How to Kill Sugar Cravings
For most people trying to lose weight or maintain a figure, cutting down on sugar is an obvious way to do this. Sugar may taste good, but it provides no nutrition, is full of calories, and can rot your teeth. But giving up sugary foods is not always easy, especially if your body craves sweet snacks and desserts. The best way to kill sugar cravings is to channel those cravings into productive pursuits like exercise. In time, the cravings will pass. If you are going to eat some sweets, however, it's best to resist artificial alternatives and enjoy naturally sweet and healthy foods.
Instructions
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Let the craving pass. While this may sound easier said than done, most sugar cravings are short term and leave as quickly as they kick in. Becoming aware that you're experiencing a sugar craving, rather than eating something sweet, is a crucial step toward building up the willpower to resist those urges. When you notice a craving, acknowledge it and then do something else to distract yourself. Before you know it, the craving will be gone.
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Resist sugar substitutes. There are many kinds of sugar substitutes that promise all the taste of sugar with none of the calories. However, sugar substitutes don't really taste or feel quite like sugar, and instead of calories, they deliver the risks that often accompany exposure to laboratory-created foods. Plus, using sugar substitutes as a crutch will only feed your sugar cravings and ensure they'll be back with a vengeance.
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Substitute healthier sweets---transfer your cravings to health foods. The next time you crave sugar, reach for some raisins, grapes or other fruits. Carrots will taste sweet, too, if you aren't eating much refined sugar. If you're going to eat sweets, you might as well get some nutrition out of them rather than empty calories.
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Exercise. The best way to kill sugar cravings is to be more active. Exercise releases endorphins that make make you feel good and that suppress your appetite and desire for junk foods and sweets. A strenuous walk or jog or some other cardiovascular activity is an ideal way to channel those cravings into a positive action.
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Eat snacks. Another way to fight sugar cravings is to eat small amounts regularly. Eating too much at one time can lower your energy level and actually trigger a sugar craving. Eating up to six light meals or snacks per day will keep your energy level more steady and reduce your cravings. Plus, you can always include a little natural sugar from fruits or vegetables in your snacks to keep your sweet tooth satisfied.
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Tips & Warnings
If you're going to indulge in something decadent, enjoy the real thing. The trick is to practice moderation. The easiest way to do this is to plan in advance what you'll allow yourself to have and how much. Then when you have it, make it last. Eat your sweets slowly and savor every bite. If you think about how good it was for hours or days afterward, that's fine---just don't use it as an excuse to overindulge.
