How to Stop Sugar Cravings to Reduce Weight and Improve Health
What do you crave when you have a sweet tooth? More often than not, it’s going to be something sugary. Sugar is addictive because of the dopamine kick we get from consuming it. When our bodies don’t have enough stored sugars, insulin is released to break down the carbs and store them for later use. This releases more sugar into our bloodstream and causes a spike in glucose levels; this is called the sugar high.
Then, as our blood sugar levels drop again, another spike releases more insulin and sends our body back into storage mode so that it can save the sugars for later on. Sugar cravings are almost always triggered by some kind of stress or anxiety, so learning how to manage stress can be a big help to stop sugar cravings.
Identify Your Triggers
Before you can start to combat sugar cravings, you need to identify what is triggering them. It could be that you’re feeling stressed out, tired, or hungry – or it could be that you’re bored and need something to do. There are times when we can’t avoid sugar cravings, such as when we’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a medical condition. In these instances, it’s important to speak to a doctor and see if there are any alternatives you can use to curb your cravings. If you have an underlying issue, like stress or anxiety, it’s important to address that first. Otherwise, you’re likely to keep experiencing cravings whenever those issues arise.
Take Charge of Your Environment
Whatever it is that’s causing your sugar cravings, you can change it. Is it boredom? Take up a new hobby or join a club. Is it stress? Try some meditation or yoga. Is it hunger? Make sure you’re eating enough regularly throughout the day – especially if you’re an active person. If you work in an office and you’re surrounded by sweet snacks, you can try to change the office culture or even move your desk to a different part of the room. If cravings come from hunger, make sure you’re eating regularly throughout the day. If they come from boredom, take up a new hobby or join a club. If they come from stress, try some meditation or yoga.
Exercise!
Exercise is one of the best ways to manage stress and can also help to curb sugar cravings. If you work out regularly, you’ll already know this – but if you’re not used to exercising regularly, you might be surprised at the difference it makes. Regular exercise improves your mood and relieves stress, which can help you to avoid sugar cravings and keep your sugar intake in check.
It also improves your self-confidence and self-esteem, as well as improving your self-image by helping you to lose weight and get fit. Exercise also stimulates growth hormones that help your body to break down fat and release endorphins, which will make you feel good and can help to reduce sugar cravings.
Try Natural Remedies
Natural remedies that you can use to curb sugar cravings include: – Bee pollen – Cayenne pepper – Cinnamon – Ginger – Ginseng – Green tea – Peanuts – Walnuts – Whey protein You can also try replacing sugar with other sweeteners such as Stevia, Xylitol, or Erythritol.
Having some great keto snacks on hand will also help in addition to a good diet plan.
Final Thoughts
Sugar cravings are incredibly common, but they don’t have to rule your life. By learning how to manage your cravings, you can reduce your sugar intake and start to lose weight. Sugar cravings can be triggered by a number of different factors, including stress, boredom, hunger, or needing an activity to pass the time.
The best ways to combat sugar cravings are to identify your triggers and take charge of your environment, exercise regularly, and try some natural remedies.
