First of all, don’t worry; absolutely everyone suffers from sugar cravings. Our cravings stem from simply not enough protein and vegetables in a day. Our body has a set point of protein it requires per day and until we hit that point we constantly crave. Invariably the first thing we crave is something sweet.
I encourage you to follow these four primary tips to get on top of your cravings:
1. Timing
Consider the TIMING of your meals. Start the day with a breakfast that is not sugary and then aim to eat every three to four hours including protein and vegetable with each meal and snack. We usually see weight gain from incorrect timing because our metabolism slows down and we start to store food as a safety mechanism to have a ‘reserve’ knowing a ‘famine’ is ahead. Fasting for numerous hours can lead to you becoming over hungry and then of course craving easy, convenient, unhealthy options!
2. Type
Secondly, monitor the TYPE of food intake; Protein is the prioritised macronutrient to prevent and treat sugar cravings, therefore choose natural, high fibre carbohydrates that provide long lasting energy and stablise moods, for example Low GI rather than fast releasing high GI sugary carbs. These can include fruits and vegetables, beans, unprocessed grains, pasta, low-fat dairy foods, and nuts.
3. Vegetables
Again, VEGETABLES make the list as are present a key tactic in fighting sugar cravings due to their low-calorie content and high activation of digestive enzymes that increase metabolism.
Aim to freely include a variety of predominantly green vegetables throughout the day to counter sugar cravings and maintain low blood sugar levels. satisfy our cravings and still maintain calorie control.
4. Environment
Lastly, consider your SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT; it’s hard to stay strict when you are constantly surrounded by temptations. If you can’t control yourself, eat before going out so you can feel satiated longer and then just join in by snacking on something small.