I decided to take on Viridian’s No Sugar Challenge and quit sugar for an entire week to see what would happen. I thought my diet was already fairly healthy, but this challenge quickly revealed just how much sugar sneaks into everyday foods.
I eat a fairly balanced diet and don’t tend to snack on sugary treats day to day. I skip the fizzy drinks, and my plate is usually a colourful mix of whole foods. So when I decided to take part in the Viridian January No Sugar Challenge, I was curious rather than nervous. I envisioned a week of fine tuning rather than a dramatic overhaul. A chance to be mindful of hidden sugars and old habits.
In spite of my healthy diet, from time to time I do experience some mid-morning or mid-afternoon slumps, which made me curious about how reducing sugar completely might impact my energy levels.
I committed to a full week without sugar, supported by the Viridian No Sugar Challenge guide and their Chromium & Cinnamon Complex, and I was surprised by how much I still learned from the experience.
How Much Sugar Should We Be Eating
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommend
- Less than 9 teaspoons (38 grams) per day for men
- Less than 6 teaspoons (25 grams) per day for women
- Less than 3-6 teaspoons (12 – 25 grams) per day for children
Hidden Sugars
If you are trying to reduce your sugar intake, reading labels is essential. It’s not enough to skip sugar in your tea or coffee. Sugar is added to most processed foods whether sweet or savoury such as:
- Cereals and granola
- Breads
- Tomato sauce
- Flavoured yogurts
- Plant-based milks (oat, almond, coconut)
- Sauces
- Condiments
- Salad dressing
- Vegetarian ready meals
- Soups
- Meat-free products
- Veggie burgers and sausages
- Protein bars
- Energy balls
- Flavoured nuts and seeds
- Protein bars
- Energy balls
- Flavoured nuts
From commercial cereals, breads to salad dressings, hidden sugars are everywhere even in the foods that we are told are “good” for us. A label that says “No Refined Sugar“, can still contain “Free Sugars” that spike your insulin just like white sugar.
Here are some of the other names for sugar to look out for:
- Sucrose
- High-fructose corn syrup
- Fructose
- Honey
- Corn syrup
- Maple syrup
- Molasses
- Maltodextrin
- Maltitol
- Agave nectar or syrup
- Evaporated cane juice
- Erythritol
- Barley malt
- Dextrose
- Coconut sugar
- Cane sugar
- Fruit juice concentrate
- Grape sugar
- Grape concentrate
- Apple concentrate
- Raw sugar
- Brown sugar
- Demerara sugar
- Palm sugar
- Brown rice syrup
- Date sugar
- Date concentrate
What is The Viridian No Sugar Challenge?
The Viridian No Sugar Challenge is a 7-day programme designed to help people reduce their intake of added sugars, cut cravings, and reset their eating habits by removing sugar from their diet and replacing typical sugar-laden choices with whole, nourishing foods.
It is supported by the Viridian No Sugar Challenge Essential Guide (that is packed with facts, recipes etc..) and Viridian’s Chromium & Cinnamon Complex. Chromium contributes to the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels while cinnamon may help maintain healthy blood sugar levels and a healthy weight.
During the week you:
- Avoid processed foods with added sugars and don’t add sugar or sweeteners to foods or drinks.
- Eat three balanced, evenly-spaced meals per day with plenty of vegetables (and maybe add a snack).
- Limit fruit to a few servings, choose whole foods over refined options, and drink plenty of water.
- Focus on mindful eating and learning to recognise hidden sugars in everyday foods.
- Take 2 capsules of Viridian’s Chromium & Cinnamon Complex per day (one with breakfast and the other for dinner).
What I Ate During the Week
Because my meals were already quite balanced, the week felt more like a refinement than a restriction.
From my meals, I drew inspiration from Viridian’s No Sugar Challenge booklet and focused on:
- Sweet breakfasts with overnight porridge topped with seasonal fruits, nuts, seeds, unsweetened plant-based milk.
- Savoury breakfasts with protein and vegetables.
- Filling lunches with soups, wholegrains, and salads.
- Nourishing dinners with vegetables, plant-based proteins ad wholegrains.
- I snacked on raw nuts.
- I avoided alcohol and drank lots of water (flavoured with slices of lime and lemon), as well as herbal teas.
- I baked homemade bread made solely with flour, salt, yeast and olive oil.
- I also swapped fruit juice for green juices made mainly from vegetables.
The food was satisfying, enjoyable, and easy to maintain making Viridian’s No Sugar Challenge feel realistic rather than extreme.
The First Few Days: Awareness Over Cravings
Because I don’t usually rely on sweet snacks, I didn’t experience strong cravings but what I did notice straight away was how many of the foods I considered healthy did in fact contain hidden sugars. Sauces, dressings, and even some “healthy” staples needed a closer look.
Taking the Viridian Chromium & Cinnamon Complex twice a day became part of my daily routine during the week.
Subtle But Noticeable Changes
By midweek, my energy felt steady throughout the day with no mid-morning or afternoon slumps, no cravings. I felt clear-headed and focused, particularly in the mornings, and my mood felt calm and consistent.
Even with a generally healthy diet, removing sugar completely seemed to smooth out the smaller fluctuations I might normally experience.
How Challenging Was It?
Overall, the week felt very doable.
The biggest challenge wasn’t temptation, but being consistent and mindful in everyday situations such as eating out, quick meals, or grabbing something on the go. Planning ahead made all the difference.
By the end of the week, I felt more connected to my body’s natural hunger and energy cues, and less reliant on convenience foods altogether.
Was It Worth it?
Absolutely! Even with a healthy and balanced diet, the Viridian No Sugar Challenge offered a valuable reset. It encouraged me to slow down, be more intentional, and reflect on how sugar (even in small or hidden amounts) can influence my energy, focus, tastebuds and habits.
The Chromium & Cinnamon Complex supported me throughout the week and really made a difference.
So if you are interested in taking part, pop into your local independent health store or visit Viridian website for more information
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own and completely honest.
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