7 Ways To Kick A Sugar Addiction Once and For All

It's all too easy to develop a sugar addiction. Why? Well, when you eat the white stuff, it makes your brain release dopamine, which leads you to experience pleasure. Your body then craves more sugar because it likes this feeling of delight, and so the cycle of desire continues.

Unfortunately, being addicted to sugar isn’t good for you. Not only can it lead to weight gain and increase your chances of disease and cancer, it also causes you to age faster. Yes, sugar depletes your collagen production, leading to premature lines and wrinkles.

Is sugar addictive? Aboslutely. So, in an effort to keep you looking – and feeling – healthy and youthful, here are a handful of tricks to help you beat your sugar addiction once and for all.

7 WAYS TO KICK A SUGAR ADDICTION

#1. Start each and every day with a hearty breakfast.

Skipping breakfast is a big no-no, this we know. But how does eating early prevent you from reaching for the lolly bowl? By tucking into a healthy breakfast, you help stabilise your blood sugar levels, which will assist you in making better food choices throughout the day.

#2. Rid your life of refined sugar.

Go to your pantry and throw out the following: soft drinks, fruit juices, cereal, biscuits, canned products, white bread and other pre-packaged foods. These products contain refined sugars (the worst kind of sugar), so it’s important to eliminate them from your diet as soon as possible. Make sure you read all food labels, too – many processed items sneakily contain hidden sugars that end in ‘ose’ (think fructose and glucose) without you even realising.

#3. Avoid sugar-filled situations.

If your workplace kitchen is a disaster zone (read: it contains a whole heap of candy and chocolate), be sure to stay strong and avoid this source of sabotage when you’re hungry. Tell your co-workers you’re trying to kick your sugar addiction, too, and hopefully they’ll be kind enough to take temptation away from you. Then, substitute with some herbal tea (beautyheaven loves endota spa Organic Tea), one of these healthy snack ideas, or a piece of fruit (see below).

#4. Make fruit your friend.

By adding fruit to your meals or snacking on low sugar fruit like berries, apples and nectarines throughout the day, you give your body a natural sugar hit. This will alleviate your craving for manufactured sweets, while also providing you with a healthy dose of fibre. Don’t go overboard with fruit, though. Sugar is still sugar, after all.

#5. Get a solid sleep each night.

When we’re tired and are low on energy, we become a little slack with our food choices. Our appetite also increases when we’ve had inadequate sleep, which sees us reaching for unhealthy, sugar-filled foods. So, aim for seven to eight hours of sleep each night to help combat this. Struggling to get enough zz's? A sleep supplement such as Swisse Ultiboost Sleep can work wonders.

#6. Add organic coconut oil to your diet.

Eating any type of healthy fat – avocado, olive oil or flaxseed oil – will help reduce sugar cravings and sugar addiction withdrawal, but we suggest taking half a teaspoon of raw, organic coconut oil when cravings strike. It has a delightful sweet taste despite containing no sugar, and its good quality fats will leave you feeling less ravenous. beautyheaven recommends Nature’s Way Super Organic Coconut Oil.

#7. Give your taste buds time to register the change.

Food addictions don’t disappear overnight – you need to give your taste buds time to adjust to the lowered levers of sugar entering your system. However, after eliminating most sugars from your diet for a period of time, you’re likely to find lollies and chocolate too sweet anyway, which is a wonderful thing.

Are you addicted to sugar? Have you ever thought about quitting sugar? What are your top tips for eating less sugar?

118 Member Comments

Miramarmari 13 Feb 2020 1:04 PM

I need to part with my instant craving sugars addiction. It’s a want to kick the habit. I have this motto in my head fat loves sugar. So that’s helps me not go for them.

Log in or register to commentReply to comment
Likes 0

Rose_P 14 Sep 2019 3:33 PM

I used to have a real sweet tooth but I’ve lost it. Good! I’d much prefer to snack on nuts or fruit these days. I still have the occasional little bit here and there, but it’s not as appealing to me as it used to be.

Miss19 17 May 2019 12:07 AM

Sometimes one or two pieces of dark chocolate chips curbs my sweet tooth

Keza 5 Sep 2018 8:50 AM

I so need to cut down on sugar but it's so hard! Finding that sugar is in pretty much everything

You're right, it is in everything and I feel like they do it on purpose to make you addicted to their product

clearcrystalwater 4 Sep 2018 11:40 AM

I used to be a sugar tooth but not anymore. Now I know better and I also had to cut out saturated fats as it caused a chronic disorder in me! Since cutting the saturated fats (especially and including coconut oil which is loaded in saturated fats) I have been stabilised thank goodness.

