As we step into a new year post-holiday season, it is important to remember that while enjoying a sweet treat from time to time is completely healthy and normal, excess sugar in your diet can lead to serious health issues. The problem, of course, is that sugar not only tastes delicious, but it’s also used in one form or another in nearly all modern processed foods. If you’re looking to lower the amount of sugar in your diet and improve your overall health, here are some great tips for getting those pesky sugar cravings under control.
Know That Sugar Cravings Don’t Take Long To Break
If you’re imagining months of struggling with your diet to rid yourself of sugar, that’s simply not accurate. Even as little as a few days of avoiding sugar can dramatically change the way you think about and desire it. If you can get through these initial days successfully, then your cravings will often be brought down to a degree that you’ll be able to manage much more easily than ever before. This is how you set the groundwork for a future of healthier eating and living habits, and it doesn’t take long at all.
Start A Fruit Habit
Once you’ve cut down on processed sugar, your sense of taste will start to change. Natural sources of sugar, such as fresh fruits, will begin to taste as sweet and satisfying as a piece of chocolate cake once did. This makes it easy to incorporate fruit into your day-to-day eating habits, which brings much-needed nutrients into your body and satisfies your cravings for something sweet without relying on processed sugars. Once again, it doesn’t take long for this transformation to happen.
Eat More Often
Eating more regularly throughout the day helps fight sugar cravings in a couple of ways. First, it keeps your blood sugar level more consistent, which reduces the sudden urges for sugar that come when you become hungry. Secondly, eating often keeps you from falling behind on your normal eating schedule and settling for faster, pre-packaged foods that are typically high in sugar content. Eat foods that contain a lot of protein, fiber and healthy fats every couple of hours to keep you satisfied and energized all day, all without the need for sugar.
Know The Dangers Of Excess Sugar
Consuming excess sugar can lead to heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, reduced immune function and chronic inflammation. Ask any doctor today and they’ll tell you that a large majority of the problems they treat for their patients find their roots in poor eating habits. The good news is that your risk of experiencing any of these health complications is dramatically reduced when you stop taking in so much sugar.
Keeping these things in mind will help sustain your motivation to kick your sugar cravings for good. When you cut down on processed sugars, you’ll feel more energized, happier, and healthier than ever before.