The white stuff. Stop what you’re thinking, I am talking about sugar. The British Journal of Sports Medicine published a review in 2017 which implied that sugar might be as addictive as drugs like cocaine. So what are the similarities in addiction symptoms? Well, if you find yourself in a cycle of bingeing, craving and feelings of withdrawal (think headaches and flu-like symptoms – but more on that later), then it sounds like you, like many others, have a problem. Even worse if you’re blissfully unaware of the impact that sugar plays on yours and your children’s health.

It’s easy to have that biscuit during a tea break at work and a chocolate bar in the afternoon as a pick-me-up, which, for me, had escalated since Christmas. I have a very good awareness of what I should be eating: organic meat or fish, minimal fruit (I’ll get to fructose shortly), plenty of vegetables (especially green), avocados, eggs, nuts and seeds. Sounds simple doesn’t it? But when push comes to shove, it’s difficult to give up everything else, especially my sweet tooth and my craving for chocolate. There we go, I completed the first step in admitting that I had a problem.

What was my plan?

I had tried previously to overcome my addiction to sugar, but having a few squares of dark chocolate can ultimately end up with the whole bar consumed in one sitting. So, this time around I decided to go for one month – at least – without any sugar at all. This includes hidden sugar found in sauce bottles – that’s right, always check your labels. You’ll be surprised as to what’s in your tomato ketchup or low fat yoghurt pot. In fact, my general rule of thumb for the next 30 days was to eat anything that comes without a label, to cook with real food and avoid substances such as food additives, preservatives, dyes and artificial sweeteners. Food does not have to be so complicated, just plain and simple.

What does sugar do to the body?

The two most common sugars that we tend to talk about are glucose and fructose, which both metabolise in different ways. Fructose is found in fruit, honey and high fructose corn syrup (HCFCS). Corn syrup is added to foods such as sweets, salad dressing, juices, fizzy drinks, and bread. There are some natural fruits that contain higher levels of fructose than others, which is why I chose to focus on eating as many veggies as possible and limiting my fruit intake to berries. Of course, fruit has vitamins, minerals and fibre compared to a biscuit but the serving size and choice of fruit makes all the difference. Indulging in three or four cups of watermelon is almost the equivalent of drinking a can of soda. Everything in moderation.

Fructose is metabolised in the liver whereas glucose is used up by the cells in the body and used as energy directly. Large quantities of glucose circulates to every cell in the body to disperse the load, yet large quantities of fructose goes straight to, and puts pressure, on the liver. The repercussions mean that fructose is not being used as energy so we eat more of it because we feel as though we are not getting enough – a vicious cycle. The liver also panics when we eat fructose and stores it as fat. There is also an excess of insulin produced, which leads to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and a whole other range of metabolic diseases. Fructose also fails to turn off our appetite hormones leptin and ghrelin. And thanks to appetite and hormone havoc: sugar can make us gain weight. Enough reason for me to think about my health long term and give it up!

So, what happened when I went cold turkey?

After the first day, my cravings for something sweet were really strong. In fact, in the first week I felt really hungry or just like I “needed” something. I filled up on foods containing (good) fats and protein. I found myself snacking on a whole cup of raw coconut, plenty of almonds and boiled eggs. As time went on, this excessive hunger disappeared but in that first week I was ravenous. I also had really intense muscle aches. I had a pain that radiated from my lower back, down my side and all the way down my leg. At one point my colleague and I were Googling my symptoms and questioning whether I had sciatica! Surely this wasn’t part of the withdrawal but was it a coincidence that it appeared only a few days into my detox journey? The pain lasted for about four days on and off. I also had constant headaches for over a week and of course, mood swings!

But was it worth it?

Absolutely! It’s true that you will come out on the other side and thankfully, I did. It was on day 20 that I really noticed the changes:

• I started naturally waking up at 6am, way before my alarm.
• All body aches have completely disappeared.
• All face and belly bloat has gone.
• If there are days when I am running on lack of sleep, I still have energy.
• There’s no afternoon slump.
• My skin is also clear, brighter and it looks less dark under the eyes.

I have not weighed myself as this was not the reason for this journey, but I definitely feel a little smaller. Most importantly, I no longer crave chocolate – which is huge! And because I am eating natural whole foods, my body can eat as much as it wants and knows when to stop.

If anyone is going to start this journey, the thought of going cold turkey can be off-putting and I recommend taking a few weeks to ease yourself into it. Always consult with your GP if you are going to make any dietary changes.