Are Sugar Cravings Getting The Best Of You?

Sugar cravings .... are you having them right now?

Stress and uncertainty can trigger cravings for sugary foods. The temporary high that the sugar provides feels good, and is soothing.... for the time being. Those first few bites are pure bliss. The problem with sugar is that the more you ingest the more you crave. It's a vicious cycle that leaves you feeling tired, moody, and wanting more sugar to combat the low that always follows.

So, what can you do? Start by doing what you can to reduce the amount of sugar you are ingesting in your day (think candy, soda, sweetened coffee syrups), and replace sugar cravings with natural sugars such as fruit, honey, maple syrup, applesauce, etc. Eating more protein, drinking more water, and upping your dietary fiber will also help.

Reducing your sugar intake right now will reduce inflammation in your body and will allow your body to better able to fight off germs and illness.

Some of my favorite sugar substitutes for when cravings for more unhealthy foods kick in include using swerve as a sugar replacement. Swerve is a natural sugar replacement that measures cup-for-cup just like sugar but without the bitter aftertaste or digestive discomfort that some other sweeteners have. It is has zero carbs too! I love to mix it in to my fat bombs for a tasty low carb day treat! Be sure to grab that recipe here.

Another option that I love to use is agave. Agave is a great choice for a sweetener on regular macro day! Agave is a low glycemic syrup that is slowly absorbed by the body preventing spikes in blood sugar. It is 25% sweeter than sugar and perfectly sweetens drinks, oatmeal, and desserts!

A final option that I love to use are stevia drops. Stevia drops are a perfect way to eliminate adding sugar to your morning coffee. If you are a FASTer Way gal, this is a great way to sweeten your coffee without breaking your fast! Stevia comes from a plant that has been used to sweeten drinks and teas for hundreds of years. There have also been some medical studies that have found that stevia leaf extract could improve cholesterol levels to help keep your heart healthy and strong.

If you are struggling with sugar cravings, give some of these options a try and let me know what you think! Remember, small changes daily, add up to BIG changes later!

Be healthy & well!