Overcoming cravings is all the rage, but do you really have to give up sugar to get rid of them? The answer is a resounding no. Check out this post to learn how to stop sugar cravings without giving up sugar.
If you’ve never had a craving then I question if you’re even human?
As biology states, cravings are necessary and normal. So the question is less about how you stop them and instead how you manage them for success.
Because if you’re human, you’re going to crave things.
Now I know that can be frustrating, but I promise you, learning to free yourself from the power of the craving and learning to channel that into health can make all of the difference.
Inside the podcast, I share the anatomy of a craving. Everything including the purpose, where cravings come from and how you can manage them. As you will learn, it’s not just a matter of willpower, and you aren’t weak if you can’t overcome them. They are true biological and physiological process happening inside your body through many different enzymes, neurotransmitters, and hormones.
Complicated, sure?
But the truth, the answer to overcoming hormones is the answer for everything. Find out the five ways to overcome your cravings inside. And keep reading to uncover the best kinds of sugar and chocolate you should be consuming.
Listen on iTunes | Listen on Stitcher | Listen on Google Play | Review the Podcast
stop the lie
The common denominator in eliminating cravings is to remove sugar. The problem with this model is that our body relies on sugar for fuel. Now, of course, there are other fuel sources such as ketones that your body can and will use, but small amounts of glucose are the ideal mechanism for a properly functioning endocrine system and brain.
I know this is wildly debated, but my gut and research still indicate that long-term glucose is needed. Therefore when someone eliminates all sugar, including fruits, honey, maple syrup and starchy vegetables you’re also eliminating a necessary need in the body.
When the need isn’t fulfilled a craving stirs up stronger and longer until you give in.
This is why a craving, any craving stems only from two places:
- Glucose Deficiency
- Adrenaline Rush – which is often caused by a glucose deficiency
Stop believing the lie that the only way to eliminate the craving is to remove any sources of sugar. This methodology is causing more harm than good through the long-run.
end the craving
The best way to stop the craving is to prevent glucose deficiency. Now I’m not here to tell you to eat a high carbohydrate diet, that is not the answer – at all. The answer is to eat enough glucose from natural sources that fulfill this deficiency, so you don’t trigger the biofeedback loop of a craving.
Doing this means providing a source of glucose at every meal.
Healthy natural sources of glucose include:
- fruits
- vegetables
- starchy vegetables
- pure local honey
confused?
But cravings can be confusing. You see when your body is deficient in glucose, it signals a sugar craving, it’s not specific enough to make you crave fruits and starchy vegetables over candy. So you grab the easy source, the diet pop, the latte, the candy on your co-worker’s desk and the late night ice cream snack.
But what would change if you added an aspect of glucose to every meal you eat? Would that eliminate your cravings? Many experts agree that it would. That means adding a fruit, starchy vegetable or even some honey to your tea can ward off cravings for sugar.
Or any craving for that matter.
other reasons you crave
Of course, there are other reasons you can crave food, all of which stem from four things:
- True Biological Hunger – Your body is literally starving for energy.
- Deficiency – Whether that’s in a micronutrient or in sleep, your body is deficient.
- Hormonal Imbalance – Considering hormones are distinguished through hormones, having a smooth running endocrine system can change what you crave.
- Gut Health – Like anything your gut can say a lot about your health. Having the wrong microbiome can change your taste buds and your food preferences. Not to mention, stimulate different hormonal responses and signals to the brain changing the chemistry to make you crave all the wrong things.
Working through each of these can also help you reduce your cravings – or better said manage them. Like getting a good nights sleep can help you eat less and crave less, so can a good workout. Take time to understand the root of your cravings to understand how to deal with them.
eat sugar
But as mentioned, it’s not just about eliminating sugar but about choosing the right kinds and using them in the right ways. You can get my free healthy sugar guide below.
What should we know about sugar?
Should we rely on them? Absolutely not.
Should we use excess amounts of them? Of course not.
Should we enjoy them? YES! YES! YES!
Sugar has reward-value, it is enjoyable and pleasurable not just in your thoughts but physiologically in your body. The goal is not to eliminate this drive but to transition it so that wholesome, real foods like a piece of fruit can bring you the satisfaction that the pop will.
That you’ll be able to use “natures candy” to get your fix and no longer crave all the wrong things.
fix your cravings
The easy solution to fix your cravings is to make sure you’re well rested and well fed. Which means you’re consuming complete meals full of protein, healthy fat and produce {the best source of glucose}.
what sugars to consume
Of course baking season is upon us, and we all love a good banana bread every once in a while right? So what sugar is good and how much is too much?
Technically the World Health Organization states that we should have no more than 25 grams of sugar a day, which equates to roughly 1-2 tablespoons a day. It’s not much and something that we need to be watching. But if you do use a sweetener in your tea, baking or on your yogurt parfait this is what I would recommend;
- Fresh or frozen fruit – Use a banana to sweeten a smoothie or blueberries to spice up your parfait.
- Honey – Which not only adds sweetness but has been found to have its own beneficial properties such as being a good source of antioxidants as well as antibacterial and antifungal properties.
- Maple Syrup – Follows suit with honey in being a good source of antioxidants as well as nutrients and even some minerals like zinc, magnesium, and calcium.
- Coconut Nectar or Sugar – It has some antioxidant properties, but this one is good because it rates lower on the glycemic index, meaning it doesn’t have the spike that other granular sugars have.
Of course, there are a few others like molasses but you can get them all inside my free healthy sugar guide as well as one of my all-time favorite cookie recipes.
take home
Remember, it’s not just about eliminating but about creating balance around the natural sources of sugar. More importantly how you can develop a healthy relationship with your body and how it responds to natural sugars, so you don’t find yourself in the trap of deprivation and starvation.
Not all sugars are created equal.
Get to know your body and your cravings and start working on ways to feed it what it needs.
chocolate
By the way, did you know a dose of high-quality dark chocolate a day is a great way to work to overcome true addictions, even to sugar? Try breaking off a piece after meals and letting it melt in your mouth. Then notice, did your afternoon cravings disappear? Were you more satisfied?
Here are some of my favorite dark chocolate brands:
subscribe to the show
Don’t forget to subscribe to Simple Roots Radio to make sure you are notified as soon as another podcast comes out. Sometimes I can be a little slow to inform you, and this ensures that you get the show right on your phone to listen anytime you want!
If you have some feedback to share or an exciting shout out on your journey, leave a note in the comments below. I would love to know your reactions to the show and how you’re taking steps in owning your own story.
Finally, if you enjoyed the show, I’d love it if you’d take a minute to leave a rating and review. Through these reviews, we can work to make the show better and align more closely with the information you need to live your best life. It only takes a minute and makes a world of difference in the presence of this show.
I WOULD BE SO THANKFUL IF YOU WOULD
rate and review the show
click here for instructions on how to rate and review the show
Missed an episode? Click here to listen to all of the episodes of Simple Roots
