In
research done by Robert Lustig, they found when children deemed obese
eliminated extra sugar from their diet for a total of nine days, every
measured part of their metabolic health improved. When detoxing from
sugar, it is best to do it “cold turkey”. When sugar detox is done in
this way, taste palates change and they are able to taste the sugar in
items such as fruits, vegetables and dairy. Brooke Alpert the co-author
of “The Sugar Detox: Lose the Sugar, Lose the Weight— Look and Feel
Great” suggests that for the first three days, people should avoid added
sugars, fruits, starchy vegetables (corn, sweet potatoes, peas,
butternut squash, etc.), dairy, grains and alcohol. For that time period
you are essentially consuming protein, vegetables and fats. Artificial
sweeteners are not included in this plan because they cause our palates
to become dull and less sensitive to the sweetness in foods. Artitifical
sweeteners also cause an increase in fat storage and could cause you to
overeat later. Alpert states that after that three day period, food
becomes more sweet.
Starting
on day four, you can add one apple and one dairy (full-fat and
unsweetened) product each day. You can also start eating vegetables like
carrots, snow peas and one serving of high-fiber crackers. Three
glasses of wine are also allowed that first week. Further information
for weeks two, three and four are included in the CNN article if you
would like to learn more about the specifics of Alpert’s sugar detox
program. In 80 participants, in 31 days on the program they lost between
5-20 pounds. Other reported changes included brighter eyes, better
skin, less dark circles, increased energy and decreased mood swings.
When choosing what days to start the detox, choose days that may be
conducive to potential withdrawal symptoms that may occur such as
fatigue, crankiness and brain fog. If you truly start to feel poorly,
Alpert states you can have a piece of fruit but it is best to power
through and drink water in order to stop sugar addiction. This
particular detox plan may not be appropriate for athletes, diabetics,
pregnant women or anyone taking medications to control blood sugar. It
can be beneficial to have a friend to rely on for support during this
time. To find out more ways to keep yourself healthy, please visit our
website at www.oxborochiro.com.
