{"id":52313,"date":"2018-12-13T10:00:33","date_gmt":"2018-12-13T15:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog-well.ca\/?p=45981"},"modified":"2026-07-02T15:23:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T19:23:07","slug":"kick-sugar-once-for-all","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/well.ca\/blog\/kick-sugar-once-for-all\/","title":{"rendered":"Read This If You’re Ready to Kick Sugar Once and For All"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]Sugar is addictive. It tastes delicious and, when you eat it, your brain actually releases dopamine\u2014a neurotransmitter that is part of your brain\u2019s reward centre. If you\u2019ve ever thought to yourself that you must just have less willpower than someone else without sugar cravings, there\u2019s actually way more to it. In fact, relying on willpower alone to kick sugar will be a struggle. Instead, your dietary choices, how many hours and how well you sleep, along with your stress levels play much larger roles.<\/p>\n

The other remarkable thing about sugar is that as you eat less of it, you crave less of it (at least once you\u2019ve kicked that initial few days of cravings). Today, I\u2019m sharing 10 ways to eat less of the sweet stuff.<\/p>\n

1. Start the day with protein and healthy fats<\/h4>\n

Traditional breakfast foods focus more on starch than they do protein or fat. This sends your blood sugar on a bit of a rollercoaster throughout the day, leading to cravings later in the day when your blood sugar dips. If you focus on having some protein and fat, you\u2019ll feel way more balanced energy and you won\u2019t even think about having something sweet.<\/p>\n

And being short on time is no excuse! Check out these 5-minute breakfast ideas for inspiration<\/a>!<\/p>\n

2. Cut the fruit juices and sweetened milks<\/h4>\n

Did you know that just one cup of orange juice can have up to 20-25g of sugar? For context, that\u2019s six teaspoons of sugar. While there is some vitamin C in there, you can easily make up that vitamin C from berries in a smoothie or the spinach in an omelet.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m all for the growing popularity of alternative milks (almond, cashew and coconut), but you do need to check your labels because often the \u201coriginal\u201d form of these milks can have added sugar. Always go for the unsweetened version.<\/p>\n

3. Make your own snacks<\/h4>\n

For me, the afternoon is when a sweet craving sometimes hits. If I don\u2019t have a snack with me, I\u2019m much more likely to make a \u201cbad\u201d decision and opt for something sweet. That\u2019s why I almost always try to have a snack in my purse or ready in the fridge.<\/p>\n

4. Ditch your sports drinks<\/h4>\n

If you\u2019ve ever read the label of a sports drink like Gatorade or Powerade, you might have been shocked to see these drinks contain loads of artificial colours and ingredients\u2014they are pure sugar! If you do need to refuel your electrolytes after exercise, drink a coconut water<\/a> after, which is rich in potassium, or have a Medjool date which is natural sugar, with the fiber to balance your blood sugar.<\/p>\n

5. Make your own salad dressings<\/h4>\n
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Making your own salad dressings is easier than you’d think<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Many store bought salad dressings have lots of added sugar and are made with really inflammatory oils. Luckily, making your own salad dressings is really easy and doesn\u2019t require you to be a chef. My favourite 2-minute dressing is:<\/p>\n