Health Articles

Chocolate increases our mood due to the sugar, caffeine and also the phenyl ethyl amine (PEA). PEA is an amphetamine type stimulant that can be lower when we are stressed or feeling ‘low’.

Unfortunately, what goes up must come down! If we abuse this delicious treat often enough it can start to lead to chemical imbalances which can be very detrimental to our health in the long run e.g. late onset diabetes.

Too much sugar results in an increase in insulin to counteract the low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia) but this can lead to a vicious cycle if this happens over too many tea breaks. Over a period of time excess insulin can lower those blood sugar levels even more leading us to crave sugar again.

When we have sweet cravings it is often the time when we need to nurture our run down body and busy tired minds that are weary due to stress or depression.

Causes of Sweet cravings can also be due to hyper acidity by eating too fast, due to lack of exercise, excess meat, and excess dairy, refined foods, too much salt, coffee and alcohol. Poor digestion and insufficient absorption of nutrients, pancreatic and liver imbalances and altered bacterial intestinal environment are other causative factors.

Ways to combat those sugar cravings:

· Consume Protein for breakfast e.g. eggs, nuts, seeds, beans. Those mid morning cravings are usually telling you your body needs more substantial fuel. (The coffee hit has worn off and your body is not fooled by that toast and jam you gave it 3 hours ago).

· It is better to eat five to six smaller meals a day rather than three.

· Once you have sugar, you are more likely to crave more in a few hours so if you can, hold out until at least the afternoon. Be aware of hidden sugars in foods such as commercial juices, cereals and refined processed foods.

· Have handy snacks available like nuts, seeds, protein snacks, fresh fruit and even sour or spicy foods can aid to diminish cravings.

· Brush your teeth when you first get that after dinner craving. Often sweet foods never taste quite as good after toothpaste.

· Try waiting 10 minutes or go for a quick walk. Exercise can also help by stimulation our circulation and increasing our energy.

· Drink a glass of warm water with some freshly squeezed lemon. Dehydration can often lead too low energy and a feeling for sugar.

Herbal Medicines can be prescribed in therapeutic dose to help with sugar cravings eg. Gymnema sylvestre, Liquorice (not the sweet form). After taking those herbs anything can taste sweet.

Foods high in Tryptophan (an amino acid) can help as they increase our brain neurotransmitter Serotonin. Serotonin is often low with those suffering from depression and is often why they crave carbohydrates.

Foods high in Tryptophan are Avocados, Almonds, Cashew nuts, Pumpkin seeds, Cottage Cheese, Cold Water Fish, Turkey, Bananas and Dried Dates.

It is all about balance though and we must make sure we are eating enough of all our nutrients and not too much carbohydrates (CHO).

Nutritional deficiencies such as Magnesium or Chromium may also contribute to cravings too and they can also be prescribed in a therapeutic form. A Naturopath can specifically go through your diet with you to ascertain that you are eating the right amounts of the right foods and prescribe supplements that can help with sugar withdrawal such as B vitamins and zinc.

· Eat more legumes and vegetables which actually taste sweeter the more you chew them. By eating enough of the right foods you can gradually overcome your sweet cravings. Try a freshly steamed corn on the cob!

Similar to when we keep adding salt to our foods; we develop a taste for it so one way to help sugar cravings is to train our minds to be strong!

Sweet Veggie Drink (For Sweet tooth boot camp)

Chop up 2 cups of fresh sweet vegetables such as sweet potato, carrot cabbage, squash and onion into small pieces.

Add 4 cups of water and bring to the boil. Simmer for 10 minutes. Allow to cool and strain the veggies so you can drink the broth. This drink will provide you with natural sugars and heaps of other nutrients to fight those sugar cravings.

Next Month : Weight loss tips that can satisfy your appetite.

Amina Eastham Hillier (B HSc) : Naturopathy (Herbal Medicine, Diet & Nutrition, Flower Essences, & Iridology). Mobile : 0422 408 450

Email : naturopathy@angelmothers.com with any questions about health

Website : www.angelmothers.com for regular healthy recipes

Amina Eastham-Hillier (B.H.Sc). Member ATMS.

Naturopathy can help with:

· Boosting Immunity

· Digestion & Diet Analysis

· Liver Detoxification

· Weight Loss, Sugar Cravings

· Allergies & Intolerances

· Low Energy & Fatigue

· Hormonal imbalances

· Pre conception, Pregnancy & Post Natal care

Mob : 0422 408 450

Email : naturopathy@angelmothers.com with any questions

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Amina Eastham-Hillier