Limiting your sweet tooth can be challenging, but it is an important step in maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle. As much as it pains us to say it, there simply is little room for our favorite sweet treats in a healthy, well-balanced diet unless our goal is to have health issues in the future!
Here are some tips to help you control your cravings for sweets:
1. Identify Triggers
Try to identify the specific situations or emotions that trigger your craving for sweets. This can help you avoid these situations or find healthier alternatives to manage your emotions. Some people feel the need for ice cream whenever they fight with their loved ones, while others might reach for some candy whenever they have a boring day at work.
2. Eat a Balanced Diet
Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein can help you feel full and satisfied, reducing your desire for sweets. As fruits are nature’s candy, why not try eating a fruit or two to see if that satisfies your sweet tooth before reaching for some candy? Here is a list of fruits and vegetables that are diabetic-friendly.
3. Hydrate
Drinking enough water can help reduce sugar cravings, as thirst can often be mistaken for hunger. When you’re craving food—not just sweets—sip water beforehand to see if you’re just thirsty. If the hunger continues, then that means you’re really hungry and should eat something.
Oddly enough, however, if you’re eating sweets, you shouldn’t be drinking water right after. According to some studies, hydrating right after sweets makes your blood sugar levels rise even more. So, it’s best to drink water an hour or so after you eat sweets.
4. Get Enough Sleep
Lack of sleep can lead to an increase in the hormone ghrelin, which stimulates hunger and can lead to cravings for sweets. There is a reason why unhealthy eating is often associated with being awake late at night!
Getting enough sleep is also crucial if you want your bodily process to function as smoothly as possible, which helps to curb craving sweets.
5. Practice Mindful Eating
Pay attention to the flavors, textures, and smells of your food, and eat slowly to help you feel full faster. This will make you enjoy your meal a lot better and really feel that food hit your tummy! You should also remove any distractions while you eat, such as scrolling through your social media feed.
6. Find Healthy Diabetes Alternatives
If you crave sweets, try eating a piece of fruit, a small serving of dark chocolate, or a frozen fruit bar. There are also sweets made with diabetic-friendly ingredients that you can try. As many people around the world have diabetes these days, there will never be a shortage of sweet things that won’t raise your blood sugar. If you’re into baking, here are diabetic-friendly tips you can follow while preparing blood sugar-friendly goodies.
7. Avoid Keeping Sweets in the House
If you don’t have sweets readily available, you will be less likely to indulge. Ignore all the sweets calling out to you in the grocery store and buy only what you need. If you’d like to indulge in some sweets during the week, make sure you’re only buying a small chocolate bar or two so you can have a bit but not too much.
8. Avoid Artificial Sweeteners
Some artificial sweeteners can actually increase your sweet cravings, making it more difficult to limit your intake of sweets. That’s because it tricks your brain into thinking it is actually sugar and makes it react in certain ways to process sugar that is not there.
9. Stay Active
Regular physical activity can help you manage your weight and reduce cravings for sweets. Believe us, with every plank and squat and burpee and deadlift, you’ll want to say goodbye to sweets as much as possible! What’s the point of suffering through hours of exercise when you’ll only eat it back with one or two pieces of candy?
10. Reduce Stress
Stress can increase your cravings for sweets, so finding ways to manage stress, such as meditation, exercise, or deep breathing, can help. Emotional eating is bad for you because then it will compel you to seek candy every time you’re sad, and that’s not a great way to cope with your emotions.
Conclusion
And there you have it—ten simple ways to limit your sweet tooth as much as possible. However, you must remember that limiting your sweet tooth is a gradual process, and it is okay to indulge in moderation. The key is to find a balance that works for you, so don’t be too hard on yourself and celebrate your successes along the way.
