How To Break Free Of The Sugar Cravings
Can you relate? No matter how much you muster up the “Willpower,” you can not control the need to grab something sugary and sweet every day?
The struggle to control yourself around sugar is real. No matter how hard you try.
I am here to tell you that you are NOT ADDICTED to sugar. But, you have some intense cravings, those CRAVINGS are real.
“The more sugar you eat, the faster you age.”
Ditching added sugar should be at the top of the list for living a more vibrant, joyful, healthy life. Yet, the idea of cutting it out as some people feel like you are asking them to cut off a limb. Know this; the food industry has sugar lurking in 70 percent of packaged and processed foods: bread, snacks, yogurts, sauces, “health foods,” bars, breakfast items, and more.
Curbing your dependence on sugar is not about a diet or deprivation. One of the most important things you can do to improve your health, vitality, and lifespan is to stabilize your blood sugar - it should be at the top of your list.
How Sugar Affects Your Body and Brain
Heart Disease - Too much sugar creates inflammation, which you may or may not notice. Many ignore the signs. The inflammation can lead to cardiovascular disease and heart attacks.
Obesity - Extra calories from excess sugar are detrimental to our bodies; obesity increases the risk for cancers, liver disease, heart disease, also leading to negative heart and vascular health conditions.
Mental/Emotional Health - Research has shown that heavy sugar consumption is linked to an increased risk of depression, and can make anxiety symptoms appear elevated.
Gut Health and Digestion - excess sugar can lead to an imbalance in the different bacterias or microbes in our guts, leading to a suppressed immune system, infections, mood swings, anxiety, and chronic inflammation.
Diabetes and Insulin Resistance (IR) - The escalation of these need to be taken seriously, your chances of developing nerve damage, neurological damage, weight loss resistance, and shortened healthy lifespan is exponential with IR and Diabetes.
Age Faster - Aging is accelerated with excess sugar and will increase the appearance of wrinkles, develop dark age spots, and sagging skin, and increase acne.
Alzheimer’s disease - research shows that people with high blood sugar levels have higher rates of Alzheimer's, which some researchers and scientists believe is triggered by a type of Insulin Resistance.
How to Break Free From Sugar Cravings
Have a Kitchen Cleanse Party - To follow through, eliminate all temptations in your home. Let’s face it is hard to cave into the cravings when the food is not lurking in the kitchen. Honestly, ditch all cookies, ice cream, crackers, yogurt, candy, chocolate (you can Do It), fruit snacks, dried fruit, and cereals that have any added sugar in them.
Add in Healthy Alternatives - While this may not sound satisfactory - YET - be patient. The best option is to swap sweet foods with vegetables that have crunch, try sour foods - like pickles and krauts (better for gut flora). Add spices to foods. Check out some teas that have Adaptogens in them to alleviate any anxious thoughts about not having your “sugar.” One of my favorites is Tulsi Tea. Consider this like training; you are working on satisfying your sweet tooth with nourishing choices to live healthier longer.
Prioritize Sleep - You need 7-9 hours of sleep every night to help stabilize our hormones that dictate hunger and satiety. Less sleep = carbohydrate cravings. Better sleep = better choices.
𝗘𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 - Prioritize mostly PROTEIN and Vegetables (Fiber), and some healthy fats at every meal. Why? To avoid sugar rollercoaster and to leave you feeling satisfied.
Move your body - Take a walk, add yoga, or a gym class, stretch, get up often during the day, do yoga, barre or pilates. Most times, when you change your environment and even move for 10 minutes, the craving will disappear.
𝗕𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲 & 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 - Mindset matters, Are you looking for deeper connections? Are you bored? Do you crave more creative endeavors? When we lack a feeling of living a meaningful and vibrant life, it is easy to turn to food, alcohol, or other non-loving behaviors to fill the void.
You do not have to be a slave to your cravings.Join us for a 7-day Free Break the Sugar Cravings Challenge beginning January 27. Join the Private Group here.