I applaud you if you have set a goal already for improving your health at the start of the new year.

Or even better yet if you’ve started early and have begun to implement your new plan now.

Whether your goal is to lose weight, make healthier eating choices, exercise more, or to get to bed at a reasonable hour these are all admirable objectives to set.

When it comes to improving many markers related to health, many agree that you can’t go wrong with cutting back on sugar intake.


Here are a few convincing reasons to ditch the sweet stuff if you weren’t convinced already.

This excerpt was taken from this original post published here on this blog.
Sugar:

  • Increases the body’s production of adrenaline and cortisol (a hormone that has been linked to weight gain if chronically elevated).
  • Causes blood sugar to surge, insulin to spike, and fat to be deposited throughout the body.
  • Draws on the body’s stores of vitamins and minerals for its metabolism, reducing nutrient reserves.  Chromium, a mineral that helps the body utilize glucose more effectively is depleted with excess sugar consumption.
  • Feeds yeasts, fungi, and other toxin-producing organisms.
  • Could contribute to systemic chronic inflammation — long-term inflammation has been linked to many diseases.
  • Burdens the liver and can possibly damage the liver the same way alcohol does if overconsumed.
  • Inhibits immune system function which could result in an increased susceptibility to colds and flus.

According to Dr. Lustig, Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology at the University of California, fructose is a “chronic, dose-dependent liver toxin.” And just like alcohol, fructose is metabolized directly into fat – not cellular energy, like glucose (Mercola).


So, how do you cut back on sugar in your life?

While there are many ways to go about this process, a structured program which allows for plenty of real, whole foods that does not restrict calories and still allows for some healthy carbohydrates is a great and healthy option.

If you’ve yet to hear about the 21-Day Sugar Detox program, I’ll be sharing some insights into how this plan can help you to begin cutting sugar from your life.

This 3-week detox is designed to:

  • minimize/eliminate your intake of refined carbohydrates, processed foods, sugar, and alcohol
  • help you become more aware of the foods you may be addicted to or rely on daily
  • give your body and liver a break from foods high in sugar so that it can function more optimally

What this 3-week detox is not:

  • a calorie counting plan
  • a shakes and pills protocol (no shakes or supplements are required — real food will be eaten and encouraged!)
  • a weight loss program (though some participants lose weight, it is much more than that — improved skin, increased energy, improved sleep quality, improved digestion are just some of the many benefits associated with this plan)

Check out these testimonials from past participants/clients of mine:

“I suffered from a few health issues in the past and the one symptom that still lingers is insomnia. I have tried EVERYTHING to defeat this horrible disorder. I’ve had insomnia all of my life but in the last couple of years it has ruined my life. I started to read up on foods that may trigger sleeplessness and noticed sugar kept popping up. I never paid attention since I don’t exactly eat sweets or desserts. After signing up for this class, hearing Mike discuss this detox and reading the book, I realized just how much sugar I was getting from all my other foods! I have slept all night, every night the last three nights! I haven’t slept this well in a month! Also, I have been trying to drop just a couple of pounds in the last YEAR with zero success. I just lost 2 pounds! My pasta belly is going away!!!” — Addie

“Before starting this cleanse, I had a major sweet tooth. I was surprised at how sharply this changed my taste buds. I can now honestly say I dislike most sweet things — or I only need a spoonful to feel satisfied. Avoiding white sugar is so much easier now because my cravings are gone.” — Ellen


For more info about the 21-Day Sugar Detox, check out this other post I’ve written 6 Reasons to Try the 21-Day Sugar Detox.

My next group that I’ll be coaching as a certified 21-Day Sugar Detox coach begins on January 2nd.
RSVP today if you’d like to give this challenge a try.

In conclusion, I’ll leave you with some last words of encouragement to guide you along your journey if you’re on the fence with whether to give this program a go or not.

This was taken from an original post I wrote for and published on the 21-Day Sugar Detox site. Read the entire post here.

Give yourself some due credit for taking on this challenge. You’ve taken action and that is quite significant! Some sit and ponder initiating changes to their diets, exercise plans, and life habits, but thinking is not the same as doing. Accept the challenge and be open to new ways of looking at and thinking about food. Do realize that you might not like something the first or second time you try it, but that’s all part of the learning process.

And last, be kind to yourself. You may find others in your life may not quite understand why you’re partaking in this challenge. Or you may find yourself comparing your results to other 21-Day Sugar Detox participants or others taking on other food elimination challenges, diets or programs. Be happy for other participants’ success stories but not to the detriment of your own mental state and esteem. Despite what you may think at times, you’re making strides in the right direction. Know that with a patient attitude and desire to inch your health forward one step at a time, you’ll be that new version of you soon enough.


If you have any questions whatsoever regarding the 21-Day Sugar Detox or my coaching services in general, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

And if you’d like to sign up to join the January 2nd group, you can do so here.


If A Better Version of You: Thoughts on Cutting Sugar From Your Life was helpful, please share this post with a friend so that they too may learn something from reading it.


Be sure to not miss my Holiday Gift Guide that I’ve curated this year for you to make your holiday shopping a whole lot easier: 100 Holiday Gift Ideas for the Healthy Peeps in Your Life.


Also, if you’ve yet to subscribe to my newsletter, you can do so here. This monthly newsletter is a great way to stay informed with nutrition news, tips and tricks, while also receiving free recipes and other giveaways from time to time. Don’t miss out!


References

Bauman, Ed.  Bauman College Nutrition Consultant Handbook:  Immune Health.

Mercola. articles.mercola.com “The Amazing Similarities Between This Toxic Sugar and Alcohol. 2012.

Teitelbaum, Jacob and Fiedler, Chrystle.  Beat Sugar Addiction Now.  Beverly, 2010.

 

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