<img class="size-medium wp-image-58396 alignright" src="https://theenterprise.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2021/11/sugar_1636987579-300x191.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="191" />Do you have a sweet tooth? Or sweet teeth? The fact is, our cravings are often linked to emotional stress that leads us to “<a href="https://lifeandhealth.org/lifestyle/healthy-habits/how-to-stop-stress-eating-for-good/1514489.html">stress eat</a>.” Maybe you struggle with occasional sweet cravings, or you have a sugar addiction. Either way, I can attest to the fact that overcoming a sugar addiction is possible. The amount of sugar I used to consume was astounding. I would literally wake up craving soda and candy for breakfast, and then I would eat and drink my soda and candy throughout the day, even after dinner, and all the way until my bedtime. This did not include other snacks, desserts, and other sugar-laden products. <strong>The Sugar Addiction Cycle</strong> You crave sugar, and consume it Your blood sugar levels spike, and the dopamine levels spark the addiction. Your blood sugar drops rapidly due to the body’s mechanism of releasing massive amounts of insulin to drop the blood sugar This causes increased appetite and cravings, in which you consume sugar again The amount of sugar that Americans consume per day is at a dangerous high. Americans consume an average of about 22 teaspoons in total. What we fail to realize is that sugar is found in nearly every item at a grocery store: sodas, drinks, desserts, cereals, processed foods, bars, and just about everything! So it goes that one of the fastest ways to lose weight is to cut your sugar intake. You can actually starve disease growth by cutting out sugar from your diet. This leads us to the question: How much sugar should we consume per day? None. I would like to invite you to go on a sugar fast. Choose a time period in which you can dedicate for this. For example, it may not be a good idea to start this sugar fast when you’re going on vacation with family, or during holidays, as you may be more inclined to take part of sweets. The good news is, the cycle can be broken. <strong>Stop the Cycle</strong> Begin by eliminating conventional candy, sweets, desserts, sodas, sugary beverages, and processed foods, and try to make your own at home. I recommend using fruit puree as a natural sweetener during your sugar fast. By incorporating nutritional food, exercise, water, sunshine, adequate rest, and a positive mind trusting in God, you can transform your health and your life! If you’re wondering what happens after the sugar fast, and whether you’ll be able to eat anything sweet again, we’ve got that covered! Below are alternatives that should still be used sparingly: <strong>Healthier Alternatives for Sweetness</strong> <strong>Brown rice syrup</strong> <strong>Agave nectar</strong> <strong>Pure honey</strong> <strong>Maple syrup</strong> <strong>Fruit pectin</strong> <strong>Medjool dates</strong> <strong>Coconut nectar</strong> <strong>Blackstrap molasses</strong> <strong>Fruit purees</strong> <strong>Transitional Sweeteners</strong> These are great to use when transitioning from refined sugars and corn syrup. Although, it should be used sparingly, mostly when using it for baked goods for special occasions. <strong>Coconut sugar</strong> <strong>Sugar in the raw</strong> <strong>Turbinado sugar</strong> <strong>Sucanat</strong> <strong>Monkfruit natural sweetener</strong> With patience, perseverance, willingness, and knowledge, it is possible to be free of this addictive cycle of cravings! (Submitted by Betty Dean. Written by <a href="https://lifeandhealth.org/author/gjauwena">Grace Jauwena</a>. Used by permission from <a href="http://www.lifeandhealth.org/">www.lifeandhealth.org</a>. Courtesy of LifeSpring – Resources for Hope and Healing Stuart, VA)
