How to beat the sweet tooth.

Sweet tooth is commonly known as craving and difficulty for resisting sweets.  Sugarholism is probably another term for that except for people become aware about their craving for sweets at a lot younger age. Just like with alcohol some people have easier time controlling the sugar craving than the others. 

 

Sugar craving is also typical for people with metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance syndrome. These are people with exaggerated production of insulin in response to sugar consumption.  As a result of overproduction of insulin, sugar drops and the person experiences hypoglycemia that requires more sugar ingestion.  It’s not surprising that these people are more prone to develop diabetes. 

Most people who have a sweet tooth and can’t control it eventually after age 40 (if not younger) gain some excess weight. 

As a society we do a lot to promote the sweet tooth and provoke the sugar cravings: birthday cakes and juice for every child in preschool, vending machines, Halloween candy, large soft drinks, malt balls, M&Ms and cookies at movie theatres and a lot of other sweet temptations. 

 

Here are some tools to beat the sugar cravings.  The sooner (age wise) you realize and deal with it, the easier it is to avoid the weight gain and the diabetes.

 

-         Avoid the usual insults; if you are the one who shops remember just like a drink it’s easier not to have any.  If your spouse shops hold them accountable for the sweets that are bad for everyone.

-         Do not miss a meal, 3 regular meals a day or 5-6 smaller meals daily help to avoid the hunger attack.  Add protein to each meal.  Protein stretches hunger free periods and so does fiber. 

-         Eating breakfast helps with carbohydrate cravings through out the day.  It’s shown by several studies that missing breakfast messes up the metabolism.

-         Substitute empty sugary foods with fruits.  Instead of a cookie have a plain yogurt with frozen berries.  If mid afternoon is the usual time for sugar craving keep some snacks around; like nuts, a square or two of dark chocolate, cheese and crackers, carrot sticks or a food bar.

-         If the craving is unbearable have an Altoid or chew gum.  Strong cravings usually go away in several minutes.  If you satisfy your sweet tooth it comes right back and you crave for more.

-         Reward yourself with black chocolate or an occasional fancy pastry.   Blend fruits and nuts, freeze in form of cubs and eat instead of ice cream.   Ice cream that is made from cream and sugar is also okay in small amounts.  Because of fat it shouldn’t contribute to food craving, but do it if you can eat only one scoop.

 

Let us know how do you deal with your sweet tooth.