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I was inspired to write this post after recently thinking of all the ‘tricks’ I’ve used in lowering my own sugar intake. This isn’t one of those ‘fluffy’ posts that are really generalized, but rather, these are things that I myself implement on a daily basis in my own life.
I believe that all of these tips will help anyone to gradually ‘retrain’ their sweet tooth, as they’ve worked for everyone in our family, including my two little girls.
After about four months of practicing these methods, we can all eat ‘treats’ with little to no sweetener, and be completely satisfied, and our bodies and minds are MUCH better off for it!
If there was one thing that everyone in the world could do for themselves, no matter what diet type, I think it is retrain their sweet teeth!
2. To Stevia or Not…
Stevia seems to be a bit controversial, in that it has been linked to infertility. You can read a .
While I do think that an abundance of anything, particularly a zero calorie sweetener, can be problematic, each person has to weigh the pros and cons for him or herself.
For me, stevia is helpful in my particular quest to lower my overall sugar intake.
I generally use it in combination with another natural sweetener (usually raw honey), and I don’t overdo it.
A sprinkle here or there doesn’t bother me personally. I’ve used it for years and never noticed a difference with my periods or ability to conceive.
A word of caution, however, from me to you: Buy a stevia with NO additives!
This means, NO ‘natural flavors’, maltodextrin, weird ‘fibers’, or anything else. Buy .
The studies I’ve come across on stevia have never specified which brands they’re testing, and I personally am very suspect of the above additives in connection with any negative effects.
I have NEVER tolerated a stevia that contained any of the above. I ALWAYS notice a negative reaction. Trust me, there is a reason that certain ‘beefed up’ brands taste better than others.
The brands I trust most (and who are all free of additives) include the , the 365 brand from Whole Foods, and the Trader Joe’s brand.
If you are so inclined, you can also find stevia in its raw, green-colored form, which is a bit more ‘earthy’ in taste, but less processed than its white counterparts.
3. Flavor Enhancers
An important part of making treats sugar-free is how you flavor them.
What flavors do you enjoy? For me, I love cinnamon, pie spice, and vanilla, so I pretty much double or triple those additions whenever I am making a low sugar or sugar-free treat.
It is important to flavor your treats accordingly or they will lack in satisfaction.
is one of my go-to ‘sweet tooth-satiaters’, and, as you can see, it does not lack in the vanilla department!
4. Beans, beans the magical fruit…
Are you onboard with beans in desserts yet? You should be!
They not only take the place of flour and add a rich, creamy texture, but they also add a considerable amount of protein, which is important for blood sugar stabilization.
I find them to be particularly suitable for sugar-free desserts, as in the above cookie slice recipe, as well as these .
Their starch content adds a slight natural sweetness to treats that I really enjoy, and the taste pairs very well with stevia and some of the aforementioned flavor enhancers.
5. Coconut
Coconut is another awesome option when making lower sugar treats, having multiple health and taste properties.
It is naturally sweet on its own, so adding it to recipes in the form of milk (I use my for pretty much everything!), , , , or just as a grated accoutrement will add a subtle level of sweetness that is incomparable to anything else.
Coconut is also great if you’re lowering your sugar intake for candida purposes, as it contains caprylic acid, a fatty element that has potent antifungal capabilities.
I love the flavor adds to my !
Try it out in the form of this delicious, or these and see for yourself!
8. Applesauce
Applesauce not only makes a great low-calorie fat replacement, but it also adds dimension and sweetness to lower sugar treats.
My best tip for this is to replace the liquid sweetener in recipes for an equal amount of applesauce.
For example, if a recipe calls for 1/4 cup of honey, I would use one tablespoon of honey and three tablespoons of applesauce to create a dessert much lower in sugar.
Sometimes, you can even go without any added sweetener, usually in the case of muffins or bread, if you have an ample amount of applesauce. These are a great example!
9. Garlic
This isn’t so much a tip for creating sugar-free treats as it is a recovery method for post-consumption. I thought it was applicable here though, so I’m including it!
Basically, the idea here is to combat the negative effects of sugar immediately after eating it.
My husband and I have been implementing this trick for years, and we both find it extremely helpful.
What we do is simply swallow a whole, minced clove of raw garlic after eating any type of sweet treat.
I have noticed it particularly helps combat symptoms of fatigue, and raw garlic is known, in general, to help withcandida, among other ailments, so it’s just a good thing to take all-around.
Hopefully, this is a bit helpful for some of you and gives you an idea or two of how to retrain your own sweet tooth!
Do you have any sugar-related tips or tricks to share?
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