Sweet tooth | Part 1

Welcome back! I'm so excited to be sharing part one with Stacy from Lemon Tree Wellness. The first topic is how to tackle a sweet tooth. Most, if not all of us know the struggle is real when it comes to sweets. I for one like to indulge...often, but for times when I really want to be good, I love the suggestions below. Check them out...

10 Tips for dealing with your sweet tooth:

Most of us struggle with sweets. Pick your poison, cookies, ice cream, pastries, or candy. Whatever it is, here are a few tips to reclaim power and avoid temptation. 

1. Reduce or eliminate caffeine. The ups and downs of caffeine include dehydration and blood sugar swings, and may cause sugar cravings to become more frequent. 

2. Eat more sweet vegetables and fruit. The more you eat, the less you'll crave sugar. They are naturally sweet, healthy, and delicious. Try corn, sweet potatoes, carrots, onions, or beets.

3. Drink water instead of soda or juice. Sometimes sweet cravings are a sign of dehydration. Before you go for the sugar, have a glass of water and wait a few minutes to see what happens. Excess water can also cause cravings, so be sure that your water intake is well balanced. Men should ingest approximately 13 cups and women approx. 9 cups a day. 

4. Avoid foods with artificial sweeteners. Some alternative sweeteners to try would be brown rice syrup, dried fruit, and Stevia. 

5. Move your body. Get up and be active. Start small, walking 10 minutes and build up as you notice your stamina increasing and are able to try yoga or boot camps. Being active helps balance blood sugar levels, boosts energy, and reduce stress which will help eliminate the need for a self inflicted sugar high. 

6. Sleep, sleep and more sleep. rest and relaxation does a body good. When we are tired our body craves energy, sugar give us quick access to energy. Steer clear of simple carbohydrates to fight fatigue. 

7. Limit the animal food you eat. Eating too much animal protein can lead to cravings of sweets. 

8. Eliminate fat-free or low-fat packaged snack foods. Many people are unaware of the high quantities of sugar these snacks pack to make up for the lost flavor when the fat is extracted. 

9. Experiment with spices. Coriander, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom will naturally sweeten your foods and reduce cravings. 

10. Slow down and enjoy life. It may sound cheesy, but your mindset is a big cause of food cravings.

Xo,
T.