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If you’ve ever craved a late-night bowl of ice cream or candy bar, you’re definitely in good company. As yummy as it is, too much added sugar isn’t great for our health, and can eventually lead to health issues like diabetes and heart disease. [1] If you’re hoping to wean yourself off added sugars, a month-long detox could be a great step in the right direction. While there isn’t a universal, no-sugar detox plan out there, we’ve put together some rough guidelines to help you get started.

1

Cut out added sugar for 30 days.

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  1. Set a firm start and stop date for your no-sugar challenge, so you can plan your meals and snacks in advance. You might give up sugar for a specific month, or pick a random start and end date that best fit your schedule. The choice is yours! [2]
    • If you aren’t quite ready for a month-long detox, try quitting sugar for 2 weeks instead. Instead of cutting out added sugar entirely, you might limit yourself to a small amount each day, like 5 g.
    • You might try quitting sugar for 10 days, and see how it goes. If it goes well, you might extend your detox for a couple more weeks.
    • If you’d like to test the waters first, the New York Times has a simple, weeklong sugar challenge you can try. Check it out here: https://www.nytimes.com/programs/sugar-challenge .
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2

Inspect food labels for added sugars.

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3

Stay away from artificial and natural sweeteners.

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  1. Plenty of drinks and other desserts are made with sugar-free or natural sweeteners. For the next 30 days, do your best to avoid both artificial and natural sweeteners, like aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, stevia, honey, maple syrup, corn syrup, or agave. [5]
    • Avoiding other forms of sweeteners will help reduce your sugar cravings.
    • Double-check the ingredient list on your drinks, snacks, and other foods to make sure there are no added sweeteners. [6]
    • Even though artificial sweeteners are sugar-free, they actually taste much sweeter than traditional sugar. [7] Because of this, it’s best to cut them out of your diet during a sugar detox.
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5

Set aside any sweetened dips and sauces.

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  1. Check the labels on any sauces, salad dressings, and other dips you have at home. Some popular options, like barbecue and pasta sauce, have extra sugar added in. To be safe, get rid of any sugary sauces and replace them with sugar-free alternatives, instead. [9]
    • For reference, Maille dijon mustard, Gulden’s spicy brown mustard, Prego’s marinara sauce, French’s yellow mustard, and Newman’s Own Classic oil and vinegar salad dressing are all sugar-free.
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6

Replace soda with healthier alternatives.

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  1. According to health experts, on a regular diet, adults should limit themselves to 50 g of added sugar per day. Unfortunately, a single bottle of soda can have at least 52 g of sugar, which already puts you over the daily recommended limit. During your no-sugar challenge, toss out your soda and stock up on seltzer or sparkling water instead. [10]
    • While diet sodas have fewer calories than traditional soft drinks, they’re still riddled with artificial sweeteners. Kick them to the curb during your no-sugar challenge, too.
14

Cut back on sugar in your recipes.

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  1. Instead of scooping some white, granulated sugar into your recipe, use unsweetened applesauce instead. You can also liven up your recipes with extra spices, like allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, or extracts, like vanilla, almond, lemon, or orange. [22]
    • Replace sugar with applesauce at a 1:1 ratio. For instance, if your recipe called for 1 cup (201 g) of sugar, you’d add in 1  c (240 mL) of unsweetened applesauce.
15

Stay relaxed and well-rested.

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  1. When you’re under a lot of stress and pressure, your body produces extra cortisol, which is a stress hormone. Because of this, you might feel hungrier, and crave more sugary snacks. You might also get extra cravings and hunger pangs when you get less than 8 hours of sleep. With this in mind, try to relax and get plenty of sleep throughout your no-sugar challenge. [23]
    • Cortisol can be reduced through a variety of ways, such as exercise, mindfulness practices, deep breathing, laughter, or spending time with a pet. [24]
    • If you’re having trouble calming down, try unwinding in a warm bath, listening to relaxing music, journaling, or doing mindful meditation . [25]
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16

Don’t eat lots of sugar after the challenge ends.

