How to kick your sugar addiction
Sometimes, actually quite often, I have an overwhelming urge to eat sugar. Donuts, sweets, candy, chocolate bars, cake — you name it, if it’s packed full of sugar I’m craving it.
Leaving to one side the potential addictive effects of artificial sweeteners, why do we sometimes crave sugar?
Research suggests that the cravings come from a physiological need for micro-nutrients, which are found in fruits, such as apples, oranges, bananas and other naturally sweet, and vitamin packed foods.
The trouble is that so much of our foods today contain high levels of processed sugar that it is easy to confuse a physical need to top up on your nutrients from naturally sweet fruit with “I’ve got a sugar craving so I should eat a chocolate bar”.
So what’s the answer?
Plan ahead — when you’re travelling, whether it’s for work or pleasure, it’s inevitable that your body is going to be a bit out of whack. You won’t always be able to get good quality fresh fruit to satisfy those “cravings”, so pack a few bags of dried fruit for emergencies — not normally a great option but heaps better than a chocolate bar. Take some Vitamin D3 to help regulate your serotonin; and pop a few 5-HTP before bed each night to make sure you get a good deep sleep.
