How to Put a Stop to Your Sugar Cravings

When you make the decision to live a healthier lifestyle, one change to get real serious about is putting an end to your love affair with sugar. But making the decision to put an end to your addiction to sweets/ sugar is one thing and actually doing it is another. So if you're looking for ideas to help you DO something about it, this article discusses ideas and tips on how to stop your sugar cravings.

There are a number of strategies you can use to stop sugar cravings. There are quick fixes for dealing with that sudden urge you have for large chunky chocolate cookies, cakes and double fudge homemade brownies among others.

Here are 2 quick fixes you can use right now to fight the power:

1. You can apply the Jedi mind control trick (better known as will power) and positive self-talk to reinforce the "why" of ending your sugar addiction to get you past that sudden urge. I won't lie to you ... going "cold turkey" like this is no walk in the park, but after you've done it for 2 - 3 weeks it becomes MUCH easier.
2. You can also feed your cravings with a different type of sweet that's much healthier for you ... fruit. Not just any old fruit, but fresh fruit that's low on the glycemic index. As I mentioned in my 5 Healthy Breakfast Ideas article, fruit that is low on the Glycemic Index has a slower release of of glucose into your blood stream that helps you avoid cravings that can lead to snacking on junk food and keep your energy level steady over a longer time period.

But what I won't recommend as a quick fix is chewing gum. The rationale behind it is you're giving yourself a much smaller portion of what you're craving. But most chewing gum is loaded with sugar/ artificial sweeteners, like aspartame, that will spike your blood sugar level and increase your craving for sugar! In my opinion, it's just as bad as that chocolate candy bar in the vending machine at work. So I would skip chewing gum.

Updated 4/2/2012: Watch the following video "Sugar: The Bitter Truth" featuring Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of California, San Francisco. This is the same Dr. Lustig who was featured in the 60 Minutes "Sugar" segment aired on 4/1/2012. One of the best things you can do for your health is to educate yourself about sugar, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners and their impact on human health.

Here are 5 long-term methods that can help you kill off your sugar cravings for good:

1. Don't skip any meals. When you miss regular meals because you're busy at work or you're doing it to lose weight, you make it easy to fall for one or more of those sweet temptations calling your name. Eating regularly within 3 - 4 hour intervals will keep your cravings in check and keep your blood sugar level normal.
2. Banish ALL sweets - cakes, candies, cookies, cereals, juice/energy drinks, granola bars & sodas - from your cabinets, pantry, refrigerator and your secret stash at work. Having them around makes it way too tempting. So get them out of your house now! Replace these junk foods with healthier snacks: fresh/dried fruits, veggie sticks, nuts like almonds, cashews & pistachios (raw is best, but no roasted nuts! Roasted nuts are highly processed which removes most of the benefits of the good nutrients found naturally in nuts), cheese and yogurts (read the food labels to avoid junk disguised as being healthy for you).
3. Replace refined white sugar and artificial sweeteners with Stevia (a zero calorie natural sugar alternative) or raw honey (see the sidebar for why you need to get rid of refined sugar).
4. Set up a "cheat" day to reward yourself for curbing your sugar cravings. If you're sticking to your plan, you can give yourself ONE DAY, any day during the week to enjoy (in moderation) one of your favorite sweets. It may seem counterproductive, but from personal experience, it does work. Knowing that on Wednesday (or whatever day you choose) you can have a slice of pineapple coconut cake, gives you that needed push as well as something to look forward to when you're struggling with your cravings. But your reward doesn't have to be a cheat treat. It could be a treat that has nothing to do with food. Go buy something nice or do something just for you that reinforces your program to put an end to your cravings.
5. Get/Stay Active! When you have the urge to eat some sugary sweets, go for a long power walk, run, hit the exercise jump rope, lift weights or swing a kettlebell. Not only will the exercise be great for getting fit or losing weight, but it will also help take your mind off the sweets.

You don't have to be a slave to a sugar addiction! You can learn how to stop sugar cravings and permanently eliminate them from your diet. It might take you a short period of time or longer than you thought, but if you're determined to defeat your addiction to sugar, you will win. I have no doubt about you being able to do it.