Cravings for sweet treats like candy, desserts, or sugary drinks are hard to resist. While it's okay to enjoy them sometimes, having them often can lead to unhealthy habits and weight gain. But don't worry, you can take control of your sugar cravings with some simple tricks.
Understanding Post-Meal Cravings
There are a few reasons why you might crave sweets after your main meal. The main reason is digesting your food takes energy, and sugar gives a quick boost. Plus, eating certain sweets can make the body produce serotonin, a chemical that makes you feel good.
Moreover, lifestyle can play a part in sugar cravings. For example, if you don't get enough sleep, you might crave junk food and sugary snacks even more. This is because poor sleep can mess with your hunger hormones and make you want high-calorie foods, which often have lots of sugar in them.
Tips to Combat Sugar Cravings
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Maintain Stable Blood Sugar Levels: Skipping meals can lead to sugar cravings. Include low-glycemic index foods in your meals and snacks, such as oats, wholegrain bread, quinoa, sweet potato, lentils, beans, milk, yogurt, and fruits like bananas, mandarins, kiwis, mangos, and pears.
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Eat High-Fiber Foods: Fruits, veggies, and grains (like oats, legumes, and seeds) help you feel full and stabilize blood sugar levels, managing sugar cravings. Try including a high-fiber food with each meal.
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Avoid Keeping Sweets at Home: While you don't need to completely avoid sweet treats, managing sugar cravings is easier if you don't have them readily available. Stock up on healthy snack options instead and involve the family in preparing nutritious snacks.
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Identify the Cause of Cravings: Understand if your sugar cravings stem from hunger or other factors like stress or boredom. Address non-hungry eating by engaging in non-food-related activities or managing stress through walks, fresh air, music, or professional help.
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Opt for Protein-Based Snacks: Low-fat Greek yogurt or nuts help stabilize blood sugar levels and keep you feeling full, reducing sugar cravings.
Foods that Help Prevent Cravings
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Berries
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Avocado
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Pistachios
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Sesame Seeds
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Chia Seeds
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Quinoa
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Oats
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Dates
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Sweet Potatoes
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Smoothies
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Protein or Fruit-Based Ice Creams
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Yogurt
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Dark Chocolate
Other Methods to Curb Sugar Cravings
Take a Walk
Try going for a walk when you have sugar cravings. Endorphins, or "feel good" hormones, released by exercise can help you suppress your appetite. This will help you distract your mind and prevent calorie intake.
Drink Enough Water
Dehydration is another reason why you are craving something sweet. You may feel a strong want to consume anything sweet when you are parched, but all your body requires is water. Hence, drink enough water and consume healthy beverages to curb your sugar cravings.
