How To Break Your Sugar Addiction With Frank Lipman, M.D., Author Of "Spent"

Ditch artificial sweeteners, too. That means no aspartame, saccharine, sucralose, or acesulfame.

Replace your usual breakfast with a nutritious smoothie. Find recipes at SpentMD.com.

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.

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.

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

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.

Stick with it! The first three days are the toughest; after that, you’ll feel lighter and have more energy. Hang on for another ten days, and your hunger for sugar should dramatically diminish.