Stop your sugar cravings now and thank yourself down the track. Sugar cravings can be incredibly overwhelming. Sugar is in everything that feels like it is too good to be true (and it usually is). Due to the fact that our brains receive sugar like a drug, often the cravings that we go through can be cyclical. Whilst there can be a variety of triggers (low blood sugar, stress, lack of sleep etc), giving in to these cravings is not the best idea for a number of reasons.
When sugar cravings occur we tend to reach for highly refined, highly processed sugary foods. Biscuits, chocolates, lollies and ice cream are go-to snacks when the cravings occur. Whilst these options often make us feel better at the time, they don’t stop the cravings in the long run. In fact, they will cause blood sugar levels to spike and drop quickly, making us crave more and more. The unfortunate consequence of this is the creation of a sugar craving cycle.
So what are some ways that we can stop these sugar cravings?
Balanced nutritional intake throughout the day
If you can keep your blood sugar levels stable throughout the day, then there is a low chance that they will drop large amounts. It is this drop in blood sugar that can cause tiredness, the need for an energy boost and a lot of other triggers that end up manifesting themselves in sugar cravings.
To help keep stable blood sugar levels it is important to have regular sized meals throughout the day. Try to avoid the cycle of skipping a meal, getting hungry and then having a huge meal a few hours later. This will cause a big spike in blood sugar levels, and then the resulting crash that will leave you low on energy.
Eg. You wake up and skip breakfast, instead going for a coffee on the way to work. This fills you up a bit and the caffeine keeps you going until mid-late morning. By the time lunch comes around you are absolutely starving and as a result you have a huge lunch. Not too long later (hello 3:30itis), you are tired, crashing and looking for a sugary pick me up to feel better again. Has this happened to you?
The above scenarios is not uncommon, but can easily be avoided.
Ensuring that you have more frequency with your meals and having them the same size will avoid a lot of potential crashes and triggers for sugar cravings.
Reduce sugar. Full stop.
As previously mentioned, sugar is treated by your brain similar to how it processes a drug. The first hit is amazing and you feel fantastic. Before long, you need more and more to get the same feeling.
A great way to stop your sugar cravings is to simply reduce the amount of sugar that you have in your life in general. The less you have of it, the less you crave.
Search for sugar alternatives or try and find a substitute that gives you all the flavour of the normal meal. Sugar free aeroplane jelly is a favourite.
Out of sight. Out of mind.
More often than not, keeping things as simple as possible is the best way forward. If you are looking to curb your sugar cravings, then this is certainly the case.
By simply getting rid of all of the bad sugars in your house, you are going a long way to success. If there is nothing sugary around you when the cravings hit, then you have no choice but to adapt and find something else.
Always keep a variety of healthier snacks in the kitchen as a back-up when this happens. There is only so much damage you can do when there are only healthy options!
Drink more water
Very rarely are we drinking the right amount of water for our bodily needs on a daily basis. It is the single most important part of anyone’s health, but usually forgotten the quickest. As a result of this, humans tend to be in a dehydrated state a lot of the time.
Dehydration can often be confused for sugar cravings. A lack of water in the body can make it difficult for organs like the liver to release glycogen and other components of your energy stores. As a result, it can actually trigger food cravings such as the need for sugar.
Click here to check how much water should you be drinking on a daily basis.
If you are looking to curb your sugar cravings, then you need to make a conscious effort for change. Figuring out your triggers and why they are occurring is the first step in the journey. Once you have this part figured out, then it is about using the above practical tips (and more), to ensure that you are putting yourself in the best position to succeed long term.
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