(CNN) - Not all sugar is created equal.
Replacing the bad with good alternatives is key to living healthier.
Sugar-free diets are a big trend this year. But just quitting sugar is unlikely to improve your health.
Cutting down on ultra-processed foods, eating more vegetables and exercising will.
The sugar-free diet is restrictive. Foods such as whole grains, blueberries and grapefruits are allowed, while white bread, bananas and raisins are not.
Remember that health is not simply about a person's size, weight or the foods we try to avoid.
Fruit is your friend and a healthy alternative to sweets.
"The best thing you can do to cut added sugars in your diet is always choose unsweetened and sweeten with your whole unsweetened fruits. You don't need to entirely eliminate any categories, but your food should be mostly whole plant-based food," said Elyse Sartor, a clinical outpatient dietitian at Northside Hospital.
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