What To Do About Sugar Cravings?
It’s officially the start of “sugar season” as the cooler weather sets in and holiday fun begins! It may start with a cookie at work, a latte with extra whipping cream or a piece of pumpkin pie. And these “bonus sugars” are in often addition to the health sugars or carbohydrates that you consume in your daily diet of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Before you know it, you are addicted to an extra daily serving of a sugary food.
Having a “sweet tooth” is joked about, but is no laughing matter. An occasional indulgence in a sweet treat is not the problem, but over-consumption is a problem. According to the American Heart Association, the average American tends to eat 22 teaspoons of sugar a day! This excess of sugar intake is linked to diabetes, obesity, chronic yeast infections, leaky gut syndrome and a whole host of other maladies. The recommended limit is about 6 teaspoons a day for woman and 9 teaspoons/day for men.
Why Do You Crave Sugar?
We all know that sweets taste good! Sugars or carbohydrates stimulate the release of the feel-good brain chemical called serotonin. The sugars also cause the release of endorphins that cause you to temporarily feel calm and relaxed. Rewarding ourselves with more sweet treats reinforces these feelings!
How Does a Sugar Craving Develop?
If you tend to over-consume foods with sugar or carbohydrates, your blood glucose levels rise and become very high. Then your blood glucose levels crash and you may become irritable, shaky and/or tired. Your body craves more sugar to boost your blood glucose back up and the cycle restarts itself. Over time, your cells become numb to the insulin that you produce to handle these high blood glucose levels and you may become insulin resistant. This situation can contribute to high blood pressure, inflammation and weight gain around your abdomen.
How To Manage Sugar Cravings
Sugar cravings can be managed and reversed by the following steps. You’ll be able to function with more stable blood sugar and feel energized and grounded:
Guess how many sugar temptations are available at checkout counters? 90 candy bars and 40 sodas – yikes!
REFERENCES:
American Heart Association: “Carbohydrates and Sugars.”
American Heart Association: “Carbohydrate Addiction.”
WebMD Feature: “Break the Sugar Habit.”
