Photo: Ron Lach

How long does it take your body to detox from sugar?

Focus on consuming unprocessed, whole foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, seeks, eggs, poultry, and seafood to curb cravings. If you are wondering how long a sugar detox takes, the answer tends to range from a few days to one week.

smileyspoints.com - How Long Does it Take to Detox from Sugar – 8 Pro Tips - Smiley's Points

Can I eat burger cheese on keto?

Yes, cheese is acceptable on the keto diet, but you do still need to be careful about what you choose. You want to use cheeses that are lower in...

Last updated Oct 25, 2019

How much weight can I lose in 12 weeks on keto?

A safe average loss is around one to two pounds (0.5-1 kg) per week. Here's what studies say about losing weight on the ketogenic diet: One study...

Last updated Oct 24, 2018

Promotion

Americans consume, on average, 20 teaspoons of sugar daily. This is well over the recommended nine teaspoons for men and six teaspoons for women. As a treatment for overindulging in sugar or for a true sugar addiction, many people turn to sugar detoxes to rid their bodies of the excess and return to healthy eating. But how long does it take to detox from sugar?

It’s important to note that not all sugars are bad for you. Sugar occurs naturally in vegetables, grains, dairy, and fruits. Health problems arise when we consume added sugars found in foods such as cakes, cookies, bread condiments, and plant-based milk.

Drinks Containing Sugar

.

Sugar is one of those things that can easily sneak into a diet. Often, we are completely unaware of how much we are consuming until we take a close look. The leading source of sugar when it comes to drinks are:

Pop/soda: 25%

Fruit beverages: 11%

Energy/sport drinks: 3%

Tea/coffee: 7%

When it comes to food, sweets and snacks are the largest contributors to sugar intake at 31%. So, how do our bodies react?

Bodily Reactions to Excess Sugar Intake

While it is tempting to use alternative sugars, you can find sugar in hidden places. Items comprised of honey, coconut sugar, maple syrup, turbinado sugar, high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, and corn syrup are the hidden causes of increased sugar intake. That’s why reading labels is so important. The higher it is on the list, the higher the amount in your food. This is true of baby formula as well. The determining factor is how fast the sugars are absorbed by your body. Natural sugar absorbs slower since it contains fiber, causing a longer digestion time. Soda sugar is absorbed immediately like one big sugar bomb. The body quickly converts the excess sugar to calories. The best option containing no calories is plant-based stevia or monk fruit. They are completely safe and have been reviewed by the FDA.

What Is Sugar Withdrawal?

Eliminating sugar is more difficult than we realize. Within a few days of getting rid of sugar in your diet, some people will experience withdrawal symptoms and sugar cravings, which may be equated to the withdrawal cycles seen when someone quits smoking. Sugar releases opioids and dopamine into the brain. Both have addictive potential. Brain receptors become rewired to compensate for the release of the extra neurotransmitters. So, it is possible when reducing sugar intake for your brain to crave dopamine and opioids, creating withdrawal symptoms.

Does intermittent fasting cause belly fat?

Intermittent fasting is a convenient way to lose weight without counting calories. Many studies show that it can help you lose weight and belly fat.

Last updated Apr 21, 2018

When losing weight Where do you first notice it?

The first place men typically lose weight is the belly, while women tend to lose weight all over, but hold onto weight in their thighs and hips,...

Last updated Sep 15, 2021

Promotion

Common symptoms may include:

Irritability

Dizziness

Headaches

Lethargy

Muscle aches

Bloating

Nausea

Depression

Stomach cramps

This type of withdrawal may last for a few days to one week. They tend to be mild and temporary. However, you can take steps to mitigate the discomfort. How Long Does It Take to Detox from Sugar – 8 Pro Tips If you find eliminating sugar challenging or can’t handle the withdrawal symptoms, there are a variety of ways that you can safely curb the need for something sweet. Adding certain foods can curb cravings and make its elimination less burdensome.

