How To: Break your sugar addiction with Frank Lipman, M.D.

Lose weight and have more energy by taking the refined sugar out of your diet. Learn how to break your sugar addiction with this how to video.

You Will Need
* Fruit smoothies
* Glutamine
* Fruit
* 70 to 85 percent dark chocolate
* Organic plain yogurt
* Water
* Fresh mint, lemon, or lime
* An occasional sugar treat
* Stevia, agave, xylitol, unprocessed raw honey, or 100 % organic maple syrup

Step 1: Recognize sugar code words
Stop eating refined sugar, and products made with it, by avoiding anything with the following ingredients: sugar; brown sugar; fructose; sucrose; glucose; maltrose; succinate; molasses; date, beet, grape, corn, or cane sugar; corn syrup; carob or sorghum syrup; fruit-juice concentrate; sorbitol; barley malt; caramel; malodextrin; dextran; or dextrose.

Step 2: Ditch the artificial stuff
Ditch artificial sweeteners, too. That means no aspartame, saccharine, sucralose, or acesulfame.

Step 3: Start with a smoothie
Replace your usual breakfast with a nutritious smoothie.

Step 4: Cut cravings
Curb cravings by taking 1,000 milligrams of the amino acid glutamine every four to six hours, or as needed. It tricks the body into thinking it is getting glucose, which reduces the desire for sugar.

Step 5: Satisfy your sweet tooth
Satisfy sweet cravings with a piece of fruit, an ounce of 70 to 85 percent dark chocolate, or a cup of organic plain yogurt with a teaspoon of stevia, raw honey, or agave syrup. Do this only when necessary, and no more than three times a day.

Step 6: Drink water
Drink lots of water, plain or sparkling. It helps reduce sugar cravings.

Step 7: Cheat occasionally
Have a small treat made out of real sugar every fifth day or so if you need it. It will help prevent a sugar binge.

Step 8: Stick with it
Stick with it! The first three days are the toughest; after that, you'll feel lighter and have more energy.