- Aim to eliminate sugar to sweeten your tea and coffee. Do this gradually and this way it is not as difficult, simply go from using one spoon to a half spoon and eventually to none.
- Eat regularly and frequently and always eat a protein food when eating a carbohydrate food for meals and snacks.
- Eliminate drinking fizzy drinks or sodas and replace them with herbal teas or water. If you must drink fruit juice use natural as opposed to concentrate and always dilute it with water – (Water 95% /Juice 5 %)…. preferably not tap water.
- Do not switch to sugar free drinks as these invariably contain aspartame, a synthetic sugar substitute, which can actually stimulate your appetite and can increase your sugar cravings.
- Use natural sweet herb stevia as a non-addictive sugar substitute – but also use moderately!
- Eat more fruits low in fructose such as berries, limes, lemons, apricots, fresh cranberries and grapefruit.
- Add spices such as cinnamon or ginger to enhance flavour of your food instead of using sugar.
- Stabilise your blood sugar levels by eating chromium rich foods such as corn on the cob, sweet potato, broccoli, apples, organic eggs, tomato, wholegrain breads and black pepper.
- Reduce your consumption of desserts, have them at weekends or as a treat when you are eating out.
- Chocolate has a high sugar content, eat it as a treat or replace with dark chocolate; no more than 2 squares a day with a minimum of 70% cacao content.
- Start introducing Low Glycaemic Load (GL) foods into your diet. There are plenty of good Low GL cookbooks on the market.
- Get into the habit of reading food labels and become aware of the added sugar content in the food and drinks you consume.