Cutting Down on Sugar for your Summer Diet

Summer diets may be about getting swimsuit ready, but there are a few more benefits to cutting down on sugar and eating healthier.  While the post-holiday season is when most people pledge to start a new diet, by spring the New Year’s resolutions are often all but forgotten and the majority are back to eating carbs and sugar.

 The summer months are especially filled with sugary temptations, be they the sweet BBQ glaze at  backyard cookouts, that favorite 4^th of July Apple Pie, or the quart of ice cream stocked in the freezer.

Now you don’t need to forgo all summer treats, but cutting down on sugar could save you from another cavity found during your next teeth cleaning.

Here are a few tips to help you cut sugar from your daily diet:

• Look out for added sugar: It seems like a no brainer, but many foods and beverages that appear healthy and claim to be ”all natural” often contain processed sugars.. Be sure to check the packaging to make sure no sugar has been added to the natural ingredients.
• Drink more water: Not only is it extremely important to stay adequately hydrated through the summer – but rinsing your mouth with water after eating particularly sugary foods is a great way to ensure that plaque doesn’t build up quite as quickly. Additionally, dry mouths are the perfect environments for cavities to form – especially after eating.
• Grill the veggies, too: Evening barbeques are one of the best things about summer. In addition to chicken and burgers, throwing some veggies on the grill with olive oil and herbs is a great alternative to the sweet marinades that you might be putting on your meats
• Make your own popsicles: These nifty kits are cheap, easy to use, and let you know exactly what’s going in to your icy treat. Load them with fresh fruits to get a sweet taste without processed sugars.

Making a few simple changes can cut down on sugar intake and help you achieve that beach ready body, along with a cleaner brighter smile through the summer!