Are sugar cravings controlling your life? Do you ‘fancy something sweet’ even though you’ve just eaten a full meal? Do sweets, chocolate and biscuits ‘call to you’ during the mid-morning and afternoon slumps?

Join the club. In our modern world where sweet temptation is all around us, more and more people are finding their lives are being controlled by sugar cravings.

We all know about the negative effects of sugar. It can cause a whole host of health problems, from acne, to diabetes and heart disease. So why is it so hard to resist that Galaxy bar?

Sugar rush

The effects of refined sugar on the body are similar to those of Class A drugs. It prompts the body to release the ‘happy hormone’ serotonin into the blood stream. The instant boost we get from it is the reason we keep going back for more. However, the sugar rush triggers an increase in insulin as the body tries to bring blood glucose levels back to normal. This has a knock-on effect, causing a ‘sugar crash’ that makes you crave yet more sugar.

While sugar addiction may be nowhere near as destructive as alcohol or drug addiction, it can still negatively impact our health. Frequent consumption of not just sweets, but any food high in carbohydrates profoundly alters our hormones, such as insulin and the hunger hormone leptin.

The more sugar we eat, the more we want. We can’t stop thinking about it and feel lousy when we abstain from it. That’s the definition of addiction. Not only that, but eating too much sugar greatly increases the risk of serious health conditions, like heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

So, how can you kick your sweet habit for good? Here are some top tips to get you on the right track:

Learn where sugar lies

Sugar can lurk in the least obvious of places. Foods such as breakfast cereal, flavoured yoghurt, granola bars, fruit, ketchup, salad dressing, pasta sauces and alcohol all have a high sugar content, so make sure you read the labels.

As a guide, anything that ends in ‘ose’, such as glucose or fructose is a sugar. Likewise, things that have the word ‘syrup’ or fruit juice concentrate in them are no good for you.

Lose the caffeine

Caffeine is known to influence blood sugar levels and cause sugar cravings. If you’re a coffee lover and struggle with sugar cravings, try reducing or eliminating caffeine and see if it helps.

Eat frequently

If you crave sugar throughout the day, try changing the way you eat. Swap your three carb heavy meals for six small meals containing protein-rich foods, wholegrains and vegetables. Eating more regularly will balance your blood sugar and improve your mood.

Stabilise blood sugar levels with chromium

The mineral chromium helps to stabilise blood sugar levels and control sugar cravings. If you find yourself experiencing regular, intense cravings for sweet treats, it could be a sign that you have low levels of chromium in your diet. To address this, increase your intake of foods rich in chromium, such as apples, broccoli, mushrooms, asparagus, whole grains and grape juice.

Analyse your cravings

Are they strongest when you’re angry, stressed, happy, bored, depressed or premenstrual? Become aware that whatever the reason for your cravings, habitually consuming vast quantities of Toblerone is unlikely to cure you.

Increase your energy levels with exercise

One reason we crave sugar is because we’re lacking energy. While exercise may be the last thing you feel like doing when your energy levels are low, it can actually boost them, whilst providing a welcome distraction from your cravings. Exercise will also help you feel good about your body, which will give you extra motivation to resist that Mars Bar.

Treat yourself

It takes a lot of willpower and determination to beat food cravings and addictions, so why not treat yourself to a pampering massage, facial or body treatment to help you deal with life after chocolate? Call Castle Thai Spa to book your treat on 0131 629 0794.