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  1. This isn’t to say you have to give up your favorite sweets forever. Instead, focus on cutting back your sugar intake instead of eliminating it altogether. [26] Take a look at some sugary foods or ingredients you enjoyed before your sugar detox. Try halving your usual portions, or enjoying a little less than you normally would. [27]
    • For instance, you might add 1 spoonful of sugar to your tea or coffee instead of adding 2. [28]
    • You might bake a batch of brownies, but cut them into smaller pieces.
    • You could enjoy a bowl of ice cream once or twice a week instead of eating some every night.

List of Foods to Help You Quit Sugar and Sugar Free Meal Plan

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I start cutting out sugar?
    Kyle Kenny
    Master Trainer & Certified Personal Trainer
    Kyle Kenny is a Master Trainer, Certified Personal Trainer, and the Owner of KennyTRY Training. With more than seven years of experience, he specializes in helping people achieve their fitness goals by creating individualized meal programs, training regimens, supplementation systems, vitamin lists, and workouts. Kyle has multiple Personal Training Certifications and a Fitness Nutrition Specialist Certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
    Master Trainer & Certified Personal Trainer
    Expert Answer
    Try recording your food with a nutritional/calorie-counting app. Also, take a closer look at your food labels and try to cut down the total grams of sugar you eat each day.
  • Question
    Is natural sugar healthier than added sugar?
    Kyle Kenny
    Master Trainer & Certified Personal Trainer
    Kyle Kenny is a Master Trainer, Certified Personal Trainer, and the Owner of KennyTRY Training. With more than seven years of experience, he specializes in helping people achieve their fitness goals by creating individualized meal programs, training regimens, supplementation systems, vitamin lists, and workouts. Kyle has multiple Personal Training Certifications and a Fitness Nutrition Specialist Certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
    Master Trainer & Certified Personal Trainer
    Expert Answer
    Definitely! Natural sugars are always okay, especially in the morning—they help wake our bodies up.
Ask a Question
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      Tips

      • To really challenge yourself, you could avoid all types of sugar for the first 3 days, including fruits. This is definitely challenging, but it can be rewarding in the long run. After a few days without any sugar, your fruits, veggies, and dairy will taste even sweeter. [29]
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      Warnings

      • A complete sugar detox may not be a safe or healthy option for diabetics, hardcore athletes, pregnant women, and anyone taking medicine to manage their blood sugar. If you fall into any of these categories, talk to your doctor before trying this diet challenge. [30]
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      1. https://www.nytimes.com/guides/smarterliving/how-to-stop-eating-sugar
      2. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-break-the-sugar-habit-and-help-your-health-in-the-process
      3. https://www.nytimes.com/guides/smarterliving/how-to-stop-eating-sugar
      4. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/30/opinion/a-month-without-sugar.html
      5. https://www.nytimes.com/guides/smarterliving/how-to-stop-eating-sugar
      6. https://www.nytimes.com/guides/smarterliving/how-to-stop-eating-sugar
      7. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/choosing-healthy-protein.htm
      8. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/break-your-sugar-addiction-in-10-days-infographic/
      9. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/choosing-healthy-fats.htm
      10. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/break-your-sugar-addiction-in-10-days-infographic/
      11. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sugar/tips-for-cutting-down-on-sugar
      12. https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/vegetables
      13. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sugar/tips-for-cutting-down-on-sugar
      14. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/break-your-sugar-addiction-in-10-days-infographic/
      15. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ways-to-lower-cortisol
      16. https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/uz2209
      17. https://www.phillymag.com/be-well-philly/2017/12/07/sugar-free-diet/
      18. Kyle Kenny. Master Trainer & Certified Personal Trainer. Expert Interview. 2 November 2021.
      19. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sugar/tips-for-cutting-down-on-sugar
      20. https://www.cnn.com/2017/06/09/health/sugar-detox-food-drayer/index.html
      21. https://www.cnn.com/2017/06/09/health/sugar-detox-food-drayer/index.html

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