Details: Category: Region 9; Published: 13 April 2022

Sugar Cravings Many of us can’t help but crave sweet foods and some experience it regularly. This is sometimes the reason why it is so hard to stick to a healthy diet. But did you know that cravings are navigated by your brain's need for a “reward” – not your body’s call for food? Indulging a little of one bite when you crave something sweet is totally fine. But if you tend to give in to overeating sweet treat foods, then it can be the worst thing that you do.

While consuming sweets to satisfy our taste buds, the spikes in blood sugar can set an effect on your health, including fatigue, irritability, and anxious thoughts. Consuming too much sugar can increase the risk of obesity, type-2 diabetes, heart diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cognitive decline, and certain types of cancers.

Here are some helpful ways to stop you from craving too much sugar:

Eat a healthy and filling meal – always remember that craving is not the same as hunger. Craving is something your brain creates while hunger is what your body needs for energy. So, when you crave while you are hungry, the tendency is that you find it difficult to resist. It is hard to overcome for most of the people experiencing it. So, when the situation goes like this, the best trick is that you eat a healthy meal immediately. Much better if you store healthy snacks in your kitchen rather than junk foods. Eat protein-rich foods such as meat, chicken, egg, and fish because these are good for curbing hunger. You really have to force yourself to have a healthy meal rather than other unhealthy or junk food items.
Take a Hot Shower – According to anecdotal reports, it has been found that by bathing with hot water – not so hot that could burn your skin, but just enough for your body to feel warm, will sometimes make you feel comfortable and by the time you go out of the shower, you are likely to feel relaxed and your craving for something sweet will be gone most likely. Hot showers or baths can be an effective strategy to stop cravings.
Go for a Walk or Run outside – this simple exercise will release endorphins or the “good feeling” hormones in your brain which helps reduce your cravings.
Drink Lots of water – dehydration leads you to cravings, so you have to stay hydrated to prevent this. Drink a lot of water every day.
Getting good sleep - getting a good and enough sleep helps prevent cravings.

There are numerous ways or methods that may help you overcome your cravings for sweets or sugar. Always remember that it is normal to consume what you crave for as long as it is in moderation. Try to avoid those sugar cravings that you can’t control by yourself because it will just feed your addiction which results in serious health problems later. But if you can manage those cravings, they will eventually disappear over time. Make it a habit of saying “No to sugars” to yourself.

NOI Kimberly Tanador, RND

References:

A Simple 3-Step Plan to Stop Sugar Cravings

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/3-step-plan-to-stop-sugar-cravings