10 Ways To Beat Sugar Cravings

Sugar

Just that word alone can make you cringe.  Unfortunately, most of our society loves it and it can be a challenge to defeat.  Sugar consumption, not fat is the leading cause for obesity in people of all ages.  One of the easiest things you can do if you want to lose weight is decrease your sugar intake.  A challenge for people who love their sugar is that just like any drug it can be addicting.   When consumed our body releases dopamine, which just makes us crave more.  That’s why sugar addicts and food junkies alike keep eating it.  Just like any addict will stash their drug of choice, sugar addicts will hide their candy bars and skittles or even eat them in solitude.  The great news is sugar consumption and addiction can be fought, decreased and even won!  Your mindset can be your biggest asset in defeating sugar cravings, but there are also many others tips that can help decrease sugar intake.   Below you will find 10 Ways To Beat Sugar Cravings.  For the full article on defeating sugar cravings click here.

Do you feel like you are addicted to sugar? Constantly needing to ‘fuel up’ to increase your energy?

Many people battle intense sugar cravings day in and day out. It can be very frustrating!

You end up on a sugar roller coaster…going up and crashing down…needing more sugar to get your up again.

Sugar cravings are caused by many things. It is hard to pick one reason why one experiences these cravings.

Beating sugar cravings can be done….You just have to find something that works for you!

Here is a list of 10 ways to beat sugar cravings. I hope one of them can help you!!!

1. Drink water

Sometimes sugar cravings are a sign of dehydration. Before you reach for the candy, have a glass of water and wait a few minutes to see how you feel. Make sure you choose a good filtered water. Looking for a filter? Check here for water purification ideas.

2. Eat more healthy fats

This is one of the first thing I think of when someone tells me they are craving sugar. Oftentimes, sugar cravings are a sign of not getting enough fat in the diet. Healthy fats like olive oil, coconut oil and nut butters are good for us and help reduce our cravings for sugar and other simple carbs. One of my favorite recipes for my clients who battle sugar cravings is this ‘Sugar Buster‘ from Fearless Eating! Try it, it works!

3. Eat sweet vegetables and fruit (paired with a healthy fat)

Sweet vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potatoes and squash, can really help toward satisfying your sweet tooth, even though they don’t necessarily ‘taste’ sweet. So can small amounts of fruit. In the afternoon, have 1/2 a baked sweet potato with pastured butter or a handful of blueberries with a small amount of real whipped cream. This may help you crave less sugar later in the day.

4. Get some rest

If you are in a chronic state of stress or sleep deprivation, your body craves quick energy….which is sugar or refined carbohydrates. Lack of sleep can lead to unbalanced hormones, increased cortisol and belly fat, overeating and more. Get to sleep early. Take a nap. Meditate. Do something to rest your body and mind. Your body needs sleep!

5. Evaluate the amount of animal protein you eat

According to yin/yang principles, eating too much animal food (yang) can lead to cravings for sweets (yin). On a confusing note, eating too little animal food can also lead to cravings for sweets. Try to see if increasing or decreasing quality animal foods helps with your sugar cravings. And always try to choose quality, pastured or grass fed meats if you can.

6. Eat regularly throughout the day and have balanced snacks

Eating nutrient rich foods with plenty of protein, healthy fats and complex carbs will help keep your blood sugar stable.

7. Add spices to your life

Coriander, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and cardamom will sweeten foods naturally and help reduce sugar cravings. Add a dash of cinnamon to the sweet potato and butter mentioned above!

8. Add magnesium rich foods or supplements

Most Americans are deficient in Magnesium, which is a mineral that is necessary for almost all bodily functions. Many researchers link chocolate cravings to magnesium deficiency. Two popular magnesium supplements are Magnesium Citrate and Magnesium Oil. I use both of these. The first one is great in a warm mug of water (every member of my family takes it). I spray the oil on the bottoms of our feet. Epsom salt baths are also a good way to get magnesium You can also get magnesium from foods (if you have good digestion and are absorbing nutrients well), such as dark leafy greens, nuts and seeds, bananas and halibut.

9. Add fermented foods to the diet

If you read Oh Lardy, you know we love our probiotic foods. Fermented foods have been shown to decrease and often eliminate cravings for sugar. Add foods such as cultured sour cream, sauerkraut, kimchi, fermented berries, carrots and more to your diet. Plain kombucha can also be helpful with cravings. (Try to steer clear of the fruit flavored ones as they can have plety of sugar). Not into making your own fermented foods even though it is SO easy? You can easily find fermented foods at retail stores or make your own!

10. Slow down and find sweetness in other ways

Oftentimes, a sugar craving is not a physical craving but a psychological one. Look into your lifestyle and see if you are craving ‘something sweet’ from another aspect of your life…your career, your relationships, your lifestyle. If you find balance in other areas of your life, your sugar craving may go away.

What do you do to combat sugar cravings? Do you have any tips you would like to share? Please do so in the comments!

Photograph Credits:

http://www.motivenutrition.com

Related Posts

• 

  Everything You Should Know About Juicing Diets
  Everything You Should Know About Juicing Diets
• 

  How Has the Mind Body Link Turned into a Connection with our Smart Phones?
  How Has the Mind Body Link Turned into a Connection with our Smart Phones?
• 

  Is Turmeric a Superior Alternative to Pills for PMS Symptoms?
  Is Turmeric a Superior Alternative to Pills for PMS Symptoms?
• 

  6 Simple Yoga Asanas to Crush Stress Everyday
  6 Simple Yoga Asanas to Crush Stress Everyday