Sugar is a delicious ingredient: ask anyone with a sweet tooth and they’ll tell you enough and more about it. However, the white little cube of delight isn’t as simple or straightforward as you once thought it was.

There are a lot of disadvantages to following a diet that has too many helpings of sugar and it has a lot to do with some of sugar’s own inherent properties. Doing away with sugar requires some amount of a commitment on your part. Here are five things you should know about handling sugar in your diet:
1. Avoid denying yourself any sugar: Denying yourself sugar and all things sweet. By denying yourself, you wind up setting your mind in a state of craving, and you may wind up either substituting or binging later on more than necessary. Some amount of sugar is definitely necessary, and depriving yourself may just prove to be counterproductive to your well being.

2. Get enough sleep: Fatigue and a state of tiredness tends to cause the body to use more sugar. To avoid indulging in more sugar, it is probably a better thing to do to sleep on time, and to sleep well, and to sleep enough, at that. That way, you will not wind up relying on adding too much sugar on your system.

3. Get spicy: If you must substitute sugar, use alternative flavouring with spices. Try flavouring food and drinks with vanilla or spices such as nutmeg or cinnamon and cardamom.

4. Try a detox: Going on a detox diet will help your body regulate the amount of blood sugar. This is accomplished by giving you the other nutrients that your body needs – protein and minerals.

5. Take care of nutrient deficiencies: Sometimes, nutrient deficiencies can increase your sweet tooth cravings and force you to indulge in more sugar than necessary. Certain nutrients can improve blood sugar control including chromium, vitamin B3 and magnesium.

If you are looking for good sugar substitutes, some of the more useful kinds would be:

– Agave Nectar is a delightful sweetener, and tastes a lot like honey, but healthier.
– Maple syrup is a great substitute as well, since it contains over 50 antioxidants and sweetens your dishes with as much ease as sugar does.

– Applesauce is a fun sweetener as well. It helps keep your dishes sweet without the added calories.

– Good old honey and jaggery are some of the conventional sugar substitutes that you can use.

References:
http://www.indiatimes.com/health/buzz/indians-are-the-world-s-largest-consumers-of-sugar-and-it-s-slowly-poisoning-us-248039.html
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/Ways-to-stop-your-sugar-craving/articleshow/45109410.cms
http://greatist.com/health/30-sugar-substitutes-any-and-every-possible-situation
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2013/06/17/everything-you-need-to-know-about-sugar/