There are specific foods that have been shown to help reduce sugar cravings.
Keeping these foods on hand can be beneficial if you’re aiming to cut back on sugar.
None of these foods are fancy; they’re all readily available at your local supermarket.
Berries containa ton of fiberand are considered low GI.
This, in turn, creates a low-level insulin spike compared to other fruits that contain high sugar content.
Including berries in your meals and dishes can help curb a natural sweet tooth.
Berries also have a high water content when compared to other fruits and can aid in hydration.
Finally, berries contain polyphenols.
In a clinical trial2, avocados were substituted for carbohydrate-dense, low-fat breakfast ingredients.
This can prevent sugar cravings by reducing the overall feelings of hunger.
We don’t crave something sweet when we are fully nourished by monounsaturated fats and fiberfound in avocado!
Not an avocado fan?
Pistachios can, therefore, displace the need for sweets and promote an overall healthy dietary pattern.
They’repacked with protein, which is an important factor when addressing sugar addiction.
Chia seeds
Chia seeds are full of essential fatty acids that fuel our body and its pathways.
They are also a complete plant protein, containing allnine essential amino acids.
This is important because it means these seeds are of high biological value (HBV).
HBV proteins are easier for our bodies to absorb and utilize and therefore control sugar cravings.
Chia seeds are a great way to sneak up on a craving.
Legumes are filled with fiber and plant-based protein.
The overall nutritional components of chickpeas make them a great choice for overcoming sugar addiction.
Fiber is split into insoluble and soluble categories.
Chickpeas contain both kinds of fiber, making them beneficial to the overall gutmicrobiome diversification.
Oats
Oats are a whole-grain powerhouse.
They contain fast-digesting and slow-digesting carbohydrates that provide your body with a boost of energy and prevent fatigue.
Oats contain a soluble dietary fiber called beta-glucan.
Beta-glucan has been shown to reduce postprandial (after-feeding) glucose values as well as cholesterol.
This can help our bodies break away from sugar addiction and maintain a healthy biochemical state.
Oats can be added to many different meals to replace white flour!
But how is this important when trying to break a sugar addiction?
Our bodies utilize glucose as our main energy source.
While glucose is a good thing to have around, glucose that lingers in our bloodstream is problematic.
PUFAs are also beneficial forheart health and overall longevity6.
Think tapenades, cheese boards, and salad additives to spice up your meals using olives.
Sweet potatoes contain an inactive form of vitamin A known as carotenoids.
Carotenoids have the power to improve ourcognitive function over time7.
Our brains utilize neurostimulation and hormones to affect our mood and daily function.
Sugar stimulatesdopamineor the happy neurochemical.
Vitamin A can help combat this by reducing sugar cravings and regulating the release of dopamine.
Sweet potatoes are an easy side dish when baked, or a vehicle for protein.
Keeping roasted sweet potatoes prepared for a week’s worth of meals can save you time and sugar cravings.
This, in turn, influences BMI andmetabolic syndrome.
Incorporating more Greek yogurt into your cooking can allow for less sugar in the long run.
A go-to snack can be fresh veggie dip using Greek yogurt and seasonings.
Spirulina
Spirulinais a nutritional powerhouse alga that is dried into a bright green powder for consumption.
Spirulina was used in a placebo-controlled study to see itseffect on appetite and lipid profiling.
The findings showed significantly reduced appetite when the participants consumed 1 g per day of spirulina in their diets.
Published by Union Square & Co.
