Sugar-Free Diet Plan, Benefits and Best Foods

According to research done by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, although Americans appear to be consuming less sugar today than in the previous couple of decades, average sugar consumption in America is still around 94 grams per day, or 358 calories. (1) That’s a lot of sugar, but it doesn’t have to be this way. In fact, you can even follow a sugar-free diet to help lower this number greatly.

A great deal of research has shown that removing sources of excess sugar from your diet not only helps with weight loss, but can also reduce your risk for common health problems like type 2 diabetes, digestive problems, autoimmune conditions and more. Cutting out sugar is a great way to detox your body because sugar is bad for you. So, what can you eat that has no sugar in it but is still satisfying?

Proteins — like grass-fed meat, eggs or fish, for example — lots of veggies, healthy fats, nuts, seeds and other detoxifying foods are where you’ll get the bulk of your calories when eating a low-sugar or sugar-free diet. While the transition away from eating lots of sugar might seem hard at first, provoking cravings and even other symptoms that can mimic a “withdrawal,” within a few weeks you’ll likely see your efforts start to pay off.

High sugar consumption can increase inflammation, mess with hormone production, rob you of energy, and even interfere with your mood and sleep. That’s why kicking your sugar addiction, replacing “empty”calories with nutrient-dense ones, will noticeably change you how you feel, both mentally and physically, in many ways.

What Is a Sugar-Free Diet?

A sugar-free diet (or no-sugar diet) is one that typically limits all sources of added sugar (like soda, snack bars and desserts, for example) and hidden sugar foods, and it sometimes also encourages a reduction in high-carbohydrate foods (like grains or fruits) that can still be healthy but do contain natural sugars.

There isn’t just one way to eat a low-sugar diet, but rather a variety of different plans depending on your goals and preferences. You might choose to eliminate basically all sources of sugar from your diet, including things like fruit and even some veggies, or to only eliminate sweetened processed foods that are high in empty calories. (2)

Either way, there are lots of benefits to consuming more satisfying, nourishing foods in sugar’s place, such as lean proteins and healthy fats. Another perk is that most low-sugar or sugar-free diets don’t require calorie counting, since eliminating processed foods is usually enough to produce results on its own. (3)

Some of the benefits of reducing your sugar intake in place of eating more whole foods include:

• Help with losing weight and preventing obesity (4)
• Lowered risk for type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
• Gaining more energy
• Having more stabile moods
• Reduced risk for inflammatory digestive conditions, such as irritable bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s disease, candida, IBS and intolerance to wheat/gluten or FODMAP foods — many also notice less constipation, diarrhea, stomach bloating or acid reflux
• When sugar contributes to obesity, a sugar-free diet lowers risk for conditions related to metabolic syndrome, such atherosclerosis, hypertension and heart disease
• Possibly less risk for cancer
• Protection against fatty liver disease
• Better protection against other common conditions related to inflammation, weight gain and nutrient deficiencies like hemorrhoids,  kidney stones, peptic ulcer, PMS, autoimmune diseases, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and neurological diseases like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease

In order to reduce your sugar intake and deal with cravings for sweets or refined carbohydrates — a very common problem among most people looking to lose weight or improve their eating habits — there are five main steps I recommend taking, which are discussed in more detail below:

1. Eat more fiber.
2. Include more protein in your diet.
3. Eat more healthy fats.
4. Consume sour (including probiotic/fermented) foods.
5. Read ingredient labels carefully when grocery shopping in order to know just what you’re consuming, since most people don’t realize how much sugar they’re really eating or drinking. (5)

Health Benefits

Why is a high-sugar diet bad for you? Sugar can change the gut microbiota in a way that increases intestinal permeability, increasing inflammation. It can also contribute to overeating and obesity, causing many negative changes in the body.

Eating a low-sugar, low-glycemic index diet can help balance your blood sugar levels throughout the day, prevent insulin resistance (one long-term effect of a high-sugar diet), protect you from fatty liver disease and heart disease, control your appetite, and keep you fuller and energized for longer.

A low-sugar or sugar-free diet is very similar to what’s called a “low-glycemic index diet.” The definition of the glycemic index (GI) is “a measure of the blood glucose-raising potential of the carbohydrate content of a food, compared to a reference food (generally pure glucose, or sugar).” A food’s GI number tells you how quickly the food is converted into sugar once you eat it; the higher the GI number, the more drastically the food will cause your blood sugar level to increase.

All carbohydrates increase blood glucose (sugar), but this doesn’t mean that all carbohydrates are necessarily unhealthy and should be avoided. Sugary, processed foods impact blood glucose levels a lot more than whole, unprocessed foods. For example, table sugar, white bread, white rice, white potatoes, white flour and all other types of sweeteners have high GI values. (6)

Factors that determine a food’s GI value include how much sugar the food contains, how processed it is, the fiber content and what other types of foods it’s paired with (this determines “the glycemic load”).

The types of high-GI foods that contain lots of added sugar and/or refined grains that you should remove from your diet include:

• refined grain products made with white flours
• most breads, processed breakfast cereals, cookies, snack bars, cakes, desserts, etc.
• sweetened dairy products
• sweetened beverages, such as soda and bottled juices
• all types of table/cane sugar

Sometimes all other natural sweeteners should be excluded, too, depending on the state of your health, like honey, syrups, molasses, etc., and in some cases, other sweet ingredients like dried fruits (raisins, craisins and dates) and starchy root vegetables (like white potatoes, beets or winter squash) need to be limited in order to see results.

Vs. Other Diets

How does a sugar-free diet compare to the ketogenic diet and other low-carb diets?

• If you exclude all sources of sugar from your diet, you’re already on your way to eating a low-carb diet, since sugary foods provide the body with high amounts of glucose. Once glucose supply is reduced, the body burns fat for fuel instead of glucose from carbohydrates or sugar.
• When sugar is taken out of the equation, your carb intake then depends on how many grains, veggies, legumes and other sources of carbs you still eat in proportion to fats and protein.
• The keto diet is a very low-carb diet that includes virtually no sugar and only about 20–50 grams of net carbs daily. The majority of calories on the keto diet come from fats, like coconut oil, butter or fattier cuts of meat. Sugary, high-carb foods are eliminated, including grains, fruit, dairy and beans.
• A sugar-free diet is one type of low-carb diet plan, among many different variations. How many carbs are typically in a low-carb diet? It depends a lot on the individual plan being followed, but most moderate plans range from about 50–130 grams of net carbs daily. Usually the lower the carb intake, the faster that weight loss will happen. However, a very low-carb diet isn’t always sustainable for some people or realistic, so a moderate low-carb plan may be a better fit.

Best Sugar-Free Foods

Healthy protein foods:

• Grass-fed beef, lamb, venison or other game
• Free-range poultry like chicken or turkey
• High-quality protein powders, including bone broth, collagen, whey protein (ideally from raw goat milk) or pea protein
• Lentils, beans and other legumes (ideally soaked and sprouted to help with digestion)
• Wild fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, etc.
• Organic natto or tempeh (fermented soybean product)
• Raw milk and fermented dairy products like kefir or yogurt
• Free-range eggs
• Raw cheese

High-fiber foods (may contain small amounts of natural sugars):

• Cruciferous veggies like cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, etc.
• Other veggies (aim for a combination of cooked and raw) like bell peppers, cucumber, carrots, green peas, okra, turnips, squash, zucchini, asparagus, tomatoes, mushrooms, artichokes, etc.
• Chia seeds and flaxseeds
• Avocados
• Coconut flakes
• Berries
• Beans like black beans, navy beans, adzuki, lentils, lima, split, mung, etc.
• In moderate amounts, whole grains like quinoa, brown rice, oats, amaranth, buckwheat, teff, farro, etc.
• In smaller amounts, other fruits that are a bit higher in sugar, like apples, bears, figs, prunes, oranges, grapefruit, melon or kiwi

Healthy fats:

• Coconut oil, milk, butter or cream
• Real virgin olive oil
• Grass-fed butter
• Nuts like walnuts, almonds, cashews, Brazil nuts, etc.
• Seeds like chia, flax, pumpkin, sunflower, etc.
• Avocado
• Other oils like MCT oil, palm fruit oil, hemp seed, flaxseed, avocado oil, etc.

Sour foods, probiotic foods and other detoxifying ingredients:

• Cultured veggies like salted gherkin pickles, olives or kimchi
• Kombucha or coconut kefir
• Natto, tempeh or miso
• Kvass
• Raw cheese
• Lemon and lime juice
• Apple cider vinegar (use some in salad dressing or in water with some lemon juice)
• Bone broth
• All fresh herbs and spices, like ginger, garlic, parsley, oregano, turmeric, etc.
• Stevia (extract, green crystalized or drops). Stevia is a no-calorie, natural sweetener that makes a good sugar substitute in recipes. Use it in drinks or on foods in place of regular white table sugar.

Diet Plan

How to cut out sugar (sugar detox tips):

• Read ingredient labels carefully so you know exactly what’s in the food you consume. (7) This is especially important when buying or using “sneaky” sugary foods like condiments, sauces, canned foods, beverages, etc.
• To keep your appetite in check, aim to get about 35–40 grams of fiber per day. Start by consuming more high-fiber foods like fresh vegetables and nuts and seeds, such as chia seeds and flaxseeds.
• Drink enough water to help with digestion and elimination. Aim to have about eight glasses per day.
• If you do need to sweeten foods, try stevia first (rather than artificial sweeteners). If you can’t stand the taste of stevia, in small amounts you may want to use some natural sweeteners from time to time, such as raw honey, blackstrap molasses, dates or pureed fruit (like bananas or apples).
• Also avoid too much caffeine or alcohol. Many mixed drinks tend to be high in sugar and calories, plus alcohol can spike your appetite and cause cravings.
• Even if the food is low in sugar/carbs, try to limit packaged foods from your diet that are highly processed and very salty. Additionally, replace fast foods and fried foods with healthier options you can cook at home — this way you can control the ingredients.

