Curb Those Sugar Cravings

Are you one of those people that look at your watch at 3:30pm & automatically go looking for a chocolate bar? Or maybe it’s the need for a sweet treat to finish off your meal?  Do you find you want more sugary satisfaction after you’ve already had your 4^th biscuit? You’re not alone! It’s not rocket science though, you eat lots of sugar = you crave lots of sugar. But why do you crave it?

Why do we crave sugar?

The sweet taste is the one that is most preferred from birth & we are hardwired to lean towards it. Carbohydrate metabolism stimulates serotonin release (our feel-good hormone.), and many sweet treat foods will trigger the release of endorphins & a ‘food high’. 

Causes of sugar cravings:

-low protein it the diet & overall poor diet

-some medications

-low energy (i.e. poor sleep, poor diet )

-HABIT

-stress (i.e. excess cortisol, adrenalin)

-low in energy co-factor foods (i.e. B vitamins)

-excess intake of artificial sweeteners

-health concerns (i.e. thyroid, menopause, PMT )

How do you beat it?

-check your food intake, keep a food diary & get it check by your qualified health professional

-regular meals & VARIETY= no energy dips = not reaching for sugar as a ‘pick me up’

-protein at every meal = level blood sugar levels

-make food swaps ie: fruit & nuts, veggie sticks & a boiled egg, yoghurt & cinnamon

-increase cinnamon (1tsp per day) = improves blood glucose control

-increase chromium foods:  onion, tomatoes, meats, broccoli, green beans, mushrooms. Chromium is an essential trace mineral that plays an important role in carbohydrate and fat metabolism and helps body cells properly respond to insulin

-skip the artificial sweeteners they only make you crave more sugar

-don’t reward your hard work with sugary treats, pick a different reward i.e. shopping

-check your labels & portions! you may be surprised how much sugar are consuming, here is a good example below: