Are you a sugar addict? Try Camila Alves McConaughey’s exclusive 5-day detox challenge

When the going gets tough, the tough get going...to the gym, to the running trail or to the meditation cushion. But for many of us, it’s normal to respond to stress by turning to quick fixes that don’t serve us in the long run. When you’re stuck at home during a pandemic, no less, snacking on sugar-filled foods and drinks can provide that comfort you crave. It’s time to give your body a break from refined sugars.

Take the Yahoo Life x Woman of Today 5-Day Sugar Detox Challenge to cut back on your daily sugar. Follow along with us as Camila Alves McConaughey and top experts show us how to cut back on sugar and form new habits every day this week.

Video Transcript

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CAMILA ALVES MCCONAUGHEY: Hey, guys. Camila McConaughey here. I know a lot of us are feeling tired, bloated, stressed with everything that's going on around us. That's why we at Women of Today have team up with experts and nutritionists to kick off this five-day sugar detox challenge. Today is day one. It's time to commit. I am so excited to welcome Nutritionist Maya Feller today. Maya, how are you?

MAYA FELLER: Oh I'm well, Camila. How are you?

CAMILA ALVES MCCONAUGHEY: I'm very excited to talk to you about this because on Women of Today, we did our sugar talk. And that's how we met. So you know I love science. So give it to me like straight on. Like what are the effects of sugar-- processed sugar in the body?

MAYA FELLER: First, we want to actually define what that is, right? We're talking about added sugar. So we're not talking about naturally occurring sugars. When you consume excess amounts of added sugar, it actually increases your risk for all non-communicable diseases-- diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension.

It flips that switch on. And it kind of tells inflammation, go haywire in your body. It actually activates the pleasure pathways, the feel-good systems within the body with your blood sugars. You get that high from having lots of added sugars and then you feel the crash. So then your body wants to stay high because of the added sugars.

CAMILA ALVES MCCONAUGHEY: It's like the coaster. It's like the hamster wheel. You're never getting out of it. So Maya, how are we doing this detox? For me personally, I have to slowly make the transition. Otherwise, I'll go right back into it. But at day one, what should we be cutting out of our diet?

MAYA FELLER: Take a look at where sugar, specifically the added sugars, are coming into your individual daily routine. For some people, they may recognize that it's sugar sweetened beverages, like the sodas and the energy drinks. Some people might be eating high quantities of sugar-sweetened yogurt or sauces that have sugar in there or salad dressing.

The new nutrition facts label has added sugars so that you can take a look and see. Anything that's close to 20% is considered high. So those are the items that in my opinion you're definitely going to want to remove kind of off the bat. And then think about how you can make those modifications.

CAMILA ALVES MCCONAUGHEY: How quickly should we start to feel the difference?

MAYA FELLER: It could be within 24 hours, right? You might have some side effects. You might feel a little bit like of a decrease in your mood. You might have some headaches similar to a caffeine withdrawal.

CAMILA ALVES MCCONAUGHEY: What about the positives that you can feel?

MAYA FELLER: I will definitely say you'll have less of that like up and down angry feeling. One of the things that sugar does to us is that we feel great and then we crash and then we're angry.

CAMILA ALVES MCCONAUGHEY: What should people keep in mind as they're going through this detox?

MAYA FELLER: There are some populations that we always say not to engage in this type of detox. People with a history of disordered eating or active eating disorder should steer clear 100%. People who have any diagnosed medical condition should talk with their primary care provider or their dietician to make sure that doing something like this is safe for them.

If you're starting to feel dizzy, if you're starting to feel nauseous, if you have fever or chills as a result of the detox, this is when you call your primary care provider, and you stop what you're doing.

CAMILA ALVES MCCONAUGHEY: Maya, thank you so much for being here with us today and sharing so much knowledge. And for you at home, I can't wait to see you tomorrow for our day two our five-day sugar detox challenge.

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