Sootyhere 18 Jun 2018 1:09 PM

just re-read this. I so need to cut sugar out.

onlyoni 8 Mar 2018 8:08 AM

After reading that article I'd say I'm not a sugar addict at all, although the one thing I do enjoy is a small piece of dark chocolate.

Peta908 18 Dec 2017 5:01 PM

I try not to buy things with sugar (therefore the temptation isn't there) however on a hot day, sometimes water doesn't quite cut it! I used to have a big sweet tooth but after having kids its not really there anymore

Elunia 3 Sep 2017 8:13 PM

I have not given given up sugar completely and I don't think that I ever will but I have cut a lot of sugar out of my diet in the past 12 years.

I grew up having a approx. 5 soft drinks a week (one each school day with my lunch) half a bottle of fruit juice a week (the one with added sugar, shared with my sister), two sugars in every tea I had, half a bag of lollies per week (shared with my sister), cordial, plus other junk food which came my way which was dependent on the week, ie cake, biscuits, chocolate, ice cream and the sugar that came in ready made meals especially sauces.

Now I don't drink soft drinks, if I have a fruit juice it is a 100% fruit one, I have no sugar in my tea, I make all meals from stratch (ie no meal bases) but I still have cake, biscuits which is once every few weeks. My chocolate intake has actaully increased but it is mainly the 70% /80% or 90% varieties.

I know I will never be sugar free as a life without a little enjoyment is not a life worth living.

At first it is really hard to reduce the amount of sugar in your diet and when you start everything will taste bland/wrong but if you slowly take one thing away or reduce the amount of sugar by a little bit every few weeks you can get there.

Low Budget Girl 1 Sep 2017 12:18 AM

Definitely some useful tips to try out.

Sootyhere 18 Jun 2018 1:10 PM

That's true. Avoid sugar filled situations being the one I need to do.

debbie1000 13 Aug 2017 9:10 AM

great article for a chocoholic, I will try to cut down

joannachiem 5 Aug 2017 12:45 PM

I work at a chocolate shop and that most certainly does not help

Sydneyswans910 19 Jul 2017 10:37 PM

My weakness is chocolate... yumm

Sootyhere 18 Jun 2018 1:11 PM

me too but unfortunately I had dark chocolate which is a better alternative Oh well.

MickieLee 13 Jul 2017 4:53 PM

I went on a detox diet for a week and like almost 2 kilos. No sugar or artificial carbs - go go girls :D

Shilpashetty 27 Jun 2017 8:14 PM

Very nice tips,..

Shop A Everyday 25 Jun 2017 5:24 PM

Sounds wonderful, I want to do this as soon as all the sugar products are gone from the kitchen

Sally10 24 Jun 2017 4:32 PM

I am trying to cut down on sugar, but I find it very hard, I'm a chocoholic :S

sootyblack_14 24 Jun 2017 2:58 PM

Some great tips...

Angage 24 Jun 2017 12:58 PM

I am taking less sugar now.If I have a sugary snack to eat don't put sugar in my tea.I add chia seeds to my breakfast cereal. it helps me to stay full and avoiding snacks until lunchtime.I think too many fruits also contain sugar.Because i have been advised by my daughter's child health nurse as I am giving her lots of fruits.

Jas420 24 Jun 2017 12:06 PM

I cut out my favs sweet treats - muffins, bikkies, cakes - for 3 months and snacked up on nuts and enjoyed big, hearty, protein fuelled breakfasts. At a recent check-up, my cholesterol level (the bad one) had gone way up. I got a bit carried away with nuts and the big hearty brekkie. So quit refined sugar but still watch what you eat and keep an eye on portions. The first few weeks might be hard (cue mood swings) but it does settle down so hang in there if you are giving this a go.

Jodie730 23 Jun 2017 9:34 PM

Awesome tips BH. Live longer, eat less sugar and carbs!

Log in or register to commentReply to comment
Likes 1

Chrystalage 23 Jun 2017 8:26 PM

Some good tips but I just cannot seem to tolerate coconut oil. I thinks it's because it's too hard on my gall bladder

Pages

You need to log in or become a member to post a comment.

7 tips to help kick a sugar addiction once and for all