| The one thing that stops the more people from | | | | thinking. |
| committing to a sugar-free diet than any other | | | | Unfortunately, the thought of sugar withdrawal |
| cause is the fear of sugar withdrawal symptoms. | | | | symptoms are a powerful deterrent to healthy |
| Don't let that stop you - sugar addiction's | | | | change. People often think they'll feel much worse |
| withdrawal symptoms, compared to many other | | | | than they really will, or they think they'll be |
| addictive substances, are quite mild, so giving up | | | | miserable much longer. Part of this reasoning is |
| an addiction to sugar and other refined carbs is | | | | actually caused by the "stinking thinking" created |
| fairly easy. It's staying "clean" afterwards that's | | | | by your addiction. |
| hard. | | | | Knowing how long your symptoms will last will |
| Other drugs, such as tobacco (and even caffeine) | | | | give you the strength to commit yourself to |
| have far longer and more disturbing withdrawal | | | | moving through the withdrawal phase towards |
| symptoms. | | | | health. You don't want to give in to the nagging |
| During the first few sugar-free days you may | | | | symptoms that are begging you for that donut |
| experience headaches, fatigue, depression, | | | | just a few hours before the symptoms would be |
| drowsiness, skin eruptions, and mucus or throat | | | | gone for good. |
| discomfort. | | | | For this reason, it's important to mark out the |
| Some of these symptoms, especially the mood | | | | time when you know you won't feel your best. |
| swings, fatigue and drowsiness, probably occur on | | | | Think of it as a voluntary case of the flu, and |
| a daily basis when you're still eating a high-sugar | | | | commit to working your way through it. In a few |
| diet, as the blood sugar rises and falls - but you | | | | days it will be over. |
| don't usually blame it on the way you eat. When | | | | Does that mean you're free of sugar cravings for |
| you kick the sugar habit you will be very aware | | | | good? No. |
| that these symptoms are being caused by your | | | | As mentioned earlier, the hard part is not giving |
| recent dietary change, and you should look | | | | up sugar. It's staying free of sugar once you've |
| forward to the day when you will be completely | | | | gone through the first few weeks. Your mild |
| free of them. | | | | withdrawal symptoms at first will actually keep |
| A caffeine withdrawal headache might be quite | | | | you focused and remind you of your goal to start |
| painful, and can last for 2 days or more, while | | | | a healthy diet. |
| sugar withdrawal symptoms are usually milder but | | | | It's later, when you're feeling healthy and |
| may last for a week or two. Some people may | | | | energized, when the lure of "just one" treat can |
| experience little or no discomfort at all, and will | | | | seem like a harmless indulgence. To make sure |
| simply receive all the benefits of a no-sugar diet | | | | you stay on your new, healthy diet, you'll need a |
| almost immediately. | | | | plan that will prevent you from sliding back into |
| And the benefits are huge - better health, better | | | | your old, unhealthy eating choices. |
| moods, a feeling of increased vitality and clearer | | | | |