Saynora, Sugar

Sayonara, Sugar

March Wellness Warrior is Sabrina Abuzahra. She shares her SUGAR FREE journey and how taking even a small break from SUGAR can benefit you too!

If there is one thing Americans can agree upon, it’s our affection for sugar.  From the little Peeps at Easter to your Dove Chocolate on the dinner table, and even hidden in your pasta sauce, sugar is found everywhere.  I listened to my body, and I gave up sugar of all forms (natural, artificially sweetened, even fruit) for six months, from August of 2017 through January of 2018.  Was it easy? Heck no. Am I still here? Heck to the yes. Making excuses is easy, but bettering oneself is an individual choice. Below you will discover my journey without sugar as a college student as well as some tips and tricks to help you avoid this sweet-tasting carbohydrate.  

For twenty years day in and day out, my body craved and was supplied sugar in all shapes and sizes.  From the milk I was drinking to the granola bars I was eating and the barbecue sauce I was dipping into, my body found homeostasis upon the consumption of sugar.  If you’re anything like me, I’m sure your body derives these short spurts of “energy” from sugar as well. In August of 2017, I found out I had severe stomach issues that could only be solved by quitting sugar cold turkey (it was feeding the bad bacteria in my gut), along with grains, gluten, dairy and nuts. Prior to this I had already been eating a gluten and dairy-free diet, which made my main enemy sugar, and boy was it ferocious.  I was limited to eating meat and vegetables for the next six months, which meant I had to find comfort and happiness in this “no sugar thing” as quick as possible. No more reaching into the fridge for a few blueberries, no more donuts on a Sunday morning, and it certainly made eating out tricky. Fast forward to present day, and I have reintroduced berries into my diet, while still avoiding all other fruit, natural and artificial sugars.  My freedom from sugar has left me with more energy, allowed me to sleep better, and has created a huge sense of discipline in my food choices. One full-time college student, three jobs, six months, no sugar. Yep, it happened, and I am incredibly stronger because of it.

When I first began my sugar-free journey, quite frankly I was pretty uneducated as to where sugar was hiding in my diet.  Sure, I knew there was sugar in things like chocolate cake, maple syrup and popsicles, but the other place I found it rocked my world.  Below is a list of some of the sneakiest ways sugar sneaks into our bodies:

• Pasta sauce

• Tomato paste

• Meats

  • Ham

  • Sausage

    • Chicken sausage

    • Turkey sausage

    • Hot dogs

    • Etc.

• Pickles

• All milk (dairy, lactose-free, soy, almond, etc.) unless it’s unsweetened

• Yogurts (even the unsweetened kinds!)

• Salad dressings

• Cereals

• Frozen fruit

• Vitamins

• Cold medicine

• Spices/seasoning packets

• Condiments

  • Barbecue

  • Ketchup

  • Relish

  • Etc.

• Gum (even when it’s sugar-free)

Truly, the list could go on, but these were things I considered “healthy” before beginning my journey, and I quickly found out I was seriously misled.  

Now, you might be sifting through your pantry and feeling elated because you haven’t read the words “sugar” on any of your goodies.  Don’t be fooled friends, sugar has many aliases it likes to play under, like the following:

• Fructose

• Glucose

• Maltose

• Maltodextrin

• Sucrose

• Ribose

• High fructose corn syrup

• Erythritol (que your “sugar-free” gum)

You can find an exhaustive list of sneaky sugars and the difference between artificial, natural and sugar alcohols by the Whole30 here.

If you ever feel like taking a break from sugar, I encourage you to reach out to me.  Giving up sugar for good is not for everyone, but even steering clear from it for seven days can allow your body to readjust and appreciate the simple tastes of fruit and chocolate again. It is essential to not restrict your body from treats, but it is also important to understand ways you can avoid sneaky sugar.  I encourage you to actively investigate each label at the grocery store before placing an item in your cart and to focus on shopping the perimeter of the store with a heavy focus on produce, avoiding the processed foods to the best of your ability. Being informed is the first step, and I wish you the best of luck on your individual health journey.

Sincerely,

March Wellness Warrior

Sabrina Abuzahra

My Humble Abode