3 Secrets To Curb Sugar Cravings
Sugar, sugar, sugar! It’s everywhere! (Am I right, or am I right?)
Mainstream nutritional advice is to limit processed sugar, eat more vegetables, and fill up on fruits!
Almost every health and wellness professional suggests this straightforward, but not so simple, message.
But to be honest, kicking sugar out of your diet has a bigger positive impact than any other dietary change. (I’m speaking the truth!)
In this modern world, we are surrounded by unhealthy foods filled with processed sugar that are wreaking havoc on our health.
In a conventional supermarket, you can literally find sugar in disguise in almost every nutritional label!
For this very reason, I stopped taking my son with me to the grocery store. Supermarkets are not kid-friendly places, people!
Sugar addiction is the most widespread, and probably least managed health problem in the western world. As human beings, we are wired to want sugar because it gives us quick energy. (Unfortunately!)
So, what steps can you take to manage sugar cravings?
3 SECRETS TO CURB SUGAR CRAVINGS
STEP 1: STOP BEATING YOURSELF UP
When your craving comes up, address it without judgment. Acknowledge that you have a choice at this moment.
You either eat what you’re craving, or you pause for a moment and assess if it’s something you really need. Embrace the craving and sit with any feelings that are coming up for you! Don’t push it aside!
Remember that what you resist persists. If you resist it, your next craving will be even stronger. Instead, practice addressing the source of this discomfort and craving.
What are you feeling at this moment? Are you really hungry? Are you thirsty? Could you be bored or sad? Is this specific craving regularly occurring?
Each situation has a story, so you need to address the source of the feelings as you go.
When I feel a craving coming up, I treat it just like I treat my toddler having a temper tantrum in the supermarket! I take a deep breath and acknowledge that I have two choices at this very moment: the option to indulge him or the choice to wait for the storm to pass.
Waiting for the storm to pass seems like the most difficult decision (you know, when everyone around is staring at you!), but I always survive the storm, and it’s so worth it!
STEP 2: OPT FOR GOOD SWEETS
Stop feeding your addiction! You crave what you eat! #mindblown
When you start feeding your body with nutrient-dense foods, your chances of having sugar cravings will decrease dramatically! (I’ve seen it with my clients time and time again!)
If your body has enough good quality multi-source nutrients, it likely won’t be asking for anything else. For me, adding greens, fruits, and healthy fats has helped in reducing my refined sugar intake.
Which brings me to….
Satisfy your sweet tooth naturally.
I’m a mom, and my son loves sugar! Fortunately, he has learned to love fruit! (A LOT!)
This kid could eat fruit all day. And to be honest, I learned to make peace with this, and stop fighting meal time to get him to eat more of other foods. (I know that will come in time!)
He’s growing and healthy! What more could I ask for?
STEP 3: FUEL YOUR SOUL
Add sweetness to your life!
What places, people, or activities can make you feel an immediate sense of peace, satisfaction, and happiness?
For me, it’s connecting with the people I love!
Calling up a friend immediately energizes me versus eating a sugary treat which I know is not healthy for my body.
I also love hiking! Getting lost in the forest, enjoying some fresh air, and giving my body some healthy exercise makes me feel amazing.
What activities bring you sweetness in your life?
Consider making a list of all your favorite things to do and choose from it when you have a craving as if it was your very own dessert menu!
BUH-BYE CRAVINGS
It’s so important to fill your body with good quality nutrients first and then address when a sugar craving is coming on.
Remember, you do have a choice whether to enjoy a treat or not! And if you’re a mom, try treating your next sugar craving like a small child… it might help you to see things from a different perspective!
Comment below and tell us how you successfully handle a sugar craving!
