Sugar Cravings

LegacyUser

Hi,

Looking for some help with a serious sweet tooth. I think that I am addicted to sugar/sweets/chocolate the same way that people are addicted to cigarettes.

I actually get moody and noticably irritable to those around me if I don't get my fix.

Is there anything i can do or anything i can take (herbal, over the counter or perscription) that will help reduce the cravings/dependency on sugar.

Or do I just have to go cold turkey?

seamus

Go cold turkey. It's much easier than giving up cigarettes, or wasting money on herbal remedies that may or may not work. If you feel like having something sugary or chocolatey, drink water. Stay away from tea or coffee if you have chocolate cravings - they'll only make it worse

Three days and you should be rid of any cravings. Give it two weeks, and your desire should drop off completely - that's not to say you won't enjoy them, but saying no won't be a dilemma

Icequeen

And if you are feeling a craving coming on eat fruit instead, it's packed with fructose. May I suggest Bananas, Pears, Peaches, Grapes and kiwi fruit. All very good for you and all packed with fructose so it should help combat the irritability.

silvine

seamus wrote:

Stay away from tea or coffee if you have chocolate cravings - they'll only make it worse

Never heard that before, why does the caffeine contribute to cravings or something else?

seamus

No, I just found that a cup of coffee feels like it should have some chocolate or a biscuit with it. I do drink coffee of course, but if there are biscuits (or Easter egg, as there has been recently) around, then I can't help grabbing some with my coffee.

Faith

I went cold turkey for lent. I have a serious sweet tooth too, but gave up chocolate, sweets, biscuits and crisps. It's really tough for the first week (look out for moodswings!) but it does get easier. I compromised and allowed myself cakes, so I got my sweet fix by making smoothies for breakfast, full of yummy fruit, and making low sugar blueberry muffins.

I started back on sweet things after lent, but I have a much lower desire for them now, and think I might cut them out again.

Aura

Yup grapes are great for a sweet-tasting fix!

Stark

Try cutting out impulsive snacking at first by moving all your sweet things to meal times. That way you teach yourself self control between meals and you don't get as many sugar spikes during the day. Then start reducing the number of sweet things you eat during the day.

Eat plenty of fruit but avoid fruit that's too sweet as it will just stimulate your sweet tooth for something more. I find bananas and grapes just have me running for the vending machine whereas apples, oranges, nectarines etc. are fine.

If you get craving during the day, I find going for a walk helps. Also I find green tea good to drink if I get cravings.

Oryx

I think cold turkey is the only way. For me it takes me about 2 weeks for the cravings to subside. The only healthy subsitute I found effective was walnuts. But the great thing is if you last the two weeks you really wont want chocolate!

Linoge

silvine wrote:

Never heard that before, why does the caffeine contribute to cravings or something else?

Caffeine stimulates your body to release glucose (which is of course a sugar). So a caffeine hit is sort of an indirect sugar hit.

OP, Going cold turkey off sweets and chocolate is defo a good start but you will still have the cravings. The cravings are caused by a dip in energy (just more intense when you go from a sugar high to a sugar low). To avoid dips in your energy levels you should eat several small meals a day consisting of foods that have a low GL.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycemic_load

Your sweet tooth is self perpetuating, you just have to sort out your diet:)

AthAnRi

Do you eat breakfast? and if so do you ensure to have loads of fibre for it? Porridge, Brown Bread, All Bran, Wheatabix are all high in fibre and will help to keep your sugary cravings at bay. I used to be the same, couldn't walk past a bar of chocolate without buying it. Now I eat breakfast every morning ensuring that it is high in fibre.

As already suggested it is important to get in your minium 5 portions of Fruit and Veg a day also. These are all high in natural sugars and if combined with a good breakfast you will not only stop eating rubbish you will also start to feel on top of the world. Smoothies are the way to go. et yourself a good hand blender and start to experiment with different combos of fruit. Even fruits you don't like tast good when mixed with ones you do.

AthAnRi

KatieK wrote:

I think cold turkey is the only way. For me it takes me about 2 weeks for the cravings to subside. The only healthy subsitute I found effective was walnuts. But the great thing is if you last the two weeks you really wont want chocolate!

This is proof, Walnuts, and all nuts for that matter are very high in fibre. Pistachios are my personal favourite followed closely by cashew nuts. Be careful though as nuts are extremely high in fat.