Why go sugar-free?

From obvious junk food offenders to “healthy” cereals, sauces, bars and shakes, sugar has infiltrated our modern diet and brought with it a bunch of health complications. Research suggests that a high-sugar diet, rather than one high in fat, is in fact responsible for the alarming increases in obesity and type 2 diabetes rates.

Isn’t sugar in everything? What will I eat?

Quitting sugar doesn’t necessarily mean quitting the foods you enjoy – it’s the fructose part you need to avoid.  A good way to begin a sugar-free diet is to focus on what you can eat, rather than what you can’t. Some foods that can remain in your diet may surprise you, like granola (a sugar-free or homemade variety), chocolate (with 85 percent or more cacao), healthy fats, carbs (in moderation), coffee, fresh fruit (two to three pieces a day), wine and beer (in moderation).

What’s wrong with fructose?

When you eat a diet high in fructose, your liver gets overloaded. It spends so much of its energy turning fructose into other molecules that it may not be able to focus on its other functions. Fructose is also highly addictive, and eating it can make us feel hungrier.

What’s in it for me?

When you quit fructose, you quit processed crap. Your appetite will return to working order. You’ll feel brighter and more energetic, with clearer skin and better sleep. You’ll probably lose some weight, too!

Can I still eat fruit?

Although fruit contains fructose, it has lots of good stuff like water, antioxidants, fibre and vitamins to help your body metabolise the fructose more slowly. When possible, aim for lower-fructose varieties like berries, and steer clear from dried fruit or fruit juice. A single cup of orange juice can have as much sugar as a can of Coke!

What about my sweet tooth?

There are several fructose-free options that can satisfy your sweet tooth. Rice malt syrup is a blend of carbohydrates, glucose and maltose, and is completely fructose-free. You can also consume less of it to achieve similar sweetness levels as sugar. Also, stevia is a plant-derived sweetener containing no sugar of any kind. However, both should still be consumed in moderation (and you’ll find your craving for sugar decrease when you cut sugar anyway).

"Healthy" sweeteners like agave nectar, honey, maple syrup and Medjool dates are quite high in fructose, which means they are best avoided if you genuinely wish to quit sugar.

Will it be expensive?

Making most of your meals from scratch is an essential component to a sugar-free diet. It’s the perfect way to control what you’re eating. It can work out cheaper, since a moderate takeaway lunch can cost between eight and fifteen dollars, whereas making the same thing from scratch will probably cost much less.

What will I snack on?

Keep sugar-free snacks handy like veggies with homemade dips or hummus, smoothies, energy balls, salads, fruit kebabs, nuts and plain corn tortilla chips. If you don’t buy the bad stuff, you won’t be able to eat it – simple. 

Throughout June we will add daily sugar-free recipes, articles and tips to our blog! Click here to view all sugar-free blogs.

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