Why and how to sugar detox before the fat festivities begin
For the longest time, fats, trans-fats, salt, and what-not have been blamed for terrible metabolic health- high cholesterol, high blood pressure, gout, heart disease, etc. When the actual culprit is...
Sugar!
History shows that sugar was first discovered in South-east Asia and perhaps even in India. However, sugar consumption in the west far outweighs that in the east.
Funny how this is an instance of the west aping the east. We’re making the case of why and how you should gift yourself a simple sugar detox before the fat festivities begin. So when you are invited to “Muh mitha karna” (literally, sweetening your mouth) this December, you can do so guilt and damage-free!
Here’s the gist:
Sugar is linked to increased risk of:
heart disease
type 2 diabetes
poor dental health
high blood pressure
high cholesterol
obesity
…and it’s as addictive as cocaine!
Sugar is EVERYWHERE. Avoiding it is possible only if you know all the names it goes by. There are over 50!
Some of these are fructose, glucose, corn syrup, agave, maltodextrin and sucrose.
Avoid this type of sugar like the plague: HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP- it is evil.
You’ll find sugar in the most unlikely places. These foods often contain way more sugar than you think:
Granola & protein bars or powders
Yogurt
Breakfast cereals
Bread
Tomato sauce
Soups in cans or boxes
Nut & seed butters
Salad dressings
Sports drinks & fruit juices
Frozen & instant/microwavable foods
3 simple steps to a 1-month Sugar Detox
Stop drinking calories: sodas, iced coffees, or juices. Choose plain water instead.
Stop refined or “white” carbohydrates. Choose whole foods and grains instead.
Read nutrition labels for the total sugars per 100g. Less than 4 is modest, and more than 22.5 is excessive.
Bonus tip: A pinch of salt often helps curb that sugar craving!
Post detox, even a humble carrot will give you a burst of flavor and taste! Sugar masks it all.