“I Swear, I Was Going To Stop At One” Cravings And How To Break Your Sugar Addiction
We’ve all done it. Said we were just going to have a taste and before we know it we have devoured the entire pint of ice cream. Just a few chips…and a whole bag later. So what drives these cravings and why can’t we break the sugar addiction? It’s not just a matter of willpower, it’s a matter of biology.
“Excessive insulin levels provoked by highly processed carbohydrates cause fat cells to suck up too many calories, leaving too few calories in the right places. When the blood stream runs low on calories, the brain triggers an alarm system, leading to hunger, and cravings. We specifically cave highly processed carbohydrates–chips, cookies,crackers, candy, cake, and the like-for one simple reason: They make us feel better within a few minutes. The problem is, they also make us feel worse for hours afterward, setting up the next addictive cycle.” – David Ludwig, MD, PHD
Even if your superpower was the ability to say no to Oreos, your biology would still crave those delicious spheres of death. All this talk of sugar cravings is bringing up a terrible memory of eating an entire bag of Oreos two at a time, you know because I was just going to have two more. Or the time I was selling candy bars as a teenager and ate more than half the box…the ones with the caramel filling. And don’t even get me started on Thin Mints.
Thankfully, those days are behind me. So how did I break my sugar addiction? I implemented these 5 steps and put an end to my sugar cravings. And you can too!
1. EAT MORE PROTEIN: Protein will help balance out blood sugar which helps reduce sugar
cravings. Some of the best protein foods out there to help kick sugar addiction include:
Wild fish - salmon or tuna
Black Beans
Chicken
Kefir
Yogurt
Free-Range Eggs
Raw cheese
2. EAT MORE FIBER:Fiber helps you stay fuller longer. It also supports detoxification . You want to aim for 35–40 grams of fiber a day. Start consuming more high fiber
foods especially vegetables and nuts and seeds, like chia seeds and flaxseeds. Here are
some more high fiber foods:
Asian pears
Quinoa
Berries
Chickpeas
Coconut
Black Beans
Figs
Turnips
Artichokes
3. EAT MORE HEALTHY FATS: Your body can burn sugar for energy or fat for energy. If you
stop consuming so much sugar and start consuming more fat, your body will become at fat
burner. You will reduce your sugar cravings and begin to lose weight. Be sure you are
consuming healthy fats. A Cheeseburger from McDonalds does not constitute a healthy
fat! Here are some healthy fats to add to your diet daily:
Coconut oil
Coconut milk
Olive oil
Grass fed butter or Ghee
Walnuts
Aalmonds
Avocados
4. EAT MORE PROBIOTIC RICH FOODS: probiotics are the good bacteria found in our gut.
Foods rich in probiotics will help to balance your gut microbiome. They fight off and
reduce candida in your body, which is why they will help to reduce sugar cravings.
Coconut kefir
Raw cheese
Miso
Tempeh
Brine-cured olives
Salted gherkin pickles
Apple Cider Vinegar
The first few days may be a struggle, but once you consistently follow these steps, you will watch your sugar cravings disappear!
