Got a sweet tooth? Here’s how to fight the cravings

We all crave sugar once in a while, it’s quite common. When you have a sweet tooth, you may have a strong desire to enjoy sugary treats. These sugar loaded foods have high calorie content and can lead to unhealthy weight gain; increased heart disease risk and diabetes. If you crave too much sugar here are some tips to fight sugar cravings.

How to reduce sugar cravings

Drink water

Your brain will convince you that you need to eat something sweet. When you get a strong desire to eat something sweet, distract your mind by simply drinking a glass full of water. By doing so, It’ll fill your stomach without adding extra calories. Train yourself to drink a lot of water throughout the day to avoid weight gain. This will keep you hydrated and also assist your body to flush toxins.

Maximise on veggies and fruits

You can use vegetables to combat sugar cravings. An added bonus is the rich source of vitamins they provide which will make you feel fuller for longer and keep your sweet tooth in check. Vegetables contain healthy sources of carbohydrates which will keep you satisfied. The plant fibre works as a natural way to level out your blood sugar levels.

You should try to integrate a portion of leafy greens, such as kale or spinach, as well as red pepper into each full meal you have.

It comes as no surprise that fruits are packed with multiple nutrients and are the healthiest options, with natural, unprocessed sugar. Whenever you want to eat something sweet, substitute it with a serving of fruit. Avoid drinking fruit juice as it is deprived of fibre.

Quality over quantity

In the event you need a sugar splurge, you can pick a more decadent sugary food, in small quantities. Choose a high end dark chocolate truffle and avoid a king sized candy bar. You’ll savour every little bite slowly without going over the top.  Don’t write off favourites as this will only make you come back for greater portions when the craving hits. Incorporate small amounts into your diet, whilst focusing on filling your stomach with less sugary options.

Break bad habits

A number of people may only feel satisfied after they finish their meal and have a dessert. In order to manage sweet cravings, it’s important to understand what causes your craving in the first place, and whether or not your craving is habitual. For example, your dinner might have high salt content, which could result in you convincing yourself that you have to balance it out by having something sweet.

If it leans towards being a habit rather than a craving, come up with a solution to try and break it by training your mind and learning to make new choices.

Get more sleep

The right amount of sleep will help your body optimise energy levels, reduce appetite and slash sugar cravings. When you’re tired, the hormone that stimulates appetite, ghrelin increases and leptin, the hormone that suppresses the appetite decreases. This can lead to you wanting something sugary to give you an energy fix. Ensure that you are getting around the recommended eight hours of sleep a night and that the quality of your sleep is good too.

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