Quit sugar, eat more fat, and become slimmer and healthier.
The idea behind a ‘low carbohydrate, healthy fat’ diet is to severely restrict sugar consumption. That should begin to normalize blood pressure by reducing blood sugar levels. It should also prevent excessive insulin secretion and therefore help prevent or fight back against obesity.
The trouble is that practically everyone likes to eat sweet things. It is human nature to do so because sugars triggers the same neural pathways as do opiates. In other words, sugar is addictive.
So, it is not surprising that it is difficult to say “no” to the biscuit tin in the kitchen, or to cakes and puddings dripping with strawberry jam. It is hard not to like sweetened wine, sherry and port. It is very difficult to turn down chocolate offerings.
Unless you have incredibly strong willpower, you will eventually succumb to sugar-laden treats.
Nevertheless, with the ‘low carbohydrate, healthy fat’ diet, you can cut these temptations out – even if you have a sweet tooth. You can say “goodbye” to sugar cravings because there are healthy alternatives to ‘sucrose-filled’ niceties.
Sugar is junk food. It is completely devoid of nutrients and carries too many calories. It causes large waistlines to form, and a whole host of medical problems. It is also – as just mentioned – extremely addictive.
The good news is that taking steps to reduce sugar intake while at the same time increasing the amounts of healthy fats eaten, is ‘easily’ the best way to keep feeling full and satisfied.
Many people – especially women – find that once they start eating sugar, it is almost impossible to stop. Although we tell ourselves that we are only going to have just one piece of chocolate or a slice of bread – before we know it, the whole box of chocolates or the whole loaf of bread has vanished.
At play here is the addictive power of sugar. It is insidious. It comes along gradually and then subtly leaves with very harmful effects.
The worst part is self-denial. It is difficult to admit to having sugar addiction. Denial is a form of self-defence – a means of ignoring the truth.
If you are craving dessert after a big meal, or finding it hard to eat a cookie without finishing off the whole packet, then that is indicative of ‘addictive behaviour’.
The only solution to sugar addiction is to cut sugar out completely. Temptation is the way of the Devil.
It is a tough call, but if sugar is a drug to you, you need to start controlling it one step at a time. A ‘low carbohydrate, healthy fat’ diet will help to suppress sugar cravings, but the way you think has to be addressed.
This is the hardest thing that sugar addicted people (that is most of us) have to understand. The sheer amount of sugar in the modern diet is virtually killing us.
A ‘low carbohydrate, healthy fat’ diet is the way to go. Clear out the refrigerator, freezer and larder, and replace all processed and junk food with healthy foods.
Do not even try to keep sugary or starchy junk food in the house because sometimes no amount of willpower will stop you reaching for foods containing something that mimics opiates.
Sugar is so delicious and it is practically everywhere. You need to be really vigilant to avoid it. We all have had a lifetime to forge a strong relationship with sugar. For example, a cup of tea and biscuits; jam on toast; dessert after dinner; chocolate bars in the shop; sweets at the supermarket checkout. These are deeply ingrained habits. These ensure a steady trickle of sugary treats to fuel our addiction.
The key to recovery from sugars addiction is to identify your own personal triggers. Our sugar and carbohydrate-guzzling behaviour is unconscious, but by identifying your weak points you can take a step forward to do something to avoid them, and ultimately break the sugar link.