Five Tips to Beat Your Sweet Cravings

Whether we’re dieting or not, we sometimes feel an intense craving for a particular item. There is that sudden urge to eat for particular types of food just to sate our cravings. Sometimes, the culprit behind our craving is our sweet tooth. We’ve become too addicted to sugar that we feel light-headed when we don’t consume it.

“There is no end of craving. Hence contentment alone is the best way to happiness. Therefore, acquire contentment.” – Swami Sivananda

How do we prevent indulging in these bittersweet cravings? Here are our top 5 tips to help you beat your sugar cravings 

Reduce Caffeine

It may seem counter-intuitive, but cutting caffeine can significantly lift up your mood throughout the day. Why? It’s because we’re so used to drinking 3-in-1 coffee. The moment we start our day, we’re indulged in coffee and sugar consumption. This combination is lethal enough. Sugar can make you feel lethargic due to sugar crash. Moreover, it increases your blood sugar, which may cause diabetes.

The coffee, on the other hand, kills your metabolism. What do you feel whenever you miss a cup of coffee? We bet you’ll feel an intense headache coming. This is because caffeine is addictive. Sugar and coffee are primary killers of metabolism. So if you want to lose weight and reduce your sugar craving, skip drinking this beverage.

Stay Hydrated

If your body contains enough water, the chances are that nutrients are distributed and transported evenly. You will not even feel any craving as your body is balanced and well-nourished. However, if your body is dehydrated, your body won’t be able to distribute nutrients properly. This will signal your brain that you need to eat something to fill that nutritional gap.

That’s the time you’ll feel incredibly hungry. Your brain is actually asking for something, anything, just to sate your craving. And because we’re light-headed enough, we find ourselves not caring about the types of food we eat. We’re inclined to get sugary foods because our brain needs sugar to convert it into nutrients.

To avoid this, ensure you stay hydrated. Drink at least eight glasses of water every day, and you’ll be surprised at how much your health will be restored.

Avoid Eating Processed Foods

The problem with processed foods is that they are bombarded with chemicals, artificials, and preservatives. Our bodies do not need these. Processed foods alter our hormones, often leading to sugar craving. Processed foods are also full of sugar. Beware of these sneaky forms of sugar:

• sucrose
• corn syrup
• corn syrup solids
• high fructose corn syrup
• dextrose
• maltose
• glucose/glucose syrup
• sorbitol
• mannitol
• lactose
• barley malt
• cane juice
• evaporated cane juice (crystals)
• fructose
• maltodextrin

Instead of eating processed foods, switch your preference to raw, unprocessed, and whole-grain foods. These type of foods give you the proper nutrients you need. Furthermore, they also contain fiber that is responsible for making you feel full for longer.

Eat More Fiber-rich foods

Fiber is good for your health because it helps promote digestion, metabolism, and hunger management. The reason behind it is because fibers foods are digested slowly, making you feel fuller for longer.

You might argue that eating too much fiber can increase your blood sugar. After all, these fruits are high in sugar, right? However, the truth is it will not spike up your sugar. Again, because of the fiber, the sugars will be absorbed into the bloodstream slowly. Moreover, eating fruits is the best and natural way to satisfy your cravings without worrying about your health.

Eat in Moderation

Of course, we’re not depriving you of eating any sweet foods you like for a lifetime. It’s okay to indulge yourself in them occasionally. However, you should practice some moderation. We think a piece or two of your favorite sweets are enough for your indulgence without a guilty conscience.