Sugar Cravings

[Anonymous]

Hello all, Looking for recommendations for how to address sugar cravings. Have there been methods/approaches/supplements you have done or taken to help with reducing sugar cravings? I know totally eliminating sugar cold turkey will just result in an increase in cravings, so I'm looking for sustainable and reasonable approaches. Thank you in advance!

[Anonymous]

I’ve heard that glutamine supplements can help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve heard that glutamine supplements can help.

Thank you. I know Hum sells some supplements with glutamine. I’ve been curious to try them

[Anonymous]

Try GAPS diet, starting with phase/ stage 1.

[Anonymous]

The reasonable approach is to eat sugar reasonably. Have a couple dates (see Mediterranean thread), have some plain yogurt drizzled with honey, have a small portion of good quality chocolate (dark is healthiest). Basically, find some sweet treats with clean ingredients and limit portions, but still indulge daily if needed. Just a little though

[Anonymous]

I think cold turkey is the only way to stop cravings. Just stop eating sugar. You don’t need sugar to survive. No artificial sugar either.

If you stop eating processed junk, fruits and vegetables taste better. Roasted carrots now taste like dessert to me. Frozen blueberries are better than ice cream. Etc.

[Anonymous]

I'm agreed the the PP. Cold turkey is the way to go. Just stop eating added sugar. Nothing processed. If you want something sweet, have an apple and peanutbutter (you get some protein, which I always helps me).

When I consciously am not eating sugar, I end up finding that milk tastes sweet when it didn't before, fruit is really sweet when I have it. Like the previous poster frozen fruit with unsweeted whipped cream is heaven. Love it.

[Anonymous]

If your cravings didn't stop when you cut out sugar cold turkey - that's probably because of some specifics of your metabolism, and, subsequently, blood sugar levels (as in sugar cravings indicate sudden drop of blood sugar, so your body asks you to get you some quickly).

The best way to approach it - proper diet
Start your day with protein-heavy breakfast (nothing sweet or with added sugar - fruits, berries, pasties, even bagels - check labels on you breakfast food) preferably within an hour after waking up. Eat every 2.5-3 hour, protein+vegetable/fruit
Anything sweet (including fruits and berries) should not be eaten when hungry (best window - 1-2 hours after previous meal).
Thats general recommendations, for more precise adjustments I suggest using Continuous glucose monitors - some people have spikes and subsequent drop after certain products but not the other - like I got spikes on corn, canned green beans and french fries, but homemade white bread has no effect.
Your goal is - keep your blood sugar steady - slow rise and fall within the range.

[Anonymous]

Fast for 24 hours, when you break the fast do very low carb for several days, reintroduce carbs but only from low carb veggies. After one week you won’t have sugar cravings.

Cold turkey on sugar doesn’t work if you are still eating her go carb foods. Doesn’t matter if it’s a loaf of wonderbread or a roasted sweet potato from a farmers market or a bowl in f gently simmered lentils. Anything high carb enough to spike your blood sugar will increase cravings.

[Anonymous]

I follow Pegan Diet - lots of veggies, protein and healthy fats - good for hunger control and cravings

I avoid artificial sweeteners - makes you crave more. There is evidence that the more sugar you have the more you crave. Try a continuous glucose monitor such as Signos or Levels to see how you respond to foods.

Check out Gluocse Goddess book.

Good luck

[Anonymous]

A bag of frozen cherries.

[Anonymous]

Another vote here for either quitting cold turkey or getting a continuous glucose monitor. I have tried both and have stopped craving sugar with both. The monitor helped me see that intense sugar cravings happen for me when my blood sugar levels are dipping. I crave sugar less when (as a PP said) I eat a lot more protein and eat very small meals/snacks every 2-3 hours. (a piece of cheese and a hard boiled egg, not a full meal).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reasonable approach is to eat sugar reasonably. Have a couple dates (see Mediterranean thread), have some plain yogurt drizzled with honey, have a small portion of good quality chocolate (dark is healthiest). Basically, find some sweet treats with clean ingredients and limit portions, but still indulge daily if needed. Just a little though

This is what worked for me. Larabar has some chocolatey treats that have limited ingredients -- look for the Larabar Double Chocolate Truffle. So good. They also come in a smaller size at 120 calories(ish), which is completely satisfying.

I also keep dates around. A date + peanut butter is delicious. Also full-fat, no sugar Greek yogurt with a bit of honey and walnuts, etc.

[Anonymous]

So ultimately, OP, you need to know yourself.

A portion of the population does best with cold turkey, all or nothing. And another portion of the population has self-control and can have just a little sugar and keep it under control.

Who are you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think cold turkey is the only way to stop cravings. Just stop eating sugar. You don’t need sugar to survive. No artificial sugar either.

If you stop eating processed junk, fruits and vegetables taste better. Roasted carrots now taste like dessert to me. Frozen blueberries are better than ice cream. Etc.

I have a sweet tooth, and find this to be true. I only buy sourdough bagels (I don't buy bread), and the snacks I get are popcorn and fruit. When I roasted carrot sticks with EVOO and sea salt they tasted like sweet potato fries. When I cut out sugar, I can taste the sugar in fruit, especially in-season blueberries, nectarines, pluots/plums, and melon.