Most of us indulged over the holidays.....
Some of us may have been indulging since quarantine last March!
If there was ever a good time to participate in the sugar and alcohol detox it is this year!
Both sugar and alcohol weaken the immune system and now more than ever we need our bodies to be ready for whatever comes our way.
Join the 7220 community in our annual
30 Day
Sugar/Alcohol
Detox
January 4th - February 2nd
(detox will be over before Superbowl Sunday!)
Although we believe in enjoying a treat now and then, sometimes we need to "reset" our system and cleanse our body of the sugar (and possibly alcohol) we've been overloading it with.
They say sugar could be even more addictive than cocaine. Weight-loss expert Dr Sally Norton warns the growing addiction to sugar is as dangerous as addictions to alcohol and tobacco, fueling obesity and increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
And as with any potentially addictive substance, the more we consume, the more our reward receptors get numbed to it – so we look for even more to re-create that ‘high’.
So if you find yourself constantly craving sugary treats (even more than usual at this time of year), the less than sweet truth is, it may be more than a bad habit you’ve picked up over the festive season.
What's the end goal?
Let's be realistic. The purpose of this "detox" is not to swear off sugar for the rest of your life. That isn't realistic (or fun!). So why do it? After a period of increased sugar intake, we have become addicted (to some degree) and it's tough to "just have a little" because it takes more to get the same effects. We have likely also disrupted our gut flora and increased the inflammation throughout our entire body. By eliminating the sweet stuff for awhile, we give our gut and body a chance to heal. Hopefully at the end of the 30 days, we quit craving sweets as much and never want more than just a little bite! At the end of 30 days, you may still need to set boundaries in order to prevent quickly slipping back into your old ways---maybe you'll allow yourself one sweet treat every weekend?
We can say similar things for alcohol. However, if alcohol consumption is frequent and problematic for you; then it may be wise to consider continuing the "no alcohol" rule for yourself as it can be a more difficult thing to moderate for some.
What does NO SUGAR mean?
Just like workouts, the detox is scalable to fit your needs!
"No alcohol" is pretty straightforward, but the sugar part can be tricky since we need sugar to survive! Carbohydrates ARE sugars and even with an all-protein diet, the body transforms non-carbohydrate substrates out of proteins to be used as energy. The other reason the "no sugar" rule can be tricky is because so many foods contain added sugars. So maybe your detox is no "sweets" (dessert, candy, cookies, etc.) but you aren't worrying about added sugar in foods like BBQ sauce.
Or maybe you are also cutting out all foods with added sweeteners even if "natural" like honey, maple syrup, or agave.
Maybe you are even cutting out gum because it contains artificial sweeteners!
Whatever you decide, make sure it addresses your problem areas; but also make sure it's realistic so you are set up for success. Regardless of what sugars you are cutting out, try not to compensate by using sugar substitutes. We are trying to "retrain" our body and brain to not crave such overly-sweet things. We all know that many artificial sugars like sucralose and aspartame are full of chemicals causing issues In the gut and rest of the body. Remember anything sweet (real or fake) may still elicit an insulin response which can lead to insulin resistance. Also, try not to replace sweets with foods like chips, bread, and crackers. Although the sugar content of these processed foods may be low, the body quickly absorbs them into the bloodstream resulting in a similar cascade of events that occur when eating sugar.
Warning: the first 3-5 days are the toughest! Get past those and it will get easier and you will eventually feel better! As you get further into the detox, foods like carrots and berries will begin to taste much sweeter because you've eliminated added sugar and sugar substitutes.
SUGAR DETOX TIPS:
Your body still needs carbohydrates. Eat plenty of veggies. It might be helpful at first to include starchier carbohydrates like sweet potatoes as well as some fruit!
Be sure your meals also contain plenty of protein and healthy fats to keep you satisfied.
Drink plenty of water to help curb cravings (plain or sparkling). Add a lemon, lime or mint for flavor.
In the beginning it may help to top off a meal with a handful of fresh or frozen berries to satisfy that sweet craving.
Brush your teeth immediately after meals to help tackle the craving for sweet.
Get plenty of sleep! Tired bodies crave sugar.
For those of you who may need it (and you know who you are) we extend an added challenge of NO ALCOHOL during these 30 days.
Drinking regularly can lead to weight gain, just as eating too much sugar can. The calories in alcohol are "empty" calories, which means that the drinks lack essential nutrients. Over time, too many of these empty calories can cause you to put on excess weight.
If you are looking for other health reasons to kick your alcohol habit, recent research is warning that even one small drink per day can negatively influence our health.
"A comprehensive worldwide study of alcohol use and its impact on health concludes that the safest level of consumption is zero.... Our findings, are consistent with other recent research, which found clear and convincing correlations between drinking and premature death, cancer, and cardiovascular problems."
Click HERE and HERE to read full articles.
Time to kick the habit! 30 days:
*NO SUGAR*
*NO ALCOHOL* We can do it together!