The Dangers of Excess Sugar Consumption
Every year, the average American woman consumes a staggering 48 pounds of added sugar. Incredibly, that’s four pounds a month! Whilst sugar is bad for our teeth and increases the chances of cavities, it’s not all that we need to be concerned about.
In fact, having too much sugar in your diet raises your risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. According to a 2014 study, those who exceed the amount of recommended daily sugar intake increase their risk of heart disease by at least 30%.
Understanding Sugar Cravings
We’re not sure about you, ladies, but that definitely makes us want to evaluate our relationship with sugar. But how do you give up sugar when those cravings can be intense? Well, the first step to cutting back on sugary foods and regaining your power is understanding why we crave them.
There are several reasons we might find ourselves craving sugar, from our hormones to habits. The desire for sugar is innate and drilled into us from an early age. Scientists believe that our preference for sugar comes from humans needing to be able to identify sources of digestible carbohydrates and glucose-based energy.
Strategies to Curb Sugar Cravings
Figure out what your body needs: Sometimes you might be craving sugar or want something sweet, but take a minute to figure out what’s going on in your body. Are you stressed? Do you have a headache? Are you hungry? Are you bored? Are you low on energy? Or do you want something sweet?
Pause before you react: If you have a craving for something sweet, try drinking a glass of water, taking some deep breaths, or going for a short walk. If you’re hungry, it’s ok to have a snack. In fact, your best bet for cutting off a craving is to have a snack packed with protein or healthy fats.
Pay attention to your patterns: If you’re finding that you’re craving something sugary around 3-4pm every day, that’s probably a good sign that you should add in a protein-packed snack to help you power through the afternoon.
Balanced meals: Make sure you’re eating three meals a day, they’re well balanced with protein, vegetables, healthy fats or carbs. Not only will this keep you fuller for longer, but it’ll keep your blood sugar stable too.
Eat to feel satisfied: How satisfying you find your meals will make you feel better about eating healthily. If you’re feeling constantly deprived, then you’ll find those cravings shout louder than ever.
Easy Food Swaps to Curb Cravings
Fancy something sweet? Try these instead:
- Apple slices with peanut butter
- Fresh berries with a handful of mixed nuts
- Baked cherries with whipped ricotta
- Baked apple slices dusted with cinnamon
- Sweet herbal teas, like rooibos with vanilla
Fancy something salty? Try these instead:
- Guacamole and cucumber
- Fresh veggies or crackers with hummus
- A handful of seeds or nuts
- A hardboiled egg with everything seasoning
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Did you miss our previous article...
https://naturesmart.us/health/adele-ends-selfimposed-alcohol-ban-i-can-drink-anyone-under-the-fing-table