If there is a craving for sweets, it means that the body is missing something. Cravings are usually caused by a lack of nutrients, but they can also appear for emotional reasons. In order to overcome addiction to sweets, you must first focus on a healthy diet of natural, healthy foods. The more whole and fresh foods we eat, the more nutrients our bodies get – and the less we crave sweets.
Check out 10 simple tips to reduce sugar cravings.
1. Eat foods high in magnesium
These include dark leafy vegetables, cocoa beans, nuts and seeds, brown rice, quinoa, and avocados. Sweet cravings can be the result of a magnesium deficiency in the body.
2. Choose foods rich in chromium
Don’t forget broccoli, sweet potatoes, apples, whole grains, and organic eggs. Chromium regulates sugar and cholesterol levels and helps reduce the need for sweets.
3. Pay attention to foods containing zinc
Zinc is found in abundance in whole grains, pumpkin seeds, Brazil nuts, organic eggs, and oysters. Zinc is essential for the production of insulin, and a deficiency can make you crave sweets.
4. Add cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom to your meals
These spices will not only naturally sweeten your food, but will also help balance blood sugar levels and reduce sugar addiction.
5. Eat fermented foods
Start eating pickled vegetables. Acidic foods help to naturally reduce sugar cravings and at the same time contain probiotics that support a healthy digestive system.
6. Make Sure You Are Providing Healthy Fats
They fill you up and help keep your blood sugar stable. Healthy fats are found in avocados, nuts and seeds, coconut and olive oil, read more about fats here. Try adding coconut oil to your diet. It is the source of the healthy saturated fat we need. You can cook with coconut oil (stew vegetables, use in baked goods) or add to smoothies.
7. Cut back on caffeine, alcohol, and processed foods
Caffeine and alcohol dehydrate the body and can lead to mineral deficiencies. Processed foods are not only high in sugar, but also high in salt, which also triggers sugar cravings. However, don’t go to extremes. Sometimes you can still afford a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. Moderation is important.
8. Eat unrefined (“raw”) apple cider vinegar
Since apple cider vinegar helps maintain the balance of yeast and bacteria in the digestive system that need sugar to feed, it can help reduce sugar requirements. Add 1 tablespoon of this vinegar to your morning glass of water. I do this regularly using homemade apple cider vinegar.
9. Get enough sleep and exercise regularly
When we get tired, we often eat sweets. Regular exercise and healthy sleep are energizing and stress-relieving. I know for sure that if I don’t get enough sleep, I will think about sweets all day long.
10. Manage stress and emotions
Spend more time on things that feed your body, mind and soul, and remember that stress is not caused by external factors, but by the way we perceive life situations.