With the Holidays about to be in full force, I thought Id share - TopicsExpress

With the Holidays about to be in full force, I thought Id share some ideas to beat those sugar cravings. Indulge a bit, but dont go over board on the sugary sweets! - Dr D 10 Ways to Beat Sugar Cravings - by Tamara Mannelly at ohlardy/ Do you feel like you are addicted to sugar? Constantly needing to fuel up to increase your energy? Many people battle intense sugar cravings day in and day out. It can be very frustrating! You end up on a sugar roller coaster...going up and crashing down...needing more sugar to get your up again. Sugar cravings are caused by many things. It is hard to pick one reason why one experiences these cravings. Beating sugar cravings can be done....You just have to find something that works for you! Here is a list of 10 ways to beat sugar cravings. I hope one of them can help you!!! 1. Drink water Sometimes sugar cravings are a sign of dehydration. Before you reach for the candy, have a glass of water and wait a few minutes to see how you feel. Make sure you choose a good filtered water. Looking for a filter? Check here for water purification ideas. 2. Eat more healthy fats This is one of the first thing I think of when someone tells me they are craving sugar. Oftentimes, sugar cravings are a sign of not getting enough fat in the diet. Healthy fats like olive oil, coconut oil and nut butters are good for us and help reduce our cravings for sugar and other simple carbs. One of my favorite recipes for my clients who battle sugar cravings is this Sugar Buster from Fearless Eating! Try it, it works! 3. Eat sweet vegetables and fruit (paired with a healthy fat) Sweet vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potatoes and squash, can really help toward satisfying your sweet tooth, even though they dont necessarily taste sweet. So can small amounts of fruit. In the afternoon, have 1/2 a baked sweet potato with pastured butter or a handful of blueberries with a small amount of real whipped cream. This may help you crave less sugar later in the day. 4. Get some rest If you are in a chronic state of stress or sleep deprivation, your body craves quick energy....which is sugar or refined carbohydrates. Lack of sleep can lead to unbalanced hormones, increased cortisol and belly fat, overeating and more. Get to sleep early. Take a nap. Meditate. Do something to rest your body and mind. 5. Evaluate the amount of animal protein you eat According to yin/yang principles, eating too much animal food (yang) can lead to cravings for sweets (yin). On a confusing note, eating too little animal food can also lead to cravings for sweets. Try to see if increasing or decreasing quality animal foods helps with your sugar cravings. 6. Eat regularly throughout the day and have balanced snacks Eating nutrient rich foods with plenty of protein, healthy fats and complex carbs will help keep your blood sugar stable. 7. Add spices to your life Coriander, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and cardamom will sweeten foods naturally and help reduce sugar cravings. Add a dash of cinnamon to the sweet potato and butter mentioned above! 8. Add magnesium rich foods or supplements Most Americans are deficient in Magnesium, which is a mineral that is necessary for almost all bodily functions. Many researchers link chocolate cravings to magnesium deficiency. Two popular magnesium supplements are Magnesium Citrate and Magnesium Oil. I use both of these. The first one is great in a warm mug of water (every member of my family takes it). I spray the oil on the bottoms of our feet. Epsom salt baths are also a good way to get magnesium You can also get magnesium from foods (if you have good digestion and are absorbing nutrients well), such as dark leafy greens, nuts and seeds, bananas and halibut. 9. Add fermented foods to the diet If you read Oh Lardy, you know we love our probiotic foods. Fermented foods have been shown to decrease and often eliminate cravings for sugar. Add foods such as cultured sour cream, sauerkraut, kimchi, fermented berries, carrots and more to your diet. Plain kombucha can also be helpful with cravings. (Try to steer clear of the fruit flavored ones as they can have plenty of sugar). Not into making your own fermented foods even though it is SO easy? You can easily find fermented foods at retail stores. 10. Slow down and find sweetness in other ways Oftentimes, a sugar craving is not a physical craving but a psychological one. Look into your lifestyle and see if you are craving something sweet from another aspect of your life...your career, your relationships, your lifestyle. If you find balance in other areas of your life, your sugar craving may go away. Click here for full article