If your morning starts with a caramel machiatto with two shots of vanilla syrup and a blueberry scone, you’ll probably find yourself craving another treat a short time later. It’s the sweet tooth cycle that’s got you in a sugar haze. When we start our day with a high sugar intake, our bodies are predisposed to actually crave more sugary foods throughout the day. Eating a lot of simple carbohydrates without protein or good fats, can satisfy your hunger and give an energy boost – but neither is lasting and will leave you feeling empty.
 
Having a sweet tooth is often regarded as just an expression, but there is some truth in it. Having one means you crave sugar. Why? Your appetite may be hard-wired to crave sweets. Carbs stimulate the release of the ‘feel-good’ brain chemical, serotonin. So when you eat a simple carb, like refined sugar, your brain tells your body you feel good. It responds by telling you, you want more.

The taste of sugar also releases endorphins. Those are the chemicals that calm and relax us, and offer a natural high.   Not to mention that sweets just taste good! Our bodies react positively towards the sweet stuff, so its no wonder why we crave it. You might not even realize where sugar is hiding. We can see it in obvious places – chocolate, donuts, sugary drinks – but other processed foods, like breads, yogurt, juices, and sauces have sugar too.
 
Stop sugar cravings NOW! Here's how:

Give in. But just a little bit. This is tricky for those of us with little to no elf control, so use this tip with caution. If you eat a bit of what you’re craving, maybe a small cookie or a fun-size candy bar gives you a little of what you love, and can help you steer clear of feeling denied. Try to stick to a 150-calorie threshold.
 
Smart Sweets. If the idea of stopping at a cookie or a baby candy bar seems impossible, maybe you should figure out if you are actually hungry, and if the craving means something more. If you can fill up and do it with a smart sweet - say a banana in chocolate sauce, or a handful of almonds mixed with a few chocolate chips - you'll satisfy a craving and get healthy nutrients from those good-for-you foods. And while we’re on the subject, keep fruit handy for when sugar cravings hit. Opt for fresh fruits, as dried fruits, while still not as bad as a candy bar, can also have a lot of sugars in them. Apples are easy to pack, keep well, and fill you up too. They provide fiber and nutrients, along with the sweetness you’re craving.
 
Grab some gum. It’s the oldest trick in the book because it works. If you want to avoid giving in to a sugar craving completely, try chewing a stick of gum. "Research has shown that chewing gum can reduce sweet tooth urges and food cravings in general. Just the smell of peppermint suppresses appetite.
 
Just Walk Away. Like deciding to walk away from a potential fight with your best friend, treat sweets the same. Be the bigger person, and walk away when a craving hits. Take a walk around the block. Call a friend. Stretch. Do something to take your mind off the sweet you’re craving.
 
Eat regularly. Waiting too long between meals may set you up to choose sugary, fatty foods that cut your hunger quick. Instead, eating every three to five hours will keep blood sugar levels in check, and help you avoid irrational eating behavior. Not to mention you’ll be pleasant to be around. Your best bets? Choose protein, fiber-rich foods like whole grains and produce – fruits, veggies and the like.
 
Here are a few others. Skip artificial sweeteners. They don’t actually lessen sugar cravings and have been linked to obesity. Slow down! Stressful situations make sweets more appealing. Pick up a hobby. Something like writing, painting, knitting, to keep your hands busy and your mind focused, instead of straying and reaching for sweets.
 
Finding out what works to stop your sweet tooth is a bit of trial and error. Don’t get discouraged if you find it difficult at first. Do you have another sweet-tooth busting tip? WOMAN.ca wants to know!

Image from MorgueFile

Hilary Lauren Fox
		About the author:
		Sometimes she's a redhead, sometimes she's a blonde. Some days it's H&M, and on other days, it's Chanel. What ever the mood, she is a woman who is passionate about the arts, fashion and social media. Born in Toronto, Hilary Lauren Fox is an only child to artist parents - mom was an illustrator and pattern maker, dad was a painter.  Rather then studying the arts as her parents hoped for, Hilary opted for a degree in psychology with dreams of working in a clinical setting. But after graduating she realized that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and that the arts was in her blood, applying her education within the art and fashion world.
	Read More >>