1. Don't drink your sugar
Sugary drinks, like soda and fruit juice, are some of the worst foods for your teeth. Instead of just putting sugar in your mouth, you are washing your teeth with sugar and providing the bacteria in your mouth with tons of sugar to feast on.
Try swapping out those sugary drinks for drinks like:
- water
- water sweetened with lemon, lime, or other fresh fruits
- herbal or fruit teas
- coffee and tea (unsweetened of course!)
2. Swap out treats for healthy sweets
Almost all sweet deserts, like donuts, cake, cookies, etc, are loaded with sugar and provide little to none nutrition. If you are craving something sweet, instead of reaching for these sugar-loaded treats, reach for a healthier option like:
- fresh fruit
- dark chocolate
- dates
- greek yogurt sweetened with honey or cinnamon
- baked fruit with cream
3. Watch out for added sugars
A lot of products like ketchup, barbecue sauces, salad dressings, and canned foods have added sugars. To avoid these sneaky sugars ruining your diet, follow these tips:
- read your labels! While many products have added sugar, a lot of companies are starting to make healthier options with no added sugar.
- make your own sauces
- eat fresh fruits and veggies instead of buying canned
- use vinegars and herbs to season your food
4. Eat more protein and fat
One of the biggest problems with sugar is it doesn't fill you up, so you still crave more sugar. Eating a diet high in protein and fat has been shown to fill you up and reduce your appetite. So you won't even crave sugar. Some ways to add protein and fat to your diet:
- eat more meat and eggs
- snack on nuts and chickpeas
- eat full-fat dairy products
- eat more avocados
5. Consider natural sweeteners
If you still need to sweeten your food, there are ways besides sugar that are way better for you! These include:
- stevia
- maple syrup (sugar free of course!) and molasses
- dates
- xylitol
- honey
- agave syrup
- coconut sugar, milk, and oil
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