3 Ways to Eliminate Sugar from Your Diet

Growing up, like most kids I always enjoyed the occasional sweet treat. I didn't indulge in them everyday, but when I did I would eat a small portion and then I'd move on with my life.

But, when I entered my teens it seems I lost all self-control. I began to eat more and more sugary junk foods - chocolate, cookies, ice cream, donuts, pastries, whatever - at least once a day, every day. And I'd eat lots of it because one bite was never enough. I was a sugar addict, I felt like I needed it. When I didn't get it I'd feel lethargic, bummed out, and even angry.

But I got tired of having constant mood swings and of never having enough energy, so I decided to kick sugar altogether, it wasn't easy, but I did it. Here are 3 tips to help you.

1. Try Stevia

Stevia is a South American plant that's over 200 times sweeter than sugar, but unlike sugar it has a glycemix index of 0 so it doesn't raise your blood sugar. It's somewhat controversial here because it hasn't been FDA approved, but it is sold in the US and supporters of it point out that it's been used in South America for centuries and in Japan for a few decades without any reported problems. If you're willing to try it, go for the natural leaves which haven't gone through any chemical processing.

When I first found out about stevia I noticed a lot of hype about the plant. People raved about how they have used it to replace sugar in their cooking and baking, or how it's much sweeter than sugar and there's no aftertaste.

After trying stevia I learned that it is way sweeter than regular sugar, it reminds me of NutraSweet only with a slightly bitter aftertaste. I don't hate the taste of stevia but I don't love it either, so I realized I wasn't going to use it to replace sugar when I cook.

Instead, I used it to help trick my body during the first few days when I stopped eating sugar. Whenever I felt a craving or a mood swing coming on, I'd add the stevia to a comfort food like oatmeal, and immediately I got the rush of sweetness without the spike in blood sugar, and I felt instantly better.

And the best thing about the stevia was that I only needed a tiny amount of it, once a day, and within three days I was no longer craving sugary junk foods so intensely. So within a week I was able to get rid of sugar and the stevia.

2. Eat Naturally Sweet Foods

If you are addicted to sugar, you're also probably addicted to lots of processed foods with artificial ingredients. But I have found that there are tons of natural foods that give will give you the sugar you crave while also providing energy, as well as vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients.

When I want sweet foods now, I usually reach for fresh pineapples, bananas, peaches, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, red apples, and baked sweet potatoes. Occasionally I'll buy dried fruits like figs, dates, and prunes and I also love to indulge in cashews and natural peanut butter which are both slightly sweet.

3. And Begin to Appreciate Other Flavors

The first few days that I was weaning myself off of sugar I did want to eat more of the sweeter foods listed above and I do still eat them now. But once those intense cravings subsided, I was able be more aware of my body and recognize when it's had enough of even those sweet foods, and I began to appreciate other flavors more.

I used to hate bitter flavors, but now I love the bitterness of unsweetened green tea. I also find myself eating more tart and sour foods and I use vinegar a lot more. And I now use spices and herbs like cinnamon, nutmeg, rosemary, basil, thyme, tumeric, and garlic.

And whenever I want a snack instead of turning to a sweet treat, I'll often enjoy a few raw vegetables, a handful of seeds or nuts, or veggie chips.

When you give up sugar or at least excessive amounts of sugar in your diet, your taste buds begin to awaken. I think it's important to challenge yourself to try new foods and to experiment with a variety of other flavors in order to discover what works for you. If you don't you might get bored and go back to your old sugar habit.