Simple Rules for Eating When You Are Craving Sugar

It's normal to crave sugar! Sugar cravings are the body's defense to ensuring your blood sugar doesn't drop below a critical level. However,sugar craving becomes unhealthy when you indulge in consuming unhealthy sources of sugar such as refined sugar. Generally, consuming too much sugar can lead to a sugar crash. 

As such, it is best toconsume healthy sugar in the form of fructose, lactose, and so on. And even at that, it is important to limit the amount of sugar consumed daily. If you are wondering how to control sugar cravings and what to eat instead, you've come to the right place. This article elaborates on simple rules to deal with sugar cravings. 

5 tips on how to control sugar cravings 

If you want to lead a healthier lifestyle, getting good control over what you eat is a good place to start. It is very easy to let cravings dictate what we eat. And even caution is not taken, it can lead to all sorts of health challenges. Below are some helpful tips to help you better deal with sugar cravings. 

1. Prioritize sleep 

Topping our list is having a good amount of sleep. When you don't sleep right, your sugar cravings spike because the body needs an energy source to stay active. You don't necessarily need to take afternoon naps to get enough rest. As long as your sleeping schedule is healthy, you're good to go. 

2. Eat regularly 

While fasting benefits your body and mental health, regularly eating can help you maintain much better control over cravings for certain foods, particularly sugar. The body's main source of energy is sugar. So when you eat regularly, you help keep the body fueled for daily activities. 

3. Move your body 

Moving your body or exercising is another way to control your sugar cravings better. Rather than sitting in one spot, probably working all day, try to get out, go for a walk, or engage in a social activity. This action helps get you out of your comfort zone, where you're more likely to want to get someone sugary. 

4. Drink water 

The importance of staying hydrated cannot be overemphasized enough. The body needs at least 3 to 4 liters of water daily, depending on the day's activity. So don't wait till you're thirsty before drinking water. Always have a bottle or water handle anywhere you are, particularly when you're at work. You can also drinkglucose tea to help you balance your blood sugar levels. 

5. Smart grocery list 

Another smart move you can take to limit your sugar intake is by making smart grocery choices. When shopping for groceries, don't buy items that contain a lot of refined sugar. So even if you're craving sugar, you'd not have any that will cause any temptation; as such, you'd be forced to eat the healthy alternatives. 

What to eat when craving sugar? 

There are many healthy sources of sugar you can opt for that don't come with so many downsides like sugar crashes. Below are some healthy alternatives you can go for when craving sugar. 

• Fruit 

Fruits are an excellent source of healthy sugar. Fruits contain mainly fructose which is easily digestible by the body. For example, strawberries, apples, oranges, bananas, etc. Note that the amount of sugar in different fruits differs and is known to have little effect on blood sugar levels. 

• Dried fruits 

Dried fruits are another excellent source of healthy sugar and fiber, which the body needs to stay healthy. Mainly dried seeds are fibrous and may contain high protein and fat. These dried fruits aid digestion, and chewing them could help with sugar cravings. 

• Protein (Greek yogurt) 

Some sources of protein can also serve as an excellent sugar alternative to eat when you are craving sugar. Particularly, when you pair fruits with protein, the health benefits are immense such as keeping your blood sugar balanced. Moreover, when you eat more protein, it reduces your cravings for sugary processed meals. 

• Raw vegetables 

Also, vegetables are another great alternative you can indulge in when craving something sugary. Vegetables contain a lot of healthy phytochemicals that help the body in many ways. For example, vegetables like leafy green spinach, kale, and broccoli contain thylakoids which generally reduce cravings. 

The more you reduce your excessive refined sugar intake, the healthier you become. The more refined sugar you consume, the more health risk you expose yourself to, like obesity, heart-related illness, etc. So when you're having sugar cravings next, remember these healthy alternatives shared in this article to help you stay healthy.