Simple Ways to Cut Sugar From Your Diet
By Sara Butler
Sugar is literally everywhere -- and in a lot of places you may not expect, like your favorite hot dog bun. While a little sugar in the diet is not necessarily bad, the amount of sugar Americans eat (a whopping 152 pounds per person each year!) certainly is an issue. That's why it's vital that you take steps to reduce the amount of sugar in your diet. How do you do that? It's not as difficult as you may think.
Here are a few easy ways to cut extra sugar from your diet.
Focus on the Natural Sugars
There's a difference between added sugars and naturally occurring sugars. The natural sugars you find in vegetables, fruits, and dairy are often paired with the essential nutrients your body needs. That's why trying to limit the sugars you eat to natural sugars instead of added ones is a great way to kick-start a healthier eating plan.
Use Fruits and Spices
If you want to add sweetness to something, then try using fruit, nuts, or spices such as cinnamon. This can work especially well for breakfast items such as yogurt or oatmeal, where added sugars can easily get out of hand. Buy plain and add sweetness yourself to keep a tab on how much sugar you're actually getting.
Avoid Sweet Foods at Breakfast
Many people are tempted to eat sweet foods for breakfast. If you're looking to cut added sugars from your diet, then you may want to switch to more savory breakfast items.
Try out a vegetable omelet or sweet potato hash for your morning meal. If you want to opt for something that you can eat on the go, then try making a batch of vegetable frittata in muffin tins at the beginning of each week. You can warm them up and then walk right out the door.
Look at Labels
Nutrition labels provide all the information you could ever ask for, so make it a habit to actually look at them. The foods you choose should have no more than five grams of added sugar per serving if you want to keep your added sugar in check.
Go With Cold Coffee
Coffee drinks can be a huge source of added sugar in the diet. That's why it's important to choose coffee that doesn't have as much (or any added sugar). Cold brew coffees, as well as nitro brews, are great options since they are naturally a bit sweeter than their traditionally made counterparts.
You don't have to cut out all sugar to be healthy, but you should watch how much added sugars you eat.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Aurora, Colo.