21 No-Added-Sugar Recipes I Used During My 30-Day Detox (2024)

FAQs

What to eat during a 30 day no sugar challenge? ›

Some examples are eggs, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, tofu, tempeh, quinoa, oats, brown rice, sweet potatoes, broccoli, spinach, kale, carrots, apples, bananas, berries, oranges, and almond milk. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated and flush out toxins.

Plus, 21 days is plenty of time to feel the fantastic effects of life with less sugar. By the end of the challenge, you'll feel more ener- gized and less dependant on sugar. You might also notice less bloating and some weight loss.

Last, let's look for those nutrient dense starchy vegetables. Roasted sweet or white potatoes, baked potatoes, mashed (for level 1 and 2), and whole grains such as a ½ cup of steamed rice (for level 1). Fried rice is not a good option.

*Improved blood sugar levels: Cutting out sugar can help stabilise your blood sugar levels, reducing spikes and crashes that can affect your energy levels and mood. *Weight loss: Sugar is a major contributor to excess calorie intake.

Read labels carefully and choose sugar-free or homemade options whenever possible. White bread and pastries are refined carbohydrates that can quickly spike blood sugar levels. Opt for whole-grain bread and pastries made with minimal sugar or explore low-carb alternatives.

Drop your sugar intake at once. The Ohio University Medical Center determined that a sugar detox will take between 3-10 days. The more sugar you are normally taking in, the longer the detox will take. The good thing is, unlike other addictions, the intensity of the symptoms will decrease as you go on.

So for the first three days on a sugar detox, Alpert recommends no added sugars – but also no fruits, no starchy vegetables (such as corn, peas, sweet potatoes and butternut squash), no dairy, no grains and no alcohol. “You're basically eating protein, vegetables and healthy fats.”

Here are the tell-tale signs on your face that sugar is the culprit aging your skin: The surface of your skin looks hard and shiny. Deep, crosshatch lines appear along your upper lip. Discoloration and hyperpigmentation mark your skin.

Be sure to choose snacks and meals that are high in fiber and protein naturally: hard-boiled eggs, for one, or even a small omelette; a handful of nuts at your desk; an apple with peanut butter, or even some crudité and hummus.

Can I eat popcorn on a sugar detox? ›

Healthier snack options are those without added sugar, such as fresh or tinned fruit (in juice, not syrup), unsalted mixed nuts, plain popcorn, rice cakes, crackers topped with lower-fat cheese or lower-sugar yoghurts.

Eating Fruit on a Sugar Detox

Aside from packaged and processed foods and alcohol, also avoid eating too much fruit. Jackson says it can have adverse effects on the body and encourage more sugar cravings.

Most detoxification programs recommend removing highly processed foods and foods to which some people are sensitive, such as dairy, gluten, eggs, peanuts and red meat. They also recommend eating mostly organically grown vegetables, fruit, whole non-glutenous grains, nuts, seeds and lean protein.

Seafood, pork, beef, and chicken are all sugar-free. They're also an important source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. If you don't eat meat, soybeans, lentils, beans, nuts, and seeds are great sugar-free, high-protein foods.

Many types of sprouted grain bread have no added sugar or just 1 gram.

1 to Jan. 31 the detox consists of eliminating any added sweetener (real or fake) from your diet to get you to a place where you can enjoy it without cravings. This includes cookies, cakes, soda, sugar substitutes and alternatives, and even quality sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, etc.

The rules for this challenge were simple: absolutely no added sugars. Natural sugars, like those found in dairy and fruit, were OK. Artificial sweeteners were also off-limits. Sugar is not a necessary nutrient, and we're all eating entirely too much of it.

Avoid simple carbohydrates

Many no-sugar diets also recommend that people avoid simple carbohydrates. Simple carbs include white flour, white pasta, and white rice. The body quickly breaks down the carbohydrates in these foods into sugar. This process causes a spike in blood sugar levels.

Detoxing from sugar can help you lose weight quickly. “We had over 80 testers from all over the country, and they lost anywhere between 5 to 20 pounds during the 31 days, depending on their weight or sugar addiction,” Alpert said. “Many also noticed that a lot of the weight was lost from their midsection.