What to Expect During the First Few Days of Your Sugar Detox
You may expect sugar in your favorite candy bar and soft drink, but did you know manufacturers add sugar to soups, condiments, and bread? Consuming all this extra sugar may affect your weight and increase your risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.
Here at OnePeak Medical, we see the negative consequences that a poor diet can have on health. We offer many specialty diet protocols to address many health needs and concerns. This includes a sugar detox protocol.
Cutting sugar from your diet may seem simple enough. But you may be surprised at how your body reacts when you drop the sugar. We want to share some of the details of what you might expect during the first few days of your sugar detox.
Your body’s desire for added sugar
Though your body digests and metabolizes natural and added sugar the same way, the physical and psychological effects are different.
Natural sugar
Natural sugar is the sugar found in fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy foods. These sugars come with other nutrients that support overall health and wellness.
Added sugar
High-fructose corn syrup, brown sugar, white granulated sugar, molasses, rice syrup, and malt sugar are some of the many types of added sugar. Manufacturers add these sugars to processed food to enhance flavor and improve shelf life.
According to a systematic review published in the April 2018 issue of Nutrients, processed foods with added sugar and fat have the greatest potential for leading to food addiction. These types of foods trigger the brain’s reward system and the desire for more.
The “addiction” to added sugar may cause cravings and withdrawal-like symptoms that make it hard for you to cut the non-nutritive ingredient from your diet. But with our sugar detox protocol and professional support, you can do it.
What to expect
Your need for sugar may affect your physical, psychological, and emotional well-being. During the first few days of your sugar detox protocol, you may experience a roller coaster of physical and emotional symptoms.
What to expect during your sugar detox:
- Low mood
- Anxiety
- Cravings
- Sleep disturbance
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Headaches
You may notice your symptoms seem worse at certain times of the day or when you’re feeling a bit stressed. But with our sugar detox protocol, these symptoms should improve within a few days. However, some people may continue to feel a bit off for a few weeks.
Managing your sugar detox
Our sugar detox protocol is designed to progress in steps to minimize your detox symptoms, help you feel more energized and alive, and improve your overall health.
Our nutrition experts create personalized sugar detox plans specific to your needs. They take into consideration your usual eating habits, personal medical history, types of medications you take, and your health goals.
To minimize symptoms and ensure success, we encourage you to drink plenty of water to flush out toxins and restore homeostasis. We also encourage you to add more protein and high-fiber foods to your diet to stabilize your body’s blood sugar levels.
Once you get through the first few days of our sugar detox protocol, we provide guidelines for how to keep cravings and symptoms away. This includes exercise recommendations and non-food suggestions for managing stress.
Whether you’re struggling to lose weight or manage your health through nutrition, our sugar detox protocol may be the tool you need to set things right.
To get started, contact us today.