Perhaps your weakness is pistachio ice cream, brownies with
nuts, or pancakes covered with syrup.
Many of us crave sweets—sometimes throughout the day. Some of us may even be addicted to
sugar. The problem is, large helpings of
sugary foods can lead to substantial weight gain. But eating sugar-free does not necessarily
guarantee weight loss.
A food maybe sugar-free and still contain a great amount of calories and
carbohydrates. You may be thinking that
you can lose weight simply by using sugar substitutes. However, this is a naïve way of thinking,
since some sugar substitutes increase your intake of both calories and
carbs. For instance, the sugar
substitute fructose adds calories and carbs to your daily diet. These types of sugar substitutes are often
called sugar alcohols or polyols.
It should
be stated that polyols can be highly beneficial. For instance, while they offer a sugary
taste, they have fewer calories than sugar.
They are particularly advantageous for people with diabetes and, unlike
sugar, they do not cause tooth decay.
You can find polyols in a number of baked goods and candies. Interestingly enough, they can even be found
in mouthwashes.
Given the
fact that polyols are low-cal, they can be helpful in a weight management
program. Fortunately, there are a number of desserts
that are both sugar-free and delicious.
For instance, sugar-free lemon cheesecake is a healthy alternative to
the typical high-calorie cheesecake. You
can also make butterscotch and pumpkin pudding by using sugar-free butterscotch
pudding mix.
A sugar-free version of Old-Fashioned Applesauce cake is made with reduced calorie
margarine, Splenda, and unsweetened
applesauce, while light chocolate peanut butter pie can be created with
sugar-free chocolate pudding and fat-free whipped dessert topping. Meanwhile, sugar-free strawberry pie can be
made with diet Sprite or 7-Up and sugar-free strawberry gelatin.
The American
Diabetes Association heartily endorses sugar-free diets. The organization also recommends consuming at
least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day; a half-dozen servings of
breads and cereals; no more than three servings of low-fat milk or yogurt, lean meats; and a limited amount of sweets
and desserts.
When you dine in restaurants, the Diabetes Association recommends that you save half
your meal for the next day in order to avoid calorie overload. You might also consider sharing a meal or dessert
with someone else. Also, you might want
to substitute a salad for potatoes. In
addition, you should ask that your dressing or sauce be served on the side in
order to attempt to control portions.
It is
interesting to note that a food can be labeled “no sugar added” and still
contain sugar. The label refers to the
fact that no table sugar is involved; however, the food could still have its
share of natural sugars. As a result,
no-sugar-added food could have as many calories as other types of food. In addition, the Diabetes Association
cautions that eating protein alone will not enhance your muscles. Rather, you need exercise to strengthen your
muscles.
While eating sugar-free food can be beneficial, the Diabetes Association offers other
tips for attempting to lose weight and keep it off. In general, the guidelines call for reducing
calories and fat, exercising each day, not skipping breakfast, and maintaining
a food log which indicates everything you have consumed on a daily basis.
Lessening
your dependence on sugar can be an important first step toward improving your
diet. But, as we have seen, simply
eating sugar-free will not guarantee that you will achieve the weight loss
you’re looking for. Weight reduction
takes a great deal of discipline and patience.
You did not gain all of your extra weight in a single day, so you can’t
expect to be rid of it instantaneously.
Before cutting out sugar entirely from your diet, it’s best to check
with your doctor. He or she can also
give you some effective weight management techniques. It’s always best to have a medical doctor
overseeing your weight loss plan. That
can help to ensure that you maintain good health during the weight reduction
process. With dedication and hard work,
you can achieve your weight loss goals.
You yourself may be astounded at your progress, once you begin a
sensible diet plan.
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