I read from somewhere: “Rather than think about how a particular food tastes, think about how the food feels”. I lived at my mum’s at the time. She has ice cream always in her freezer. I realized, that every time I ate ice cream, I felt tired and heavy,… and the temptation didn’t even diminish but I craved for more ice cream.
That’s when I started experimenting with limiting “added sugar” intake to zero/very moderate. I’ve been months without, or nearly without, added sugar many times now over the past few years. The last time I had close zero added sugar was last January to February. I also had a couple of months without added sugar last spring when I was studying for the entrance exam of my current psychology studies. It was important for me to focus 100 % on studying at the time so I avoided added sugar because I know it makes me feel tired. – A phenomenon that is explained in this great TedTalk at the physiology level, and can be deadly.
Yes, we do need carbohydrates, including sugars, but we do not need sugar to be added to our foods. Annoyingly, most processed food – not that processing in itself was always bad – has sugar added. Often times, they don’t include fiber to make you feel full and content, like fruits do.
If I need a treat, there are many better options: ice cream or milkshake made of bananas (you can spice it with a barrier or choco powder/nibs) or 100 % chocolate for example. Your taste becomes more sensitive to smaller amounts of sweetness.
Since I learned to feel the food instead of only tasting, I notice that these nature’s treats leave me feeling content and energetic. Limiting added sugar products is a part of my energy management. I have more productive hours in a day and exercising feels better.
Try to eat ice cream, then go to gym. How does your body feel? What about after an omlet?
The biggest challenge for this “diet” is our culture, where food with added sugar is often the only thing served in social situations.