The Right Way to Stop Sugar Cravings

Eating excess sugar daily can be a difficult habit to break. While sweet foods aren’t inherently bad, the regular overconsumption of sugary food can lead to a number of health issues including dental problems, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. So being mindful of your daily sugar intake is important.

However, cutting back on your intake of added sugar in your daily diet can be challenging. This isn’t because people lack the will power to resist their cravings. Rather, sugar cravings are a result of human nature. 

People’s preference for sweet-tasting food is innate. Some scientists like Marisa Moore, M.B.A., R.D.N., L.D., a culinary and integrative dietitian believe that “sweet tastes exist as a way to identify sources of digestible carbohydrates and importantly, glucose-based energy”.

“Because humans enjoy sweets, it is difficult to cut them out entirely and doing so can sometimes lead to feelings of deprivation which might sometimes lead a person to go overboard when they finally have it,” Moore Adds.

The truth is there are better ways to overcome your sugar cravings than completely cutting sweet food from your diet. Today, we’re talking about the three best ways to stop your sugar cravings. Let’s get started!

Eating Regularly

Often, carving for sweets is a result of irregular mealtimes or skipping meals in general. When you go for long periods during the day without eating, your blood sugar drops. So, your brain sends a signal that it needs something sweet to raise your glucose levels quickly.

Be sure to listen to what your body is saying especially when it comes to hunger signals. Feed your body with healthy and balanced meals so your body doesn’t feel like it’s running on empty.

Eat Your Carbs

Carbohydrates are not the enemy. In fact, you need a source of starch so your body can function properly. Carbs are the main source of energy for humans so completely cutting them out from your diet is unhealthy.

Try to choose carbs that have some fiber, like whole grains, potatoes with the skin, beans and legumes, and fruits to help promote satiety and keep blood sugar steady.

Don’t Make Sweets Off-Limits

It may seem counter-intuitive when you’re trying to eat healthier and lose weight but keeping some sweets in your diet can help you overcome sugar cravings down the line.

Depriving yourself of food like cake, cookies, and pastries can make you feel miserable. Chances are, you’ll end up overthinking about these foods, give in to your cravings, and start bingeing on it. What follows is intense feelings of discomfort and guilt.

Eating alternatives to sweets won’t do you good either. Some people eat other healthier and lower calorie foods when they crave for sweets like berries, nuts, or veggies. But this isn’t always satisfying so you end up eating more food until you “cave” and eat the cake anyway.

So, allowing yourself to enjoy sweets can help you get over your cravings right there and then. This way, you can move on and get back on track of your healthy eating choices.

The Bottom Line

Managing your sugar cravings is about understanding why you’re experiencing it in the first place. It also helps to look at your eating habits and your relationship with food. Eating healthier and reaching your weight loss goals isn’t always about removing certain food groups in your diet. Rather, it’s about knowing how to incorporate these foods in a healthy way.