How to Stop Sugar Cravings

I've put together this list of tips on how to stop sugar cravings, because I know how powerful these urges can be. It's tough to fight them when they are raging away at your brain.

These tips are useful when first starting a ketogenic, low carb diet as they can help you get past the rough spots on your way to a better diet and better health.

Sugar cravings, like most addictions, are frequently the result of unbalanced blood and brain chemistry, and these tips help because they work toward correcting the imbalances.

Quick Blood Sugar Craving Fixes

Take 500 mg of L-Glutamine. This natural amino acid works by acting as a substitute for sugar (glucose) in the brain. Your brain can burn L-glutamine instead if it is low on sugar for fuel.
Eat 4 ounces of protein. Choose leftover meat from last night's dinner, or make a quick tuna salad with canned tuna and some mayo.
Go for a walk. Daily exercise increases the amount of a neurotransmitter called dopamine in your brain. Higher levels of dopamine are associated with better moods and reduced sugar cravings.
Be patient. Sugar cravings only last about an hour or so. Find something that takes all your attention and get absorbed in the task. This will take your mind off them, and get you through until they subside.
For a longer term plan, you can also take some supplements that help your body with blood sugar control:

B vitamin complex and extra Biotin
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Zinc
Vitamin E
Chromium GTF

All of these supplements are helpful for controlling blood sugar fluctuations. Read The Diet Cure by Julia Ross for more information on how to stop sugar cravings and control blood sugar issues.

How to Stop Sugar Cravings Forever

I struggled with sugar cravings for years. I would get up in the morning and vow to myself not to eat anything sweet all day. That lasted for about an hour, and then the cravings would start. I didn't know then that the "healthy" high carb breakfast of juice and toast was driving my blood sugar crashes and subsequent sugar cravings.

So how did I finally rid myself of sugar cravings? I permanently lowered my daily carbohydrate intake.

A high carb diet is a sure fire trigger for sugar cravings. Eating high amounts of carbohydrates causes your blood sugar to spike, which causes your body to release too much insulin, which causes your blood sugar to crash, hard. These blood sugar crashes (also known as reactive hypoglycemia) cause you to feel woozy or lightheaded, shaky, weak, irritable.

They set off intense cravings for sugar, because your body is trying to raise its blood sugar level back to normal. If you lower your carbohydrate intake, over time, your blood sugar will level out, no crashes will occur, and the sugar cravings will drop.

I can tell you from experience that this is not a temporary solution. If you start eating lots of carbs again, the cravings will return, and you'll have to start the process over again. I know this because it happens to me every time I backslide and let my carb intake creep up.

All of my books are available in electronic PDF, and now in paperback on Amazon!