Access Denied
IMPORTANT! If you’re a store owner, please make sure you have Customer accounts enabled in your Store Admin, as you have customer based locks set up with EasyLockdown app. Enable Customer Accounts
Blog
Get Off the Sugar Roller-Coaster - 5 Easy Tips
Posted on by Ellen Kittredge
Would you like to rid yourself of sugar cravings once and for all? Sugar is a very addictive substance and is found in many processed foods. Before we get to the simple and practical steps, let’s determine if your body might be suffering from a sugar overload.
There are at least 44 documented adverse reactions to sugar consumption. Below, find just 14 of them. Do you see yourself in any of these descriptions?
Negative responses to sugar consumption
• Mood swings
• Drowsiness
• Overwhelming fatigue
• Sweet cravings
• Headaches
• Difficulty concentrating
• Depression
• Dizziness and vertigo
• Nightmares
• Severe PMS
• Cold hands and feet
• Ravenous hunger between meals
• Joint pains
• Muscle pains
Sugar is an addiction
Studies have shown that that sugar qualifies as an addictive substance. This is for two reasons.
One: When you have some, you crave more. If you’ve been staying away from sugar and then indulge, your cravings will come right back.
Two: When you take it away you experience withdrawal symptoms. You may experience fatigue, anger, depression… or a variety of other symptoms.
Luckily, there are lots of ways to get rid of sugar cravings. The first step is to recognize the cravings. The next step is to recognize all the ways your body feels when you eat sugar (see symptom list above).
At this point you should feel inspired to do something about it! Start by experimenting with adding healthier foods into your diet. A healthy, well-balanced diet that is high in minerals will give you enough sweetness from fruits and vegetables to satisfy your cravings. The sugar roller-coaster that most of us are on is caused by imbalances in our nutrient intake. There are other reasons too.
5 Solutions to Help Break Your Sugar Habit
1. Drink more water
Dehydration manifests in the body as hunger before the body realizes you are actually just thirsty. Keep your daily water intake at 1/2 your body weight in ounces, and you’ll notice many positive effects including a reduction in sweet cravings.
2. Minimize or reduce caffeine intake
Caffeine causes blood sugar swings and can directly contribute to sugar cravings, so if you are consuming caffeine, either consider quitting the habit, minimizing intake, or consuming your caffeinated beverages with food to minimize the effect on your blood sugar.
3. Eat more sweet fruits and veggies
What a glorious time to increase your consumption of fruits and veggies! The farmer’s markets in my area are just bursting with dark-red sweet cherries, delicious blueberries, melt-in-your-mouth peaches, and sweet corn. Forgo the pastries and increase your consumption of these delicious and nutritious fruits and veggies, and you’ll notice those sweet cravings start to dissipate right away.
4. Examine your consumption of the grounding foods like salt, red meat, eggs and heavy proteins
When you eat too many foods that have a grounding effect on the body, your body automatically strives to balance with a lighter food. Sugar is a “light” food. It makes us feel happy and energetic (at least initially) and provides the perfect balance to something like salt. (Caffeine is also a “light” food, and frequently these grounding foods will cause caffeine cravings too.) Try it and see. Eat a few handfuls of potato chips. Do you automatically reach for a soda? Or a beer? Or a sweet fruit or baked good? Or perhaps a sweetened iced-coffee?
Pay attention to how your sweet cravings are linked to your consumption of the foods mentioned above, and if there is a link, either consider limiting these foods, or pairing them with a more gentle sweet food, something like a piece of fruit. For instance, if you’re having salty eggs for breakfast, have a piece of fruit with the eggs to deter any cravings for a harsher sweet (candy, cookie, etc.) that you otherwise would have later that morning.
5. Find sweetness in non-food ways
Last, but certainly not least, we can all use more hugs, kind words, massages and time spent relaxing with loved ones (as best we can with the restrictions these days, due to social distancing recommendations). Slow down and make time for these things in your life, and you will find you are not reaching into that candy bowl quite as often.
Photo from here, with thanks.
← Older Post
Newer Post →
Categories
Humanized Health - NEW!
Learn about personalized health from top experts! Check out our fascinating new shows every week, available as videos, podcasts and transcripts.:
Our Bloggers
-
Paula Gallagher
Paula is a highly qualified and experienced nutrition counselor on the staff at Village Green.
read more.. -
Margo Gladding
Margo's impressive knowledge base is the result of a unique blend of educational and professional experience.
read more.. -
Dr. Neal Barnard
Dr. Barnard leads programs advocating for preventive medicine, good nutrition, and higher ethical standards in research.
read more.. -
Dr. Joseph Pizzorno
Dr. Joseph Pizzorno, ND is a pioneer of integrative medicine and a leading authority on science-based natural medicine.
read more.. -
Debi Silber
Debi is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition, a personal trainer, and whole health coach.
read more.. -
Teri Cochrane
Teri is a is a Certified Coach Practitioner with extensive certifications and experience in holistic medicinal practices.
read more.. -
Dr. Rav Ivker
Dr. Rav Ivker is a holistic family physician, health educator, and best-selling author.
read more.. -
Susan Levin
Susan writes about the connection between plant-based diets and a reduced risk of chronic diseases.
read more.. -
Dr. Rob Brown
Dr. Brown's blended perspective of healthcare includes a deeply rooted passion for wellness and spiritual exploration.
read more..
Invalid password
Enter