Beating Sugar Addiction For Dummies

Chapter 19

Ten Ways to Outwit Your Cravings

In This Chapter

Getting enough water, vegetables, exercise, and sleep

Being mindful and choosing healthy alternative activities to eating

Sugar is everywhere, and resisting the urge to overindulge isn’t always easy. Stress, poor nutrition, dehydration, and lack of sleep can all drive you to grab whatever sugar-laden junk food is handy. Building good habits — lifelong habits — is an essential task for staying off sugar. In this chapter, I lay out ten healthy habits and lifestyle changes that help minimize both the number and the intensity of any sugar cravings you may experience. If you make these principles part of how you live every day, soon your life as a sugar junkie will be just a distant memory!

Eat Small Amounts of Food Every Three to Four Hours

Low blood sugar can fire up cravings for high-sugar food. When blood sugar plummets, your energy drops and your brain has trouble focusing, making turning to sugar for a quick pick-me-up all too easy. Eating every three or four hours throughout the day helps keep your blood sugar levels more even and the sugar cravings at bay. You also won’t be as hungry at night, so resisting late-night sweet fixes is easier.

Every time you eat, try to combine a protein and a plant (see Chapter 5).