Sisters, are you game to undertake a ten-day sugar-free detox with me? It can involve good, bad, and ugly moments, but together, we can do this, reclaim our self-care and avoid Type 2 Diabetes.
The action plan for the challenge is:
Preparation:
The Good is going cold turkey regarding sugar intake and healthy food choices, which will increase energy levels, improve skin, better blood sugar control, reduce the risk of Diabetes 2 and lessen food cravings for sugary, carbohydrate-rich food and sweets. Into the bargain, loss of weight
The Bad is a test of willpower: Doing what you know you must, yet want to procrastinate, requires a mindset change to take the challenge seriously and treat it as self-care.
The Ugly is that you will crave sugar. I assure you that eating a balanced, nutrient-rich diet will help break the craving cycle.
Meal Plan
It is crucial to prepare a ten-day meal plan of healthy foods. It will make life much easier and help you to prepare a shopping list. Clearing out the fridge and cupboards of all unwholesome foods is a must. Fatty foods with saturated animal fat and hydrogenated fats include hardened vegetable oils, red meat, dairy products, coffee, tea, alcohol, and sweet and refined processed foods.
It is highly recommended to ‘combine’ food. Eating protein and carbohydrates at separate meals prevents unnecessary fermentation in the colon and increases nutrient absorption into the blood. An example is to have a protein meal of fish or chicken with salad or pulses and have a meal with good carbohydrates, sweet potatoes or yams with mushrooms, onions, and peppers. Get ideas from sites like Pinterest or Google.
Shopping
Shop for healthy foods high in nutrients and vitamins, living or raw foods, good carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and unprocessed foods. Vegetables, sea vegetables, fruits, raw nuts, seeds, beans, pulses, grains, fresh herbs, herbal teas, fish, and chicken, sweet potatoes, squashes, pumpkin, yams, dasheen, eggplant, christophine, green bananas, okra, spinach, black-eye peas, red kidney beans, callaloo. Salads and soups come into their own on occasions like this. Read labels and avoid foods with additives, colourings, preservatives, flavour enhancers, and emulsifiers.
Day 1-3
Start the day with breakfast; this is a necessity. Have a light lunch and have dinner by 7pm. Ensure you drink sufficient water throughout the day, which is essential for hydration and eliminating toxins through the kidneys and colon. Drink freshly squeezed fruit and/or vegetable green juices. Should you experience cravings, eat nuts and seeds or have herbal tea (bear in mind honey and agave are forms of sugar). Eat strawberries, watermelon, apples, cherries, grapes, passion fruit, guava, papaya, pineapple, or soursop and undertake moderate exercise.
Day 4-7
Follow Days 1-3, adhering to the menu. Note your progress regarding any shifts in cravings and continue to keep hydrated.
Day 8-10
The end is in sight. Follow Days 1-7; the benefits will be noticeable.
Read: THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF CARIBBEAN FOOD
The challenge over, I am happy to report that I ended without relapsing. My skin was great, clear and the best it had been in a long time; I was more focused, full of energy and proud of myself. Best of all, I no longer experience cravings and now know how to keep them at bay. Believing the truism of the adage ‘you are what you eat’.
I will endeavour to continue the routine and remember the 80/20 ratio – 80 per cent good foods to 20 per cent naughty foods.
NOTE: Research verifies that as we age, our bodies become more sensitive to the effects of sugar and that West Indians have a predilection for sweetness.
Let us know how you did. Share your successes, your struggles, and any tips you might have for others in the Comments Section.
