Most people know that sugar is addictive. The sweet substance is found in many foods, even savory ones, and the taste is one that people constantly crave.

It makes food taste good, but it also has many negative consequences. For some people, it turns into an addiction. If you are one of them, then you have to overcome it.

What a Sugar Addiction Does to You 

Sugar isn’t good for you—that’s a well-known fact. You might think it can cause you to be overweight, get diabetes, or damage your teeth, but it can also affect your mental health.

Consuming sugar sends your brain into a chemical spin that affects your entire body. It can leave you feeling energized or exhausted.

Sugar also affects your mental health. It makes you feel negative and anxious. Over time, sugar results in increased weight, and that leads to further unhappiness, as it breaks down your self-image and self-confidence.

The mental effects of sugar far outweigh the (limited) benefits. When you don’t look good, you don’t feel good. It causes you to stress, and quite frequently, you might even eat more sugar to feel better about yourself.

This vicious cycle continues unless you put a stop to it.

Why Sugar Is Addictive

A sugar addiction is similar to alcohol or drug addictions. It also has similar effects on the brain when compared to other addictive substances.

Your Body Wants Good Chemicals

The brain thrives on good chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. The body produces these chemicals on its own, but you can increase their production by exercising, eating well, and feeling good about yourself.

Addictive substances like drugs and sugar help the body to produce these chemicals instantaneously. It’s why you reach for comfort foods or snuggle up on the couch with your favorite movie.

Quitting Cold Turkey Doesn’t Work

It’s a common misconception that you can just give up sugar. You can’t because your body has been accustomed to getting this hit of happy hormones.

When you give up all sugar immediately, your body will rebel with withdrawal symptoms. You could feel depressed, tired, and get headaches. You might even feel pain throughout your entire body.

That doesn’t sound fun at all, and it isn’t, which is why you find yourself reaching for a sugary treat once again.

Blood Sugar Imbalances

Sugar cravings frequently occur due to blood sugar imbalances, insufficient intake of nutrients, and stress. It could even be a combination of all three.

When you don’t feed your body properly, your energy levels decrease. A sugar-laden food or drink rapidly spikes your sugar levels. In response, your body protects itself by releasing insulin to lower the sugar level.

Sometimes, the insulin drops your blood sugar so far that your body craves food all over again. It’s like a never-ending roller coaster that keeps you hooked on sugar.

The Mind and Weight

Your brain has a lot more to do with your eating habits, cravings, and weight than you could ever imagine.

Losing weight starts in the mind and not with eating healthy (although you definitely need it, too).

Learn more about how to hack your brain for a healthier you by attending our training on Winning the Game of Weight Loss.

What Triggers Sugar Cravings? 

Any craving emanates from somewhere.

It exists because your body is trying to tell you it needs something. You have to figure out what that something is so that you can give your body what it needs.

That’s easier said than done, so instead of thinking about it, you instantly go to the next best thing. In this case, it’s sugar.

Stress

When you are stressed, your body releases a hormone called cortisol. In return, the liver produces glucose to help your body cope, but glucose is sugar.

Your body experiences a sugar spike and needs to bring your blood sugar levels down, so it releases insulin. We already know that this causes a roller coaster of high blood sugar, an insulin battle, and a drop in blood sugar.

If you are stressed constantly, then you can see why you constantly crave sugar. You are trying to balance out your blood sugar levels but not in the right way. You need to change things to stress less.

Insufficient Sleep

Not sleeping enough will leave you tired, cranky, and reaching for something to give you a boost of energy. In many cases, it will be a sugar-laden food that will only send you back on the blood sugar roller coaster.

If you are even considering cutting out sugar, then you have to prioritize proper sleep. This is especially helpful because sleeping allows your brain to rest and helps to release feel-good hormones that combat stress.

Environmental Factors

Your environment, currently and as a child, also impacts your eating habits.

If you saw your parents reaching for sugar to combat stress and exhaustion, or if a sweet treat was a reward for doing good work, then you could have learned unhealthy eating habits.

Comfort foods don’t help at all. They only placate you for a while and wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels.

Get Enough of the Essential Nutrients

Your body needs a bunch of essential nutrients—vitamins, minerals, and everything in between. These nutrients help it to function and assist with blood sugar regulation.

What you eat can spike your blood sugar but there are some foods that don’t have as big of an impact. Eating these foods provides you with sustained energy, reduces insulin requirements, and levels out the roller coaster.

Proteins

Proteins have a smaller effect on blood sugar. They make you feel full longer, so you aren’t reaching for snacks frequently. Both cravings and hunger decrease if you eat enough protein.

Amino acids are nutrients found in protein. These acids assist your brain with the production of happiness hormones.

Fats

Sugar is a source of energy for the body. When it can’t find sugar, it turns to fat instead, which is part of the reason why cutting out sugar allows you to lose weight.

Consuming healthy fats like avocados and olive oil has almost no effect on your blood sugar. Fats provide sustained energy while also adding flavor to keep you satiated.

Add Fiber to Your Diet

There are many nutrients you need, but fiber is one of those that is essential when you reduce your sugar intake.

Fiber helps your digestive system to absorb other nutrients. It also slows down digestion, so the energy you receive from food is sustained over a longer period of time.

Blood sugar levels are stabilized by fiber, so it also prevents sudden spikes or dips that cause cravings.

Focus on Food

Food is a human’s source of energy. You can’t live without it, but you don’t need to overindulge either.

Winning the Game of Weight Loss was created with this in mind. We are going to show you how to nourish your body and your soul by eating food correctly.

All of it starts with your brain, so join us, and start thinking differently about food.

Quit Sugar for Good

If you are ready to give up sugar for good, then you need to take some steps to help you. It isn’t necessary to struggle with the process—there are tricks to help you make it easier.

Quitting sugar won’t happen immediately. It takes time, so break it down into small changes that become habits. It’s a steadier approach that results in success.

Identify the Real Trigger

Whenever a sugar craving hits, identify its roots so that you can address it properly.

• Are you hungry?
• Is it emotional eating to help you cope?
• Are you seeking sugar because it’s part of your daily habit?

Plan Your Meals

Sugary snacks are a go-to when you are in a pinch and don’t have time to find a better choice.

Schedule some time to create a meal plan with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Ensure each of these contains fats or proteins to provide sustained energy.

Eat a Good Breakfast

The first meal you eat will set you up for the rest of the day. A high-protein and high-fat breakfast can keep you satiated and start you on a steady course for the rest of the day.

Switch out your morning coffee or latte with a glass of water. Add some berries, cucumber, and lemon slices for a fresh, sweet taste.

Distract Yourself

If you crave sugar, then find a way to distract yourself. Most cravings will disappear within 10 minutes, so use that time for something else.

Go for a brisk walk outside, read, or call a friend. Anything that could keep you busy should do the trick.

Find a Healthy Replacement

There are times when a craving won’t go away, and you need something sweet. Opt for naturally sweet foods when this happens.

Snack on grapes, carrots, bananas, or cauliflower. You could also make a nutritious smoothie like the one in this video:

Change Your Health Identity

Living a healthy lifestyle free of sugar requires big changes to your health identity.

You need to think entirely differently about food and weight loss to make this effort successful.

We can help you to Win the Game of Weight Loss by changing your thinking. Reserve your spot today and reveal the healthy you that’s trapped inside your current body.