Begin Small

Eliminating sugar may prove to be extremely difficult. For some, it tends to shock the body and feels like your energy is being sapped. To combat this, gradually reduce your sugar intake before eliminating it from your diet. Adding a few teaspoons daily will not harm you, providing you stop there.

Eat Breakfast

Consuming a breakfast loaded with complex carbohydrates, proteins, foods rich in fiber, and healthy fats will balance blood sugar. It will also prevent sugar cravings that crop up throughout the day. By increasing protein, you will remain fuller for longer. It will also subsequently reduce your food cravings. In 2017, a small study on individuals with type two diabetes discovered that a diet containing low carbohydrates, proteins, and high fiber increased fullness while reducing the need for sugar.

Consume Healthy Fats

Healthy fats are found in fatty fish and nuts. They reduce sugar cravings. Adding things like nut butter or avocado to your lunch will help your body reduce the need for sugar.

Change Drinks

As mentioned above, fruit drinks and energy drinks can be hidden sources of sugar. To quit sugar, replace lemonades and sodas with club soda, water, or unsweetened tea.

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration makes sugar cravings worse. Ensure you drink a minimum of 3.7 liters daily for men and 2.7 liters for women. As previously mentioned, reading labels is key to cutting down sugar intake. Condiments and many foods are high in sugar. Most of us don’t realize it since we would never associate these types of food with sugar. Be sure to check out the labels on barbecue sauces, salad dressings, marinara sauce, and oatmeal packets as they are a hidden source of sugar.

Can I have dark chocolate on keto?

While 1 ounce (28 grams) of high quality dark chocolate can fit into a keto diet, a larger serving will likely exceed your limit. Dark chocolate...

Last updated Oct 14, 2021

Is Banana keto-friendly?

Despite the many health benefits of fruit, there is an issue with some fruits on the keto diet. Grapes and bananas, for instance, contain high...

Last updated Oct 20, 2019

Promotion

Also, not every label will list the word “sugar”. Sugar is also called the following names:

Sucrose

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS)

Agave nectar/syrup (contains 10-30% glucose and 70-90% fructose)

Rethink Dessert

Most of us turn to cookies, cakes, chocolate, or other sweets for dessert. If you are craving something sweet to finish off your meal, first determine if you are truly hungry. You may legitimately be hungry or may be simply eating out of habit. If you are hungry, find something high in protein or healthy fat, like macadamia nuts, unsweetened coconut, or Greek yogurt with berries.

Final Thoughts

In the end, you may have to focus on your entire diet if you're quitting sugar. By optimizing the nutrient density, you can improve your overall health and eliminate added sugar. Focus on consuming unprocessed, whole foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, seeks, eggs, poultry, and seafood to curb cravings. If you are wondering how long a sugar detox takes, the answer tends to range from a few days to one week. In terms of getting it out of your system, the answer is two to three hours to return to a normal blood sugar level, provided you are not diabetic. If you are, it will take three to four hours. Apps like Noom and Healthi can help you reduce your sugar intake safely. They will instruct you on what foods to avoid. Plus, the color-coded system will inform you if you are eating too much sugar.

smileyspoints.com - How Long Does it Take to Detox from Sugar – 8 Pro Tips - Smiley's Points

What is the best milk to drink for weight loss?

Almond milk - 26 calories It's clear almond milk is the winner when it comes to the least calories and those looking for weight loss. This is...

Last updated May 5, 2018

Why should you not marinate shrimp overnight?

The acid in the lemon juice will actually start to cook the shrimp if left to sit for too long and make the shrimp mushy. To marinade overnight:...

Last updated May 31, 2020

Promotion

What can I substitute for almond flour on keto?

People can use a variety of flours to replace almond flour, depending on their dietary requirements. Other nut flours such as walnut or macadamia...

Last updated Oct 27, 2018

Promotion

Why you shouldn't peel your carrots?

Do You Need to Peel Carrots? "There is no need to peel carrots before eating—many people enjoy eating them with the skin on," says Alan Hilowitz,...

Last updated Sep 30, 2020