As of late, it has come to my attention that emerging food-centric innovations have held the masses in a sugar-dusted chokehold. A general glance through any TikTok enjoyer’s fridge will undoubtedly reveal a carefully constructed Greek yoghurt cheesecake waiting to be consumed. Or, much to the chocolate enthusiast’s delight, the emergence of the ‘Dubai chewy cookie’ has found its home in almost every artisanal cafe in Singapore. Despite qualifying for both brackets, my palate is yet to experience the supposed joys of consuming these internet-anointed sweet treats. That is, much in part due to the fact that I’m partaking in what’s called the sugar cleanse.
Yes, you heard that right. For the better part of a month, processed sugar has been noticeably absent from my diet. And for a self-proclaimed dessert connoisseur such as myself, completely cutting sugar out made for no easy feat. Partly to blame: my Middle Eastern heritage, which has ultimately steered my appetite towards the many decadently sweet selections that make up a classic Arab spread. And between the honey-glossed baklavas to even an evident preference towards gourmand fragrances, the regional affinity for sweetness becomes difficult to miss.
Of course, appreciation for the sweeter things in life is one thing—but living in a near-constant sugar orbit is another. Somewhere between the sporadic skin flare-up, drastic dips in energy and a looming awareness of just how sugar-laden my diet had become, cutting out processed sugar began to emerge as a slightly daunting catch-all fix of sorts. Perhaps it was the lingering new year recalibration, but making the jump felt like a broadly beneficial tweak that, at the very least, seemed worth committing to.
@alia.abk Hate to say it but it truly made the biggest difference
A close-up on the cleanse
Before anything else could change, I knew my mornings definitely had to. For as long as I could remember, they began with something sweet in hand, usually an iced coffee or matcha that leaned more dessert-adjacent than it admittedly should have. These habits were the first to go, replaced swiftly with a glass of lemon-infused water instead—a hydrating source of vitamin C. This shift also meant that breakfasts had to work a little harder on the sustenance front, with an increased intake of protein and fibre as a more dependable way to start the day.
And that, in turn, led me to rethink my other dietary choices, especially the automatic ones. The convenient pastry pick-me-up—once a trusty fallback—had to be whisked out of the register. Even social plans faced somewhat of a similar recalibration. Casual dinners meant attentively scanning menus, avoiding sights of sauces, dressings and of course—the ever-so despicable desserts.
Unsurprisingly enough, the first week unfolded as a shock to the system. Cravings had arrived with impressive punctuality, waiting to be quenched by whatever treats my fridge would harbour. Except now, it contained little beyond an assortment of fruit and sugar-free chocolate bars, which fortunately did just enough to keep the more dramatic cravings at bay. What I had failed to factor in, however, was how visible sugar would suddenly become. As soon as processed sugar was off both the table and my palate, bakery displays suddenly seemed fuller and even casual grocery runs left the confectionery aisle appearing unusually more conspicuous than prior.
Gradually, once the initial upheaval of the first week had subsided, the cleanse had fallen into something resembling normalcy. The cravings had fortunately become less insistent, and fruit, especially when peeled and cut ahead of time, became a convenient and genuinely satisfying option. And intentionally staying busy played its part as well. When the day had momentum, mindless snacking ceased to feel like a default. On the flip side, increasing my intake of glutamine-rich foods, especially eggs, helped calm the cravings overall.
So, what changed?
An apparent change I noticed was a delightful shift in how steady my days began to feel. As someone who was previously prone to a mid-afternoon crash, my energy levels began feeling more consistent throughout. Without the slump, I found that I could stay productive for longer and make time for small hobbies that often got sidelined. And in terms of preferences, foods that I previously savoured began registering as more intense in terms of sweetness, indicating that my taste buds had adjusted just as much as I did. On the skincare front, however, there was no immediate glow up to report, a reminder that changes in complexion are often attributed to more than just a dietary shift.
While I don’t foresee a total and indefinite sugar abstinence underway, the cleanse did present a few habits worth preserving. For starters, drinks and condiments now feel like the more obvious first checkpoints, meaning that I’m more conscious of how quickly intake can add up. An occasional iced coffee is by no means ruled out, but with less of an inclination to begin the day with it, so as to delay the initial glucose spike-and-crash cycle. Treating desserts as a deliberate indulgence, as opposed to a post-dinner requisite, has made the sweetness feel much more enjoyable—and most importantly—guilt-free. And when the occasional craving does strike, I find myself reaching for healthier and equally trusty alternatives such as berries or dates instead of their more indulgent counterparts.
