How to Outsmart Your Sweet Tooth and Stop Eating so much Sugar?
You know that sugar isn’t good for your health and that it supports creating those persistent love handles. But… You also know that sugar tastes great and makes you super happy.
Eating too much sugar can lead to weight gain, or even worse – obesity, diabetes, and even numerous heart issues. But, that taste. It beats fear of any disease.
Luckily, everyone knows that sugar is bad, that natural sugar is needed, and that sugar overall makes people happy. Therefore, scientists, doctors, dietitians, and eating-healthy fanatics joined their forces to help people outsmart their sweet tooth and help them eat less sugar.
Here is how you can become healthier, eat less sugar, but still remember that sweet sugary taste. Plus, you will learn why we crave sugar in the first place.
Why Do We Crave Sugar?
People just love sugar. Babies prefer a sweet taste from birth. Sugar is a carbohydrate that stimulates serotonin, the chemical responsible for feeling good – that’s why people believe that sugar makes them feel happy (because it does).
In simple terms, sugar gives a natural ‘high’ which is why people crave it so much.
Enjoying sugar from time to time is OK, but if you make it every day or all-day food choice you are putting your body in grave danger. In fact, you are risking experiencing:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Poor sleep
- Dental issues
Since sugar comes in many forms, including whole grains, vegetables, and fruits, you cannot avoid it completely. However, you can control how much you eat it.
Here are three effective ways to eat less sugar and remain healthy and fit.
Make Smarter Choices
Did you know that sugar in fruit and added sugar aren’t the same thing? As mentioned earlier, you cannot avoid natural sugar, but you can control how much you can intake.
Remember: natural sugar is always healthier, but eating 2 pounds of bananas and 4 pounds of watermelon is equal to eating added sugar because some fruit is extremely rich in sugar.
So, yes, you can overdue with fruit and vegetables as well when it comes to sugar. This is why you should focus on smarter choices and balance.
When in need of sweets, you should think about healthy fruit, such as oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, or even peaches.
You should take small amounts, like one to two maximum oranges to give your body needs sugar, or you can focus on yogurt without added sugar – if you prefer instant and healthy solutions, always ready for the go, you should have on hand sugar free probiotic yogurt, that can help you get that sugary texture, healthy nutrients, and even support your digestive system.
These yogurts usually come in many flavors, so you could never get bored of them easily.
Have The Best Gameplan
Any eating habit requires discipline, time, and planning. Changing your diet isn’t easy and is definitely easier when you have a plan.
Knowledge is the power, and your strategy should be shaped around the most accurate information on foods. Start small and set simple rules that you can easily implement into your daily routine.
For example:
- Have a cup of water before breakfast
- Eat breakfast in the first hour after waking
- Drink a minimum of 75 ounces of water a day
- Eat fruit or sugar-free probiotic yogurt around noon
- Have proteins for dinner
- Drink a cup of water before bedtime
You can build up from there and have more strict rules and habits later on.
Choose Quality Over Quantity
If you need sugar badly, choose decadent sugary food, but keep it in small amounts. For example, have squeezed orange with cinnamon first, or a bit of dark chocolate with a big glass of water.
Wait for a few minutes for the sugar to kick in. If you still crave sugar, eat more dark chocolate, and if needed walk it off. A simple walk can do wonders for calming down both your body and mind.
The Bottom Line
The trick with outsmarting your sweet tooth is to keep your blood sugar stable. You can do so by implementing the tips listed above, and by doing the following:
- Eating regularly
- Avoiding artificial sweeteners
- Getting support
- Rewarding yourself
- Eating diverse foods
Last but not least is to always focus on eating real food that will keep your belly full. Sweets can make your body heavy and kill your energy, while foods rich in nutrients and fibers can give you energy and support your health.