5 Ways to Control your Sweet Tooth

 

Most of us are much too partial to cakes and sweets, though we know that too much sugar is unfavorable to our overall good health. However, it is said that sugar habits are addictive enough that it is hard to control and curb. While you are always thinking about those chocolates, desserts, and sweets, the body itself also craves for sugar possibly due to some internal causes like hormonal and emotional imbalance. It is even said that some pathogenic bacteria and parasites that may reside in the body feed off sugar, which also increases sugar cravings.

However, you can control your sugar cravings in a number of ways, and often, it all depends on the will and your drive. Here are some of them:

Increase your means.

Serotonin, the “happiness hormone,” is abundant in supply on most foods with heavy sugar content, that is why it is an old maxim that eating chocolate makes people feel better. However, there are a variety of ways in which you can increase serotonin levels in the body. Working out, adequate amounts of sleep, and proper diet are just some of them.

Trick your taste buds.

Rather than binging on sugary desserts, try to mix up your meals with fruit-based foods. Making a habit of consuming fresh and dried fruits, or natural smoothies, will trick your body into thinking that you are satisfying your sugar hunger, even before the cravings kick in. If you get your sugar rush from soda and sugary juices, try diluting them with equal parts water or seltzer, which will gradually reduce the amount of sugary drinks in your diet over time. This way, your body will be trained to expect less sugar from drinks.

Choose the “lesser evil”.

Not all sugar products and sweets are the same, though they are all fulfilling to your body. When starting to wean off sugar, it is best to gradually decrease intake by going for alternatives with less sugar. For example, mixing peanut butter and chocolate eases sugar cravings on every spoonful, though each scoop only packs 4.5 grams of sugar. Compared to this, one brownie has 30 grams of sugar in it.

Practice gum chewing.

According to the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, research has shown that among men and women who chew sugar-free gum at least three times consume fewer snacks and sugary foods during the day. “Overall, this research demonstrates the potential role chewing gum can play in appetite control, reduction of snack cravings and weight management,” said Dr. Paula J Geiselman, one of the authors of the study. .

Go cold turkey.

As with most addictions, some people find it more convenient to stop their cravings right on the spot. Though it may seem like a spur-of-the-moment decision, it works best for strong-willed ones who are determined to fully control their cravings. They may hit a rough patch during the early days, but once the body grows accustomed to eating without sweets, controlling their cravings becomes much easier.