Principles of a sugar-free diet:

• Avoid eating foods with the following types/names of sugar and sweeteners: white granulated sugar, dextrose, fructose, brown sugar, confectioner’s powdered sugar, corn syrup and high-fructose corn syrup, invert sugar, lactose, malt syrup, maltose, molasses, nectars (for example, peach or pear nectar), raw sugar, sucrose and others.
• Aim to eat balanced meals that include a healthy source of protein, some veggies and some healthy fat. This combination will help keep you more satisfied, energized and focused throughout the day. If you include some carbohydrates, try to make it a complex carb that has some fiber, and keep an eye on your portion sizes.
• Don’t drink your calories. Avoid soda, juice or artificially sweetened drinks. Instead of adding sugar to beverages, try consuming plain water, seltzer, herbal tea, bone broth or black coffee. In moderate amounts, unsweetened coconut milk or water can also be a good choice.

Sugar-free meal ideas:

• For breakfast — unsweetened oats with nuts, seeds, coconut milk, stevia and cinnamon; avocado toast with hard boiled eggs; unsweetened goat’s milk yogurt with grain-free granola; a homemade green smoothie.
• For lunch — a large salad with sliced chicken and avocado; some quiche with soup and a salad; a salmon or turkey burger; homemade brown rice bowl with veggies and beans.
• For dinner — a palm-sized serving of steak with veggies, and possibly some rice or quinoa; a piece of fish with salad, veggies and half a sweet potato; a burrito, tacos or empanadas made with chorizo and veggies; balsamic chicken with tomato and mozzarella; brown rice, broccoli and chicken stir-fry.

What Natural Sugars Are Necessary for Health?

If you’re looking to start a low-carb or sugar-free diet, you may be wondering if you’ll still eat enough “healthy carbohydrates” to keep your body functioning properly. While it’s true that we all need at least some carbohydrates in order to fuel physical activity, repair damaged tissue, and supply our bodies and brains with energy, the amount we need is less than most people typically consume.

Here are some of the reasons that you’ll want to keep at least some carbohydrates in your diet, which may include some natural sugars found in things like fruits or veggies:

• Plant-based foods that contain carbohydrates, and sometimes natural sugars, also provider dietary fiber. Fiber does not actually get fully digested once consumed, which is why people following a low-carb diet usually don’t count grams of fiber toward their net carb intake. Net carbs are the grams of carbs left over when grams of fiber are subtracted from the total amount.
• Fiber is needed for digestive health, cardiovascular health and controlling appetite hormones.
• Fiber is also typically found in low-calorie foods that are high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. For example, high-fiber foods include leafy green veggies, berries, apples, beans, seeds avocados and sweet potatoes. Not all of these foods are “sugar-free,” but the sugar they do contain is naturally occurring and often not a problem considering all the other nutrients available in the food.
• The whole foods described above are low in calories but good sources of electrolytes, like potassium and magnesium, as well as antioxidants like carotenoids, beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamin E and vitamin C.

Compared to a sugar-free diet, what foods would be included in a grain-free or wheat-free diet?

A grain-free diet/gluten-free diet eliminates all grains, especially wheat, but this doesn’t mean it’s necessarily low in sugar. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. A gluten-free diet, therefore, removes all sources of these grains, including most baked goods, bread, rolls, desserts, cereal, etc.

A grain-free diet takes things a step further and also removes ALL other grains, like quinoa, oats, buckwheat, etc. If sugar is also removed from these diets, then it’s basically the same thing as eating a low-carb diet.

Side Effects

Depending on how many carbohydrates you continue to consume once cutting out sugar, you may notice some side effects when changing your diet. Usually these will go away within one to three weeks as your body gets used to eating less processed foods and consuming more healthy fats and fiber.

You may want to transition into a lower-carb, sugar-free diet gradually in order to help your digestive system and appetite adjust. While altering your diet, it isn’t unusual to temporarily experience some of the following side effects:

•  Low energy or fatigue
• Digestive issues like bloating or gassiness
• Cravings
• Brain fog
• Changes in your sleep and appetite

Final Thoughts

• A sugar-free diet (or no-sugar diet) is a diet that excludes added sugars and most processed foods. This type of diet is similar to a low-glycemic index diet and low-carb diet in that it helps reduce your body’s reliance on glucose (sugar) for energy.
• Benefits of a sugar-free diet include weight loss, helping normalize blood sugar, preventing insulin resistance, reducing cravings, giving you more energy and keeping you feeling fuller for longer after eating.
• To reduce the amount of sugar in your diet, try focusing on making some of the following changes: Reduce or avoid sugary foods like cookies, cakes, candy and soft drinks; pair carbohydrates with proteins and healthy fats to make your meals more satisfying; consume unprocessed complex carbs instead of simple carbs; lower your intake of flour and white refined grains; eat more high-fiber foods like veggies, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds; and eat smaller amounts of starchy foods like white potatoes, white bread, rice, etc.