I’m starting my new health plan by reducing sugar, so either have little or no added sugar in the food that I eat. This is a big change for me because I consume a moderate amount of sugar. I’m hopeful that reducing sugar will not only have a positive impact on my liver function but also bring overall health benefits.

I am continuing to eat fruits as I see them as a great source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre. These are some of the foods that I am giving up on this trial (whether it’s home-made or store-bought), and there are plenty more:

• Sugar and sugar substitutes
• White rice
• Pasta (both white and wholemeal)
• Noodles with added sugar
• Baked goods – including bread, biscuits, muffins, crackers, cake, etc
• Tacos, taco shells and tortillas
• Cereals (except Whole Grain Rolled Oats)
• Pre-packaged healthy ready meals
• Curry (unless home-made with herbs, spices and no added sugar)
• Sweet corn, green peas and beetroot
• Yoghurts and probiotics milk with added sugar
• Plant-based milks (that contain sugar)
• Latte coffee
• Drinks with added sugar or artificial sweeteners
• Sauces and dressings with added sugar
• Dark chocolate (less than 95%) and all other chocolates
• Sweets and lollies
• Chewing gum
• Mints

In my research, I have discovered that at least two-thirds of the food on our supermarket shelves contains sugar in some form. That makes it a massive challenge to buy foods with little to no sugar. When I mention “little” sugar, I’m currently aiming to consume less than 3 grams of sugar per 100 grams, and I’m carefully checking the labels on packaged items. My goal is to have either no sugar or less than 1 gram per 100 grams if possible.

So the biggest hurdle is finding food with limited or no sugar. I’ve already realised that eating fruits, vegetables, nuts/seeds and some meats is becoming my main diet.

In my next post, I’ll discuss how I felt in my first week with little to no sugar.

So the big steps begin.