Sugar cravings and eating too many foods that contain sugar may cause health problems such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. If one gives in to his sugar cravings, the sugary foods that he ate will cause his blood sugar to increase quickly and then crash. The blood sugar crash then makes him crave for more sugar, so he eats more sugary foods and the cycle continues. According to Dr. Deirdre Rawlings of the Clayton College of Natural Health, one can break this unhealthy cycle by eating healthy foods that fight sugar cravings.
To combat sugar cravings, Dr. Rawlings recommends that people eat these top 5 healthy foods.
Apple
Fruits also taste naturally sweet, making them effective in fighting sugar cravings. One of the best fruits that help fight sugar cravings is the apple. Apples taste very sweet and they are also high in fiber. Fiber makes the stomach feel full and helps satisfy sugar cravings. Also, apples are easy to carry and they don't need to be peeled or cut like other fruits. Apples also take longer to chew, so the person eating it will soon start thinking that he is no longer hungry, thus reducing his sugar cravings.
Sweet corn
Sweet corn is another healthy food that can help fight sugar cravings. Sweet corn is native to Central America but it was introduced to the rest of the world by explorers from Spain. Sweet corn is different from ordinary field corn because of its mutation at the sugary locus. Sweet corn is great for fighting sugar cravings because it tastes sweet when cooked and one will feel quite full after eating an ear of it. It is also rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber.
Sweet potato
Another vegetable that tastes sweet when cooked is the sweet potato. Sweet potatoes can be chopped up and then fried to make sweet potato fries. Sweet potatoes will not only satisfy sugar cravings, but also supply the body with vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin B6, and iron. The nutrients in sweet potatoes can help prevent heart disease, cancer, and other degenerative diseases.
Cinnamon
The extraordinary properties of cinnamon can help fight sugar cravings. The main active ingredient of cinnamon is hydroxychalcone which helps enhance the effects of insulin and satisfies your sugar cravings. Cinnamon also prevents the blood sugar spikes that cause sugar cravings and normalizes blood sugar levels.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes can also fight sugar cravings because they are high in serotonin. Studies suggest that low serotonin levels are among the main causes of sugar cravings. The serotonin in tomatoes functions as a neurotransmitter that tells a person's brain that his sugar cravings have been satisfied. Tomatoes are also high in chromium, a mineral that reduces food cravings, regulates cholesterol, fat and blood sugar levels.
Conclusion
The foods in this list will not only fight sugar cravings, but also improve the body's overall health. Dr. Rawlings recommends that these foods be included in one's daily diet so that one will be able to keep sugar cravings at bay.