only does sugar make losing weight difficult, but it also contributes to a host of other problems such as diabetes and tooth decay. So whether or not you are fat, if you consume a lot of sugar, you are headed for trouble. Here's help with cutting the amount of sugar consumption.
All at once
Don't try and quit cold turkey. Not only will this be incredibly painful, but chances are, you're not going to be able to stick to your self-imposed dictate. And when the day comes that you break your pledge, you will feel like you've failed a task. This will also de-motivate you to try again. Also, once you break a diet, it only gets easier to break the next one.
Fruit
Fruit contains natural sugar, and is definitely the healthiest desert you can eat. So the next time you want to reach for a cup of kheer after dinner, stop yourself and reach for an orange or mango instead. Not only are fruits tasty, but they also contain a lot of fiber, in addition to a gamut of nutrients.
Labels
Always read the nutrition information displayed on all foods before making your purchase. You may love jam, but most jams have added sugar. However, there are certain brands that only use sweet from fruits, and have no added sugar or preservatives. Needless to say, this is a far healthier alternative to regular conserve.
Similarly there are many products in the market that contain sugar although they may not be sweet, like some brands of peanut butter. When you pick these up, you lose track of the amount of sugar you are consuming. Always know what you are picking up. After all, it's going in your and your family's stomach!
Fruit
Opt for fruit juice instead of soft drinks and sodas. If you absolutely must have Coke, go for the diet version instead. However, it's best if you give up sodas entirely. Although you may not have a lot of faith in the rumours of pesticides in sodas, would you bet your health on it?
Non-sweet
Whenever possible, purchase regular versions of any product and add sugar to your liking. For example, a bowl of sweetened Kellog Frosties have far more sugar than you would put in a bowl of regular Kellogs cornflakes. In addition, chances are, you will add even more sugar to sweeten the milk! So if you think about it, it makes a lot more sense for you to pick up regular cornflakes and add sugar to your liking, than it is to purchase sweetened cereal. The same goes for other artificially sweetened products.
Even if you are not on a strict diet, try to cut down the amount of artificial sugar you consume. Do this in phased manner so you don't feel the pinch as much. Instead of two spoons of sugar in your tea, try and put one and a half. This way you can indulge every once in a while, without harming your system too much.
