The best way to wean yourself off sugar

Yep, it seems like a no-brainer—a diet high in the white stuff (sugar and refined carbs) is linked to weight gain, diabetes, cancer, depression, and even cognitive problems—but kicking the habit isn't that simple.

The holiday season has probably riled up your inner sugar monster, leaving you cranky and craving all the carbs, all the time.

The best way to wean yourself off sugar. Photo: Thinkstock

So how do you break up with this stuff when it's calling your name?

With the help of Laura Schoenfeld, RD, a holistic nutritionist at Ancestralize Me, and Gina Hassick, RD, nutritionist at Eating Well with Gina, we've outlined the most effective way to free yourself from the grips of all things frosted, candy-coated, and caramel-filled.

1) Pick a plan that fits your personality: cold turkey or gradual tapering.

Have fresh fruit in moderation. Photo: Thinkstock

People who have trouble eating sweets in moderation (e.g., you keep taking slivers of brownie until half the pan is gone) often do really well with a cold turkey approach, says Schoenfeld.

For them, 3 to 4 weeks of nixing all added sugars and refined carbs—which act like sugar in the body—is often just what they need to reset their taste buds, lessen their compulsion for sweets, and start craving more whole foods.

The benefit of doing this for several weeks, not just one, is that you give yourself adequate time to create new healthy habits in place of the old ones.

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After that, you're at a point when you can safely start reintroducing small amounts of some of the foods you eliminated without going overboard—if you even want to, that is.

If strict dietary rules stress you out and being told to eliminate something makes you want it that much more, gradually tapering your sugar intake while allowing yourself treats in moderation might work better.

Hassick suggests gradually diluting your sugar-sweetened drinks with more water over time; adding fresh fruit to yogurts (beware of these high-sugar yogurts) and oatmeal instead of maple syrup or honey; switching from white refined grains and breads to fiber-rich whole grains; and shrinking dessert portions or only consuming dessert on certain days or occasions.

2) Set up your plate to banish cravings.

Have meals rich in protein to keep you fuller for longer. Photo: Thinkstock

The way you formulate your meals can go a long way toward banishing sugar cravings and helping you avoid impulsively eating sweets.

"Many of my female clients who are attempting to cut out sugar don't eat enough, which can lead to cravings," says Schoenfeld.

"Simply loading up on enough healthy whole foods at all three meals, breakfast in particular, can greatly reduce these cravings.

Eating plenty of protein at each meal, especially breakfast, is also crucial, as it helps keep blood sugar stable and is the most satiating macronutrient. Each meal should have at least 20 g of protein—about 3 oz of animal protein or 1 1/4 cups beans or lentils."

3) Satisfy your sweet tooth the right way.

Make a smoothie from frozen fruit for a snack. Photo: Thinkstock

Some people get overzealous and totally eliminate fruit when cutting back on sugar, but that's not necessary, says Schoenfeld.

In fact, fruit can be your secret weapon, quelling sweet cravings while delivering healthy nutrients, like fiber, that keep blood sugar stable.

"I really enjoy having frozen fruit with a little heavy cream or coconut milk as a dessert, and bananas are a fantastic portable snack," says Schoenfeld.

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"Up to three servings a day are fine for someone cutting back on sugar, but try to avoid dried fruit, as that's easy to overeat and contains as much sugar as candy."

4) Don't rely on artificial sweeteners.

Add cinnamon to your tea or coffee instead of sugar or sweeteners. Photo: Thinkstock

Finally, don't consider artificial sweeteners a free pass. If anything, these lab-made, calorie-free powders can make you more of a slave to sweet foods.

Because they're many times sweeter than sugar, they essentially dull your taste buds and make you crave things with similar levels of sweetness.

So after a while, naturally sweet foods like fruit just don't cut it anymore, while high-sugar and high-calorie candy, cookies, and soda will have you salivating.

If you're looking for something better than sugar to add to your coffee, skip the Splenda and Equal and try something like cinnamon for a natural, subtly sweet taste and no calories.