10 Tips On Reducing Your Sugar Intake

We all know how bad sugar is for our teeth and general health yet cutting it out from our diet can be a challenge.  Sugar consumption can create a short-term high and a spark of energy in the body and some studies have suggested that sugar is as addictive as cocaine!

Here are a few tips that may help you reduce your sugar consumption.  Try not to go cold turkey, otherwise you will just be setting yourself up for failure!

1.  Cut down on the amount of sugar that you add to your daily tea/coffee and cereals etc. and try and get to the point where you are able to cut it out altogether.
2. Swap out fizzy carbonated drinks for water or diet versions but beware, diet drinks are just as acidic as full sugar versions and can cause erosion of the teeth if you consume excessive amounts. 
3. Avoid fruit canned in syrup and choose fruit canned in water or natural juice instead. Even better, just stick to fresh fruit.
4. Instead of adding sugar to cereal, try fresh fruit such as bananas or strawberries or dried fruit such as raisins.
5. Replace sugar in cooking completely by enhancing foods with spices instead such as ginger, cinnamon etc.
6. Eat more protein.  High protein foods will satisfy you for longer and therefore you will be less likely to reach for those sugary snacks.
7. Don’t starve yourself!  Try to prevent becoming hungry in between meals and if you do need to snack, try and stick to nuts or fresh fruit rather than sugary processed foods.
8. Don’t buy sugary snacks in the first place!!  Give that confectionary aisle a wide berth next time you are doing your weekly shop (if you can!)
9. When you go out for a meal, try and forego the dessert.  If you would like to eat 2 courses, it would be better ordering a starter and a main rather than a main and dessert.
10. Try and cook fresh whenever possible.  Planning meals for the week and planning your food shop accordingly will mean that you are less likely to indulge in processed foods and takeaways!

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