Sugar is one of the reasons why we feel sluggish at times as it wreaks havoc to our energy levels. It is one of the causes of fine lines appearing on our face, making us feel bloated, and having the need for an extra cup of coffee sometime in the afternoon. With that being said, ditching sugar from our diet is going to be tough especially when we have our sweet tooth to contend with. Another problem to consider is determining which foods don’t belong to your sugar-free diet. If you are planning on switching to a sugar-free diet, try this food guide to help you out.
Foods to Eat
Whole grains
Since you are trying to reduce your sugar intake, then you might want to stay away from simple carbs that can actually elevate your sugar levels. Swapping whole grains like brown rice, millet, buckwheat, farro, sorghum, wild rice, quinoa, barley, and amaranth are good options to consider if you want to reduce your carb intake.
Fiber
Fiber rich foods should be added to your no-sugar diet as it helps keep your digestive functioning well. What’s even better is that fiber can actually flush out toxins from your body so that you will be able to feel lighter and less prone to bloating.
Seafood
When it comes to following a no-sugar diet, you can have more seafood as they are rich in zinc and omega-3 essential fatty acids. There is no shortage of options too as there are salmon, sardines, catfish, trout, arctic char, shrimp, tilapia, and crab just to name a few.
Vegetables
Another food to add to your no-sugar diet is vegetables. The whole lot of them. Think kale, spinach, beets, sweet potato, cauliflower, celery, swiss chard, and lettuce just to name a few. What’s great about these foods is that they are rich in vitamins and minerals which can have some amazing benefits to your overall health.
Foods to Avoid
Refined flours
Since you are trying to remove sugar in your diet, you should avoid eating foods that contained refined flours such as pretzels, cookies, brownies, white bread, bagels, and cakes. This is because the refined flours can actually increase your sugar levels considerably.
Artificial sweeteners
If you think you have removed sweets already from your diet by ditching the cakes and candies, think again. Check your artificial sweeteners especially those that contain aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, and neo-tame as they are high sugar content. Adding these to your drinks can actually be dangerous to you in the long run.
Dried fruit
Eating fruits is all well and good but you still need to take caution with the amount that you are eating since they can also have high sugar content. Dried fruits are also high in sugar such as dates and raisins so make sure that you reduce your intake of them as much as possible if you can’t avoid them entirely.
Condiments
You may be surprised to find that some condiments are also high in sugar content. Among these are balsamic vinegar, dressings, and marinades. If you want to be able to reduce your sugar, try watching out for these kinds of condiments. Try to minimize your usage or make your own so you will be able to prevent your sugar levels from going up.
These are just a few things that you should add and avoid from your diet if you want to go sugar-free. Although it will take a while to get used to it, you might find that switching to a healthier, sugar-free diet, is going to be good for you in the long run.