7 Hints for a Healthy Sugar Detox

Author: Justin Mckibben

These days the food industry has learned how to hijack our hormones, taste buds and brain chemistry in a form of biological deception rooted in one of our deepest addictions: sugar! That’s right, one of the deadliest and most addictive drugs on the planet.

One of the most insidious and well-established drug dealers in the world is the one trillion dollar industrial food system. That vast empire of snacks is responsible for contributing to tens of millions of deaths every year, and they’re making money doing it. The industry siphons trillions of dollars from our global economy through the loss of human life and natural capital, and all the while they invest oodles of monies into food engineering to keep you hooked.

In order to break free from any addictive substances and reprogram your biology, you need a detox plan. With sugar you have to develop a detox from the drug-like foods and beverages you’ve been hooked on.

Does this seem a little extreme? Well prepare to be flabbergasted! Science now proves sugar is more powerfully addictive than alcohol, cocaine or even heroin. Research has established that food and drugs have a similar effect on the brain’s reward center, and sugar – not fat – is a worse offender when it comes to causing cravings, according to a 2013 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

And if you’re thinking about going for diet soda instead, take note: Artificial sweeteners may be more addictive than regular sugar. So basically substituting for maintenance drugs won’t benefit you. A sugar detox is possible, and can be a great way to get yourself feeling better and balancing yourself out. It’s great for your body, and can even help lift that mental fog or achy groggy feeling. Here’s 7 hints for a healthy sugar detox.

1. Cold Turkey

For drug detox plans it’s often necessary to have medications to help, but not so with sugar. There is however a better diet plan to make your detox more productive and healthy. For 10 days stop all forms of:

• Sugar
• Flour products
• Artificial sweeteners

Cold turkey with most drugs is a scary concept, but with proper diet detoxing from sugar is a little easier.

2. Don’t Drink Calories

Any form of liquid sugar calories is worse than solid food with sugar or flour, it’s like mainlining sugar directly to the liver. It turns off a fat storage machine in your liver, keeps you from feeling full, and is also the single biggest source of sugar calories in our diet. That includes:

• Sodas (“POP” where I’m from)
• Juices other than green vegetable juice
• Sports drinks
• Sweetened teas
• Coffees

Beware the dreaded soda machine!

3. Protein!

Protein is essential to balancing blood sugar and insulin and cutting cravings. Breakfast is very important, so start the day with whole farm eggs or a protein shake.

4. Unlimited Carbs

That’s right! UNLIMITED! At least for your 10 day detox. Did you know that vegetables are carbs? And you get to eat as much as you want. There is one catch, it has to be the non-starchy veggies, including:

• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Asparagus
• Green beans
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Zucchini
• Tomatoes
• Eggplant
• Artichokes
• Peppers

These are just a few examples of the veggies you want to focus on.

5. Make Friends with Fat

Fat doesn’t make you fat, sugar does. Fat makes you full. Fat also balances your blood sugar and is necessary for fueling your cells. Have good fats at every meal including:

• Nuts
• Seeds
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Coconut butter
• Avocados
• Omega 3 fats from fish

Remember, healthy fat is not the enemy here. This 10 day detox will prove it.

6. Breathe Easy

Stress makes hormones act out, which makes cortisol go up, which makes you hungry and causes belly fat storage. Keeping stress out of the equation will make your detox so much easier and healthier.

Studies show that deep breathing exercises activate a special nerve called the vagus nerve that not only eliminates stress, but shifts your metabolism from fat storage to fat burning. Try taking deep breaths, and even try some breathing exercises before meals.

7. Sleep It Off

Getting less sleep drives sugar and carb cravings by affecting your appetite hormones. If you don’t sleep you crave more energy and opt for ingesting quickly absorbed sugars. Healthy sleep is the best way to fight against the drive to overeat. Depriving yourself of even a few of the recommended 8 hours can have a devastating effect. Make sure to relax and rest easy, especially during this 10 day detox period.

The role of nutritional therapy in addiction treatment is often overlooked, but good nutrition can not only help the body heal itself, it also is helpful to other physical and mental health problems, and not just masking the symptoms like many medications do.

Addiction treatment centers like Palm Partners that recognize the role nutritional therapy plays in addiction treatment and use this knowledge to help their clients not only to sustain a healthy recovery but also a healthy mind and body. If you or someone you love is struggling with substance abuse or addiction, please call toll-free 1-800-951-6135