Do you struggle with sugar cravings? Are they ruling your life?
The thought of a chocolate bar or lollies lingers in your mind, promising to make you feel better. Many people, including my clients, struggle with sugar cravings, and we all know sugar is detrimental to our health.
Sugar consumption has various adverse effects on our well-being. It can lead to energy fluctuations, fatigue, headaches, mood issues, and weight gain. Clients often come to me frustrated with their weight gain, blaming their sugar cravings for their inability to overcome them.
Excessive sugar intake is also associated with chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer. It’s crucial to address and eliminate these cravings. However, it’s not as simple as telling someone not to eat sugar. Just like children who do the opposite of what they are told, it becomes even more enticing when they are forbidden from doing something.
My approach with clients is to understand the underlying reasons behind their sugar cravings. It’s not merely a matter of willpower or being told not to eat sugar. Numerous factors contribute to these cravings, and that’s what I want to explore today—to help you break free from the grip of sugar.
Identifying and addressing these triggers can reduce the body’s desire for sugar…
So, let’s delve into why your body may be craving sugar.
- Blood Sugar Rollercoaster
Consuming sugar causes spikes and drops in blood sugar levels, leading to temporary highs and subsequent crashes. When blood sugar is high, we feel great, but when it drops, we experience irritability, moodiness, shakiness, and low energy.
By understanding and managing this rollercoaster, we can curb sugar cravings.
- Nutritional deficiencies
Many clients I see have deficiencies in essential nutrients like zinc, chromium, calcium, magnesium, and iron. These deficiencies can exacerbate sugar cravings. For example, low magnesium levels can affect sleep and energy production, leaving you wanting sugar to help improve your energy; while chromium is crucial for balancing blood sugar.
Addressing nutrient imbalances is essential to reduce sugar cravings.
- Emotional triggers
This is another significant factor. We often turn to comfort food when we’re sad or bored, and sweets have become synonymous with celebration.
Sugary foods help to stimulate feel-good neurotransitters such as serotonin and dopamine. So when you feel you need a reward or pickup, you can subconsciously want to have sugar. Emotional connections to sugar can also have roots in childhood experiences.
For instance, a client would experience sugar cravings whenever he had a stressful day at work. He would immediately go to the shops to purchase a chocolate bar, even though he was determined not to eat these chocolates. When I worked with him and looked into the triggers, there was a trigger from his childhood.
By recognizing these triggers, we can develop alternative responses to emotional situations, breaking the cycle of reaching for sweets for comfort.
- Hormonal imbalances
Many women experience increased sweet cravings during premenstrual or perimenopausal times when estrogen levels suddenly decline.
Estrogen is interrelated with serotonin, and when estrogen levels drop, so does serotonin, we seek sugar as a pick-me-up.
Balancing hormones and supporting serotonin levels through foods, supplements and herbal remedies can help balane the hormones, serotonin levels and help reduce sugar cravings.
- Imbalanced Gut Flora
An imbalance of gut flora, known as gut dysbiosis, can exacerbate sugar cravings. The dysbiotic microbes can stimulate our desire for sweets as a source of food for them.
Beneficial microbes of the gut are important to help support serotonin levels, as about 70% of serotonin is produced in the gut. Restoring a healthy gut flora balance is vital to reduce sugar cravings, aid nutrient absorption and support the balance of feel-good hormones such as serotonin.
- Dehydration
Dehydration can sometimes be mistaken for hunger, leading us to reach for sugary snacks when all we need is water. Monitoring your hydration levels and ensuring adequate water intake can help manage cravings effectively.
Moderation is key…
Remember, conquering sugar cravings is a journey that requires patience and self-compassion. It’s not about completely eliminating sugar from your life but finding a balance.
Moderation is key, and incorporating whole foods into your daily routine while occasionally indulging in healthier sweet alternatives can satisfy cravings.
There are wonderful alternatives to refined sugar that can satiate your sweet cravings while supporting your journey to conquer sugar cravings. By adopting a holistic approach, you can not only achieve weight loss but also experience balanced moods, enhanced energy levels, and even a reduction in pain and inflammation. Plus, you’ll be actively reducing your risk of chronic diseases!
The fantastic news is that you hold the power to overcome these sugar cravings. When you break free from their grip, you’ll be able to embrace a vibrant life filled with energy and vitality.
Your body will thrive, allowing you to live your desired, healthy, fulfilling life.
you hold the power to overcome these sugar cravings…
Ready to kick start Gut Health? Book a Call!
This is how gut microbes can influence weight!
Probiotics can help you gain weight or lose weight by interacting with our genetics, food and metabolism.
And yes, I did say lose or gain weight……..
Firstly, let me explain that the trillions of microbes in the gut need to be varied, meaning that there should be a large variety of species. There are many different species (or breeds) of microbes, and they all have their place in aiding health — the more variety and balance, the better health results.
Back to the weight loss or weight gain issue….
Do you eat yogurt and berries for breakfast? Thinking that it’s helping you lose weight?
Well, Lactobacillus acidophilus (like the species found in yoghurt) has been connected to weight gain.
I am not saying throw your yoghurt and berries in the bin. Instead, I am suggesting looking at the overall picture. If Lactobacillus acidophilus is the predominant micro-organism of the gut, then weight gain can result.
It is about the variety of species of gut microbes. Imagine if we only have trained german shepherd guard dogs in the world. It may be a safe world, but I am sure that other breeds may be more suitable as a family pet.
While Lactobacillus acidophilus is associated with weight gain, other Lactobacillus species correlate with weight loss.
Species like Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus gasseri, and Bifidobacteria animalis have been found to support weight loss.
Want to lose weight?
Look at your gut flora to support your goal.
Tests can be performed to identify the predominant species of the gut, and specific species can be utilised to support weight changes.
Want more information about your gut health?
Or want to look at all the factors contributing to weight gain, I’d love to be able to help.
