Manage Sugar Cravings With These Tips
By Rachel Carver
So you feel guilty about the ice cream or brownie you just ate. Diet culture says you should, because all foods containing sugar are bad for you.
Contrary to popular belief, foods with sugar are not always bad for you. And you can more easily manage your sugar cravings by adjusting your eating patterns and mindset.
Eat Regularly
Skipping meals will send many people to the ice cream cooler. Skipping breakfast or working through lunch to meet your deadline can make you crave the sweet treats.
The fact you crave sweets does not make you a terrible person. It simply means your body is not getting what it needs. When you skip a meal or go too long without eating, your blood sugar can drop, putting your body in a state it does not enjoy. Glucose, or sugar, can quickly raise your blood sugar, get you out of the danger zone, and give you some usable energy. This causes you to crave sugar.
Eat Carbs
If you eat regularly but consistently go light on the carbs, your cravings for sweets and carbs may increase. This has nothing to do with a bad diet or that carbs are bad. It simply means your body needs more carbs.
Carbohydrates are the body's preferred energy source. Even if your diet consists of high amounts of protein, fat, and vegetables, you will still crave sweets and carbs. Solve this by routinely eating carbs high in fiber such as potatoes with skins, whole grains, and beans.
Eat Some Sugar
Multiple studies suggest most of us consume way too much added sugar. Many physiological factors make us crave sugar, but psychological reasons can also be quite powerful.
So, let's say you love cookies. If you completely remove cookies from your diet, you will miss them. Eventually, you might give into the craving and eat way too many. This is usually followed by feelings of guilt and discomfort.
Instead of completely cutting out cookies, make them available to you when you want them. You might eat more cookies in the beginning, but your craving for them will subside. Allowing yourself to eat some sweets can reduce how many you consume in the long run.
The Bottom Line
Instead of focusing on controlling our sugar cravings, try thinking about what might be missing from your diet. You can work with a dietitian if you need to. But understanding your relationship with food will help you keep your sugar cravings in check.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Temple, Tex.