Live sugar-free

"We all have deep-rooted resistance when we are supposed to go without sweets. We grew up with an emotional and physical attachment to sugar. We panic at the thought of not being able to eat anything sweet when we are happy or want to celebrate something or when we feel bad or tired. " That's what Sarah Wilson says - and she knows exactly what she's talking about. Up until three years ago, the Australian journalist and travel blogger ate the equivalent of around 25 teaspoons of sugar a day: "Sugar is omnipresent in our diet today. A muesli bar can contain more sugar than a bar of chocolate, a common barbecue sauce more than a chocolate icing. One tries to do the right thing, and notes that a reduced-fat fruit yogurt contains more sugar than an ice cream. " Sarah Wilson was fed up with it. She no longer wanted to be addicted - and she no longer wanted to be fooled by the food industry. She started her experiment on New Year's Eve three and a half years ago.

Her worst finding: "Don't even try to escape the sugar in a health food store - health food stores are also caves with foods full of fructose that are disguised as healthy."

Wilson has now put all of her experiences, tips and recipes together in one book.

Health coach Sarah Wilson interviewed dozen of experts for her book and put together easy-to-make recipes. "Goodbye Zucker", published by Goldmann, € 12.99.

"Get started …"

LOOKS FOR ADMITTED

Studies show that it can take up to 66 days to quit sugar consumption - quite a long time, you might think at first. But: addictions are difficult to get rid of. In the next eight weeks you are not allowed to eat any sugar - no sweets, no fruit, no fruit juice, no honey, no agave syrup - this is important for overcoming the addiction and for the body to readjust itself. (An alcoholic or a nicotine addict are not allowed half a glass of alcohol or three cigarettes a day if they want to get rid of their addiction for good.) Also try to consciously pay attention to your diet: no inferior bread, no mountains of pasta in the evening. Cooking well and simply, eating consciously - taking time to supply the body with good foods. If you can't drink coffee without sugar, add a mini shot of milk instead, or better yet, avoid it altogether. The ideal food from now on: lots of vegetables, cut into small pieces for the occasional cravings, steamed as a main meal with fish or meat. In addition, eggs in all variations. Those who like cheese can choose halloumi or other rather low-fat varieties.

"Keep up!"

FATS AND PROTEINS

If you have made it through the start week without gummy bears, cookies, etc., then the first hurdle is over. Eat healthy fats and proteins from now on. These satisfy the desire for "goodies". You will notice that the greed for sweets is decreasing. For us women in particular, reducing or, best of all, omitting sugar completely is essential. Sugar upsets our hormonal balance. Through complex mechanisms, sugar leads to cravings and deficiency symptoms. Sugar sets the cycle of overeating in motion again and again. And: sugar can promote cancer. Cancer cells feed on sugar - this is why cancer patients are also advised to switch to a sugar-free diet as a matter of urgency. When you're running low, feeling limp, or unhappy, you have some good - and healthier - alternatives to sugar: drink white tea, go for a long walk, eat a few nuts or a small handful of oatmeal with milk, a hard-boiled one Hey, make yourself a tsatsiki (Greek yogurt, cucumber, mint, garlic), read exciting books, distract yourself, call your best friend, sleep for half an hour. And when you're in the office: distract yourself with work and a huge glass of water with lemon.

"Changeover"

A NEW PERIOD OF LIFE BEGINS

When you have made it through the 8 weeks, your hard drive is reset. You start a new life that will largely get by without sugar, but at least without this greed for sweets. Every now and then half a rib of dark chocolate, a handful of berries or a piece of birthday cake … your body just doesn't need more sugar.

Self-experiment of a "sugar addict"

WOMAN editor-in-chief Euke Frank about her first two weeks without sugar

I am addicted to sugar. For real! When my son (14) eats five gummy bears, I stuff the remaining 35 from the packaging into my mouth. When colleagues have baked cookies, I have to taste. If I have a little sleepiness attack in the afternoon, then I need a sugar boost. My diet is not fundamentally unhealthy, no, but I just can't do without sugar. When Gesund boss Pia Kruckenhauser assigned the topic, I said the loudest "Here!" called. Because: I don't want to be addicted to sugar anymore. I'm currently at day 28. The first few days I often had headaches.

And then you sometimes ask yourself: Hey, what do I do now with the time I used to nibble? I now feel more alert, more agile. I miss fruit a lot, an apple in between would be great - but I can hold out these eight weeks now. Definitely - in the next issue of WOMAN you will find my detailed story of suffering in the health section:-).