The January Sugar Detox Is Happening All Around The Globe

Are you ready to not give in and make it through a few days of sugar cravings? 

The key is to keep in mind that it will get easier as time goes by and that you’re doing this for an important reason - to improve your health, lose weight, look better, feel better and reduce your risk of developing other diseases or to increase underlying illnesses. Keep reminding yourself that you can do this and that it will be worth it in the end. Just like giving up smoking, there is a several minute window of craving that you need to get through. If you don't make it through that window, you will have sugar in your mouth before you know it. I promise if you want it bad enough, you will find the willpower to make it through your sugar detox. Of course, keeping all sugar treats out of the house will help with temptation as well. So clean out before you clean up.

This isn’t going to be easy and it isn’t going to be pleasant. In addition to craving your favorite sugary treats and carbs, you’ll likely experience headaches and possibly nausea, joint pain and dizziness. Knowing this ahead of time will keep you from being shocked and surprised when these detox side effects start to pop up. Start slowly and use epsom salt baths to help with the headaches. Use healthy fats to fuel your brain, but initially making sure you get some of those healthy carbs will help you through the switch over in fuel sources. As well, whole fruit is an excellent source of healthy sugars to help your brain move from quick processed sugars to slower released foods. 

My key is that if you are tired, you probably need some extra amino acids or protein. If you aren't digesting your veggies very well, then add in some digestive enzymes to help that process along. If you are hungry, you probably need to get some extra fats into your diet. And if you are hangry, you need more of both. Those that go through sugar detoxes, often get some emotional side effects because of the influence sugar has on dopamine levels. Supporting your dopamine levels with fruit and vegetables, in particular bananas, nuts like almonds and walnuts, or my favorite food - dark chocolate - will help with some of the angry or anxious feelings. Some people will have some of the blood sugar dysregulation dizziness. This happens to those keto folks too. If it doesn't seem to be going away, I recommend adding some of my favorite Icelandic salt into your water because it could be that your new diet is having some influence on your blood pressure as well.

Start your day with my favorite cleansing drink that includes salt, which is part of my Winter Detox program.

Lemon Cleansing Toxic
1 cup room-temperature water
1 tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar
Juice of 1 lemon
dash of Icelandic salt

It helps to start your sugar detox on a Friday. You can make it through your work day before the headaches start and then have all weekend to detox. By the time Monday rolls around you should be through the worst of it. Just keep yourself busy or spend a good amount of time sleeping as you make it through to the other side.

Speaking of that, keep reminding yourself that this is only temporary. Make yourself tough it out one more hour. Go watch a movie, call a friend or go for a walk. Nature seems to have this special way of helping you through those moments. If you can find a way to distract yourself, before you know it the hour will be over. Keep it up hour after hour and you’ll get through your sugar detox before you know it. Remember that this is only a temporary feeling. I promise that you’ll feel much better after a few hours. The health benefits of freeing yourself from your sugar addiction are well worth the making it through the unpleasant side effects of a sugar detox. If you want help, jump into the Winter Detox (totally grain-free) and you'll have all of the tools you need to get started.