Sugar may taste great, but it can come at a detriment to a heart-healthy lifestyle. Especially if you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes or struggle with maintaining a healthy weight, the calories from added sugars can take a toll on your health.
It can be difficult to cut out sugar, but here are three of the best ways to make a dent in your sugar intake.
THREE Best ways to cut sugar intake
Throw table sugars away. First, perhaps the easiest is to throw away all of the table sugars. These include white and brown sugar, syrup, honey, and molasses. Also, cut back on the amount of these you add to drinks and foods, including cereal, pancakes, and tea. The best way to start is by cutting your usual amount of sugar in half and then weaning yourself down from there.
Eat more fruit. Next, add more fruits to your diet. Fruits are naturally sweet, and they can satisfy your sweet tooth if you have one. You can eat fresh, frozen, dried, or canned fruits, but if you choose canned fruits, make sure they are in water or natural juice.
Stop drinking soda.Finally, to make a real dent in your sugar intake, you should stop drinking soda. For weight loss and health, water is best. Sodas contain hundreds of empty calories and sugar. However, it’s understandable that you may want something sweet to drink. Diet drinks or fresh-pressed juice can be a great alternative to sugary sodas.
It is great to cut down sugar in what you eat, but sometimes it’s better to cut the craving altogether. One way to cut the craving for sugar is to make sure that you’re getting all your vitamins and nutrients and having healthy snacks. Healthy snacks, such as Jawbox Jerky, can keep you full for longer and prevent you from reaching for sugary snacks instead.
