HOW TO STOP SUGAR CRAVINGS

Why do we crave sugar? Sweets taste good and we reward ourselves with sweet treats. The problem is that this reinforces sweet cravings and begins a vicious cycle, ultimately making us crave sweets even more.

So how do you stop the sugar craving?

• Allow yourself a small amount of a sweet treat (one cookie, or an ounce of dark chocolate for example) to help you not feel deprived.

• If you want a sweet, combine it with a healthy partner (banana dipped in 1 tablespoon of chocolate; 1/2 cup ricotta with 1 tablespoon of mini-chocolate chips).

• Have a piece of fruit. It can satisfy that sweet craving but also delivers fiber and nutrients.

• Don’t skip meals. Eating at regular intervals will help keep you satisfied, keeping your blood sugar stable.

• Make sure you eat protein at your meals and snacks (meat, fish, poultry, peanut butter, eggs, dairy, nuts, all of which help maintain blood sugar levels).

• Wait it out! When a craving hits WALK AWAY! Get involved in something (do a laundry, take a hot bath/shower, call a friend, take a walk). If after 15-20 minutes you still have the craving, sit down and have a small serving of food and move on.

Is sugar really that bad? Here is an alarming statistic for you: one 12-ounce can of soda adds enough sugar to your diet to increase your odds of developing heart disease by a third. Yes, it’s bad.

In addition to cutting back on obvious sweets, be aware of all the places sugars hide such as salad dressings, breads, ketchup, and flavored yogurts just to name a few. Check labels!

I believe that the more we avoid the sweet stuff the fewer cravings we have.