Let’s get one thing out of the way before we start: sugar per se is not bad for you, or at least some sugars aren’t. In fact, sugar is the primary fuel for life on this Earth, and your body runs on it. To further illustrate the point, your brain runs on glucose, which is a simple sugar called monosaccharide – a carb-based energy source for your entire body. Now, does the fact that sugar is a key fuel source mean that you should be eating it all day long? Definitely not.

In fact, you would do well to cut out as much sugar from your life as you possibly can in order to elevate your health and long-term well-being – but you need to know how to do it right and which sugars to eliminate from your diet. You see, not all sugars were created equal, and today we are going to demystify this topic and help you build a healthy no-sugar diet that will help you build a healthier lifestyle. Here’s what you need to know and do to invest in yourself in one of the best ways possible.

Understand that this is a process

First things first, cutting unhealthy and unnecessary sugar from your diet and life in general is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Understand that your body and mind have been conditioned over the years to yearn for sweets and sugars found in fizzy drinks, fast food, and other unhealthy sources most of us take on a regular basis. This is not something you can eliminate in a day. In fact, trying to eliminate sugar from your life right away can produce withdrawal symptoms and make you fall short of your goals.

Before you know it, you’re back in your old ways feeling more demoralized than ever. If you want to build a healthier lifestyle and banish your cravings for good, you need to start off slowly. Your goal should be to weave sugar out of your diet over the course of several weeks. As a general rule, you want your diet to be sugar-free within the month.

Learn the various code names for sugars

So, which sugars should you eliminate from your diet? Well, without going into too much detail, we should mention that different types of sugars go by different names, and that you should know the different types so that you can make educated decisions.

You see, it’s not just about eliminating sugars altogether, because you need them to fuel your body with sustained energy. As a general rule, you want to avoid sugars that are fast-acting and come from unhealthy sources like junk food, sugary snacks and drinks, and the like.

As for the types of sugars you should be aware of, particularly when reading food labels, you should know about:

• Glucose

• Maltose

• Sucrose

• Dextrose

• Fructose

• Lactose

As we mentioned earlier, not all forms of sugar are bad for you. For example, glucose and maltose are great sources of sustained energy, however fructose and sucrose are relatively nutritionally empty and will produce the dreaded sugar highs and lows. You should avoid these fast-acting sugars if you want to be healthier and reach your weight loss goals faster.

Focus on quality proteins in your diet

There are many reasons why you would want to increase your protein intake in your everyday life. For one, protein is the building block of life and it helps retain and build lean muscle mass which not only looks good on your frame but also improves your physical strength and prowess. That said, the thing you might not have known is that a protein-rich diet keeps you sated for longer and curbs your sugar cravings.

That’s why it is important to get enough protein in during the day, and you can combine protein-rich foods with supplementation and an occasional scoop of premium isolate protein that doesn’t have any added sugars. This is important to keep in mind, because many supplements will have all kinds of sugary fillers that you don’t need in your diet. That said, maintaining a protein-rich diet can be tricky, so supplementing with quality protein is a good way to eliminate your sugar cravings while fueling your body the right way.

Start scrutinizing food labels regularly

In order to stick to this healthier lifestyle, you have to be mindful of the foods you’re buying. Almost all food products have their detailed labels nowadays, making it easy for you to make educated choices. Look for the caloric content on every article, and check the amount of carbs it has while paying special attention to the type of sugar used in the product.

What’s more, make sure that the products you buy have zero added sugars to avoid various conditions like acne, eczema, bloating, unwanted weight gain, and more. The less unhealthy sugar you get in your diet, the better for your overall well-being.

Learn to prep your meals to avoid sugary temptations

Last but definitely not least, a great way to eliminate sugar from your mind and your diet is to learn how to prepare the majority of your meals in advance. Meal preparation is one of the best solutions for a hectic lifestyle that forces you to reach for junk food and sugary alternatives to fill up your belly during a busy workday. You can simply devote a Sunday afternoon to prep a bunch of healthy no-sugar meals for the upcoming week, put them in glass containers to preserve their freshness, and take them with you to work – easy as that.

Wrapping up

Sugar is the building block of life, but that doesn’t mean that it’s always good for you. In fact, you would benefit greatly by eliminating unhealthy sugars from your life and sticking to a predominantly sugar-free diet. Use these tips to make this transition an easy one and build a sustainable diet plan that will elevate your health and lifelong well-being.