What does fact checked mean?
At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
- American Heart Association: Sugar 101
- Harvard School of Public Health: How Sweet Is It?
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Proposed Changes to the Nutrition Label
The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a professional health care provider. Please check with the appropriate physician regarding health questions and concerns. Although we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee to that effect is made.
The Best Way to Wean Off Sugar Naturally
The average American consumes 22 teaspoons of sugar a day, according to the Cleveland Clinic -- significantly more than the recommended 6 teaspoons for women and 9 teaspoons for men. Most of that sugar comes from sugary drinks, snack foods, baked goods, cereals and other processed foods. If you’re concerned about your sugar intake, Dr. Mark Hyman suggests going cold turkey. But according to Sherry Pagoto, Ph.D., of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, you can also wean yourself off the sweet stuff by gradually retraining your taste buds.
Watch Your Beverages
Swapping out soda, iced tea, fruit juice or sports drinks for healthier drinks will pare down your sugar intake considerably. The Harvard School of Public Health reports that 12 ounces of cola or orange juice contain 10 teaspoons of sugar 3. The same serving of a sports drink yields 5 teaspoons of sugar, and of cranberry juice, a whopping 12 teaspoons. If you currently drink two or more servings of sugary beverages a day, begin the weaning process by replacing one serving daily with plain water or seltzer with a splash of lemon or lime or with fresh-brewed herbal tea. Every two weeks, reduce your number of servings again until the healthier options have completely replaced the sweetened drinks.
- Swapping out soda, iced tea, fruit juice or sports drinks for healthier drinks will pare down your sugar intake considerably.
- If you currently drink two or more servings of sugary beverages a day, begin the weaning process by replacing one serving daily with plain water or seltzer with a splash of lemon or lime or with fresh-brewed herbal tea.
Balance Your Blood Sugar
How to Get Rid of Hangover Shakes
Learn More
Hyman recommends keeping your blood sugar steady throughout the day to reduce intense cravings for sweets that may occur when your levels plummet. Eat regular meals and snacks to supply your body with a steady stream of glucose, the fuel for your cells. For example, have eggs for breakfast, a salad with baked chicken or tofu for lunch and broiled salmon with steamed veggies for dinner. Snacks could be a handful of nuts or a serving of plain yogurt with fruit.
- Hyman recommends keeping your blood sugar steady throughout the day to reduce intense cravings for sweets that may occur when your levels plummet.
- Eat regular meals and snacks to supply your body with a steady stream of glucose, the fuel for your cells.
Eat More Whole Foods
If most of your food comes from a box or carton, rethink your choices. Even seemingly “healthy” processed foods are often loaded with sugar to enhance their taste. Ready-to-eat cereals, baked goods, granola and protein bars, fruit yogurt and even frozen foods may come with significant amounts of added sugar. In fact, in 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed changing the nutrition labels on processed foods to distinguish added sugars from naturally occurring sugars like those in fruit or dairy 5. Challenge yourself to reduce your processed food consumption a little more each week.
- If most of your food comes from a box or carton, rethink your choices.
- In fact, in 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed changing the nutrition labels on processed foods to distinguish added sugars from naturally occurring sugars like those in fruit or dairy 5.
Swap Desserts
How Much Weight Can a Person Lose by Running Half a Mile Each Day?
Learn More
If an evening meal feels incomplete without a sweet finish, start by cutting back on the number of times you indulge in a week. Substitute some dried fruit or fresh-fruit sorbet for cookies or ice cream. Instead of a chocolate bar or slice of chocolate cake, try a serving of 70 percent dark chocolate or a “pudding” made with raw cacao and avocado. Continue weaning until dessert is the exception rather than the rule. As you reduce the amount of sugar in your diet, you will reset your taste buds so you lose your cravings for sweets.
- If an evening meal feels incomplete without a sweet finish, start by cutting back on the number of times you indulge in a week.
Related Articles
References
- American Heart Association: Sugar 101
- Psychology Today: How to Get Over Your Sugar Addiction
- Harvard School of Public Health: How Sweet Is It?
- The Daniel Plan: Stopping Sugar Addiction: Willpower or Genetics?
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Proposed Changes to the Nutrition Label
- U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central. Soda, Branded. Updated April 1, 2019.
- Delli bovi AP, Di michele L, Laino G, Vajro P. Obesity and Obesity Related Diseases, Sugar Consumption and Bad Oral Health: A Fatal Epidemic Mixtures: The Pediatric and Odontologist Point of View. Transl Med UniSa. 2017;16:11-16. do:
- SugarScience. University of California San Francisco. How Much Is Too Much?
- Vos MB, Kaar JL, Welsh JA, et al. Added Sugars and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Children: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2017;135:e1017-e1034. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000439
- American Heart Association. Sugar Recommendation Healthy Kids and Teens Infographic.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture. ChooseMyPlate. Added Sugars.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central. Cupcake. Updated April 1, 2019.
Resources
Writer Bio
Paula Martinac holds a Master of Science in health and nutrition education from Hawthorn University, with an emphasis on healthy aging, cancer prevention, weight control and stress management. She is Board Certified in holistic nutrition and a Certified Food and Spirit Practitioner, and has written extensively on nutrition for various websites.