Have you thought of having a sugar detox? We’ve all heard that sugar is harmful to the body, but it can really affect your health and overall appearance more than you think. It is true that a simple treat once in a while won’t affect you much, but many people have trouble controlling themselves around sugar. Follow these simple tips to have a healthy and sugar-free life.

Identify it

Be aware of all the sugar that’s around you, it’s hard to stop eating it if you buy foods full of added sugar. You should avoid labels containing ingredients like corn syrup, coconut sugar, sucrose, molasses, maltose, and others. However, be aware that natural – non-added – sugar contains a lot of vitamins, minerals, and fiber; you can keep the food that has this kind of sugar, like whole fruit.

Replace it.

Now that you know what to look for, replace all of those sugar-filled foods with their healthy equivalent. Going for organic and less processed food is a great way to do this. You don’t have to go to an expensive shop to find them, you can make most things at home or get them at a farmer’s market.

Find distractions.

Let’s get real, cravings will strike and you ought to be prepared. When you feel like you need sugar, try to go for a walk or do some exercise, or simply drink a glass of water or snack on some sweet fruits. Making a slow transition will help your body get used to the changes more naturally, don’t expect to cut out sugar in a few days.

Always keep in mind that these changes can’t be made all at once, that will just make it easier to fall back. For a healthy sugar detox, try to make small changes on different weeks. By the third week, you should be living sugar-free. However, it’s unrealistic to think that everyone will be able to avoid sugar forever, so it’s fine if you want to allow a little sweetness back into your life. Moderation is the key, you don’t have to let it become a daily habit.