Even though eating too much sugar is bad for your health, sugar cravings are still very common, especially among women. Helen West of Healthline says that up to 97% of women and 68% of men say they have some kind of food craving, including a desire for sugar. When you have a sugar craving, you may really want to eat something sweet and find it hard to control yourself around food.
Sugar cravings can lead to binge eating or eating too many calories. Luckily, there are some foods you can eat that can help you avoid this. Here's a look at some of these foods:
1. Fruit
Most people who want sugar choose foods like chocolate that are high in both sugar and fat. But when you want to eat something sweet, switching to fruits can give you the sweet hit you need and stop your cravings. This is because fruit is naturally sweet and has a lot of good plant compounds and fiber that are good for your health both now and in the long run.
2. Berries
Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are all great, healthy ways to stop cravings for sugar. Berries are sweet and taste good, but they have a low amount of sugar and a lot of fiber. Besides that, berries are full of powerful plant compounds and have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This means they can help lower your risk for chronic diseases like kidney disease, heart disease, and diabetes.
3. Chocolate that is dark
Chocolate is one of the most common foods people choose when they want something sweet. But if you really want chocolate, you can choose something healthier by going for dark chocolate, which is chocolate that has more than 70% cocoa. Also, dark chocolate has healthy plant compounds called polyphenols that are thought to have strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
4. Gum or mints with no added sugar
Healthline says that mints or chewing gum can be a great way to keep your sugar cravings in check. Most gum and mints are made with artificial sweeteners, so they taste sweet but don't have much in the way of sugar or calories. Some studies have shown that chewing gum can help control hunger, cravings, and eating carb-heavy foods later in the day.
5. Legumes
Healthline says that legumes like lentils, beans, and chickpeas are all great sources of fiber and protein that come from plants. People think that the high protein and fiber content of legumes makes people feel fuller. This means that including legumes in your diet regularly can help you feel fuller and cut down on sugar cravings caused by hunger.
6. Yogurt
Yogurt is one of the healthiest foods, and its nutrient profile is very impressive. It has a lot of calcium and protein in it. Studies have shown that yoghurt is a good snack that can help you control your cravings and keep your hunger in check. But you should choose healthier alternatives, such as yoghurt with live cultures and no added sugar.
7. Dates
Dates are the dried fruit of the date palm tree. They are very sweet and also have a lot of good nutrients. Helen West of Healthline says that even though dates have been dried, they are still full of healthy plant compounds, fiber, potassium, and iron. So, instead of eating or drinking foods or drinks that are high in sugar, you could try eating dates.
8. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are good for you, tasty, and filling. Even though they are mostly carbs, they have a lot of fiber and a lot of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium. Also, eating healthy carbs like sweet potatoes can help you avoid cravings for sugar and make sure you eat a food that is good for your health.
9. Meat, fish, and birds
Studies have also shown that eating protein-rich foods like meat, poultry, or fish can help you fight sugar cravings. This is because these foods can make you feel fuller, which makes you eat less sugar. If you are trying to lose weight, eating enough protein can help you control how much food you eat, how much you crave, and how much weight you gain. So, if you always want sugar, you should eat meat, poultry, or fish at every meal.
10 Eggs
Eggs are a very healthy food with a lot of health benefits. Because they are high in protein, they can help you control your hunger and sugar cravings. Studies have shown that eating a high-protein breakfast like eggs in the morning may help you feel less hungry and eat less during the rest of the day. This is thought to be because it can stop the hormone ghrelin from making you feel hungry and make more of the hormones that make you feel full. This can help you feel full longer and stop you from wanting to eat more.
Content created and supplied by: Oyinkem (via Opera News )
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