5 Simple Tips To Control Sugar Cravings

Are you constantly craving sugary foods between meals, late at night, or even throughout the day? Do you want to know how to stop sugar cravings and transform your body into a healthy and more well-balanced one?

Here are 5 tips to help you break free of your sugar cravings…

1. Get your beauty sleep

There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep to boost your energy, help your body fight illness and leave you feeling fresh and ready to take on the world. But did you know a good night’s sleep can also help you nix those sugar cravings?
Lack of sleep reduces serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a hormone that regulates mood, appetite and sleep. Lower serotonin levels are associated with increased food or sugar cravings. Getting 7-8 hours of quality sleep is one of the simplest ways to curb cravings.

Tip #2 – Hydrate with water

It’s a shame how many people reach for sugary carbonated drinks these days to quench their thirst. While these drinks might taste good, they only increase your cravings for sugar. You are trapped in a vicious cycle whereby the more sugar you consume, the more you crave for it.
Dehydration can often be mistaken for sugar cravings. Drink plenty of plain water or water with lemon. Water has no calorie and is great for rehydrating your body naturally.

Tip # 3 – Opt for healthy substitutes

By choosing fresh fruits over sugary processed foods, you can satisfy your sweet tooth without sabotaging your diet. They are high in vitamins and antioxidants, and the fiber fills you up. Choose low glycemic fruits such as berries, apples, plums and grapefruit which have less effects on your blood sugar levels.

Tip #4 – Cut out processed foods

Ever wonder why your body seems to crave certain types of foods so strongly? The same thing that makes a drug addict crave more of the drug is what gives you a hankering for sweets.  That’s right, sugar stimulates your brain to produce dopamine.
Dopamine, often called the ‘pleasure transmitter’, results in feel-good feeling. Eating processed foods that are high in carbohydrates and sugar can increase dopamine levels in the short-term. However, you end up craving for more of them once dopamine levels recede. Break this vicious cycle by avoiding processed foods as much as possible.

Tip # 5 – Avoid caffeine

For some of us, it’s almost impossible to start the day without our morning coffee. You might even depend on regular doses of caffeine to get you through the day.
Caffeine stimulates the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline, giving you that instant pick-me-up. It increases mental alertness and energy levels temporarily. The problem is that once these effects wear off, you experience a crash that can lead to sugar cravings, hunger, fatigue and agitation. If you want to curb sugar cravings, it is best to cut back on caffeine or avoid it completely.
If you take artificial sweeteners with your tea, coffee or other beverages, do you know that they can increase appetite and sugar cravings? Learn more about it here: Artificial Sweeteners and Weight Gain