Cookies, cakes, brownies, pies--oh my! If you regularly crave sugar foods, then it may be time to kick your sweet tooth to the curb to reduce your dependency on sugar and improve your health. Because sugar cravings can be caused both by your body and by outside influences (such as stress or sadness), it is important to address both in your attempts to cure your sugar cravings.
Step 1
Remove all sugary foods from your home, office, car or any other places where you may be prone to stash candy, cookies or other sweets. By removing the temptation for these types of foods, you will be less likely to consume them while making healthier food choices.
Step 2
Identify areas of your life that may be causing you stress. Because stress can trigger your desire to eat a food that is comforting, such as high-sugar foods. Try other stress-relieving activities, such as meditation, deep breathing, exercise or other techniques that may help to reduce stress that may cause cravings.
Step 3
Replace sugary foods with healthier alternatives, these can include a dessert of fresh fruit instead of a cookie or slice of pie. Other sweet, but low sugar and calorie food options include caramel or chocolate-flavored rice cakes, low-fat frozen yogurt, chocolate skim milk or fat-free whipped topping.
Step 4
When you feel a sugar craving coming on, work to distract yourself through activities such as taking a walk, listening to music, drinking a glass of water or calling a friend. Another option is to brush your teeth regularly, which may discourage you from eating sugary foods.
Step 5
Inhale the scent of vanilla, which studies show may help to reduce sugar cravings, according to CNN.com. Vanilla helps to send messages to the neuropeptides in the brain, which tricks the brain into feeling as if the body has consumed sugary substances. Most vanilla scents, such as vanilla extract, a vanilla candle or vanilla-scented lotion has been shown to help control cravings.
Tips and Warnings
- If you are desperate for a sugar fix, try to reduce the portion size of your favorite treat by cutting it in half or (better yet), into fourths. This helps to make you feel less deprived, but introduces less sugar into the body. Lighter or low-sugar alternatives, such as angel food cakes, low-fat cookies or less-fat versions of cakes, muffins or pies.
- Watch out for the 3 p.m. slump, where your body tends to crave sugar more. Use the earlier-mentioned tips to distract you or re-energize your body or try eating a small piece of hard candy instead.
Things You'll Need
- fresh fruit
- vanilla scents, such as candles, lotions or other home fragrances
- healthy food choices, such as whole grains
Member Comments