Better Ways to Satisfy That Sweets Craving
Sugar
Satisfy That Sweets Craving
We all know sugar is bad for us. That horse has been ridden to death many times over. Sugar has no minerals, vitamins, or essential fats. It contains no proteins. All it gives us are empty calories that will stick to our waistlines, take forever to work off at the gym, and rot our teeth if we are not careful.
Another result of too much sugar? Rotting teeth from plaque that gathers between teeth and leads to decay. According to the site https://dentistinellicottcity.com:
“Plaque is a naturally occurring matrix of minerals and bacteria that forms on teeth. As plaque builds up, bacteria accumulate. The bacteria eat starches and sugars, then create an acidic byproduct. Acid softens enamel, causing erosion, dental sensitivity, and allowing bacteria can invade and cause cavities.”
Among other things, consuming too much sugar is a recipe for non-alcoholic liver disease. Eating more than the daily allowance for sugar can lead to insulin resistance in the body. This can further lead to diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Insulin is also key to regulating abnormal cell growth in the body. Scientists now believe that your insulin levels play a role in developing cancer.
But all this information is of little help in thwarting a sugar craving. So what can individuals do to satisfy their sugar tooth in healthier ways? We break it down.
Go dark with your chocolate.
Cutting back on sweets all at once can lead to a binge session sometime in your future. A better way for controlling your sweets craving? Give yourself what you want in small, measured doses so that you no longer are dealing with an out-of-control craving.
A good option here is a bar of dark chocolate that is at 70 to 85 percent cocoa. With such a high percentage of cocoa, you are getting 11 grams of fiber in a 100 gram bar. As well as scoring high marks for magnesium, copper, manganese, iron, and potassium. Dark chocolate is a terrific source of antioxidants. It has also been studied in relation to lowering cardiovascular disease risk.
Choose fruit.
Your body interprets all sugar the same. But some sources of sugar come with additional minerals and vitamins, making them a more favorable choice. Case in point: Fruit. Apples, oranges, and berries all come with fiber and are chockfull of the nutrients that you need in your diet. Fruit can satisfy a sugar craving just as well as a candy bar, with only a fraction of the sugar content.
Go through your house and get rid of all the junk candy and replace it with fresh fruit for you to nosh on the next time a craving hits.
Make sure you get 8 to 9 hours of sleep each night.
Do you notice a pattern with your sweets cravings? Do they typically hit at night when you are sleepy? Sugar is one of the quickest sources of energy for the body, which is often why you begin to crave sugar toward the end of the day.
Instead of that sugar high, which will keep you up, go to bed. Give your body what it really needs, versus what it wants in the moment. Quality sleep hours mean fewer midnight hours in the kitchen trying to resist temptation.
Fill up your tank (stomach) with water and real foods.
Drink the daily recommended amount of water. Make sure you hit all your macro nutrient levels for food. Doing these two things will keep your stomach full of what your body needs to perform at its peak. This will also keep cravings away because a full stomach is less likely to call for more foods to fill it. Besides, how many of us drink all the water we are supposed to per day?
The next time a sweets craving hits? Tell yourself to first drink a glass of water and check to see if you have eaten the daily required amount of protein, fiber, and calcium. Once you hit your requirements for those, then allow yourself a controlled portion of dark chocolate or fruit.
Walk it off!
Occasionally, a sweets craving will hit that has nothing to do with the body’s need for calories and more to do with boredom. Instead of looking at pictures of enticing foods on Tumblr or Instagram, take a walk instead. It will take your mind off of sweets and give you something to keep you occupied until the craving passes.
Additionally, being in and around nature in the outdoors reduces one’s stress levels and can help you feel calmer and more at peace. Being stressed out can often trigger sweet cravings, which is why taking that walk is good for you on many levels!
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