Have you ever noticed that after you eat a chocolate bar, a couple of minutes later you have a strong urge to eat another one (which you ultimately give in to)? And the next morning you run to the convenience store and buy a bag of jujubes that you’re washing down with a can of cream soda. Does any of this sound familiar? Kicking a sugar habit is like any other addiction—you can’t just have a little bit of it once in a while, you have to stay away from it entirely. I know this is a lot easier said than done, but the physiological research is clearly on my side here.

It’s important to understand what sugar does inside your body. The reason we get such strong cravings for sweets is because we already have a lot of sugar (glucose) circulating in our systems and our bodies are screaming out for more of it. There are a few reasons for this. You likely have some yeast or candida issues lurking around in your gut. Don’t be alarmed. Very few people have clear digestive systems. These microorganisms exist on sugar, and if either of these conditions are renting space in your gut, then they are going to require a a daily sugar deposit. So the more of it you have in your system, the more it requires to stay alive.

The only way to fix these issues is to starve them out and eventually they will die off. There is really no magical solution to the problem. You have to stay away from foods that are high in sugar for an extended period of time and the cravings will eventually go away.  If you want to make this detoxification process as quick and painless as possible, you need to start eating foods that are alkaline-friendly. This is the key. Fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, spinach, peppers, thin skin fruits and nuts. These foods MUST be staples in your diet. When your body becomes more alkaline, it naturally decreases your desire for sugar and that is key.  One little trick I learned several years ago was to start my day off with a glass of lemon or lime water before I have anything to eat. This gets my system alkaline right from the start.

Start looking for pre-biotics, which are foods that promote good bacteria. When your good bacteria is satisfied, it eliminates the bad bacteria that induces sugar cravings. Think chicory root, artichokes, asparagus, onions, garlic, legumes, bananas and apples. These foods in their raw form are typically better.

Whatever route you choose to take, the best piece of advice I can give you is not to take that first bite if you are easily susceptible to sugar cravings. If you are trying to get off sugar, the more greens and water you can get into your system, the better.