Signs you're eating too much sugar & how to fix it
Sugar, why do you have to taste so good?! Sugar is a major cause of obesity and it is highly addictive. It is found in many foods that you might not even know you're eating it! Breaking the habit of eating sugar can be hard. Some say it’s harder than breaking a drug addiction. That being said, knowing the signs of consuming too much sugar can be helpful to finally reaching your weight-loss goals and start living a healthier life.
You constantly crave sugary things..
The more sugar you eat, the more you crave it. Sugar gives you a high followed by a crash which triggers your body to want more.
You feel sluggish though out the day..
Your energy is more stable when blood sugar is stable. Since sugar gives you highs and lows, your energy also comes in waves of highs and lows.
Your skin is breaking out..
Sugar causes a spike in your insulin which can throw off your hormones and cause you to break out. Keeping your blood sugar stable also helps keeps your hormones stable.
You are more moody than normal..
Low energy can put you in a bad mood. Going from highs to lows causes a rollercoaster of emotions which is not fun for you or anyone around you.
You have gained some weight..
Too much sugar causes your body to produce too much insulin. When the insulin doesn't have anywhere to put the extra sugar it stores it as fat. Not good if you're trying to lose weight.
You have brain fog..
The fog is a common sign of too much sugar. Too much sugar causes your blood sugar levels to rise and fall which puts you at risk for cognitive issues and impairment.
How to fix sugar cravings:
1. Adding Complex Carbs into your diet such as, whole wheat, oatmeal, rice and sweet potatoes allows your body to get the glucose (sugar) it needs for energy. These complex carbs slowly digest, allowing just the right amount of insulin to be released. This keeps you full and your blood sugar stable throughout the day.
2. Staying away from artificial sweeteners is extremely important. You may think you are doing a good thing by picking artificial over real sugar but you're not. When you consume artificial sweeteners, your brain thinks it’s getting the glucose it needs. Once it realizes it’s not, it wants more sugar and then the sugar cravings begin once again.
3. Focus on good fats. Almonds, avocado, nuts are all great options that keep your blood sugar stable. Make sure to watch how much you eat since fats are higher in calories. Just stick to the serving size and you will be just fine.
4. Make sure you are working out! Glucose is the energy our muscle use. When you use up all the stored energy, your muscle will need more. This process allows the blood sugar to be used and not stored as body fat.
You can still have sugar in your diet! To learn how, read my post "How to eat sugar and still reach your goals" below.
