Sugar in all its forms including fruit, milk, cakes, cookies, ice cream, sweets, and sports drinks, can be damaging when you eat a lot all at once. With the exception of whole, raw fruit, sweet foods tend to offer very little in the way of vitamins, minerals, healthy fats and protein. They are densely packed with calories but not much else. Sugar suppresses your immune system for about two to four hours after consumption. It is also one of the causes of chronic inflammation which is the root cause of most chronic health conditions.
In the long-term, sugary foods reduce your nutrient status because you use up your stores of vitamins and minerals to process these empty calorie foods. When you are low in vitamins and minerals your health suffers and you become more susceptible to colds and flu, have slower metabolism, poor hormonal balance and are fatigued. This addiction leads to a sick cycle of adrenal exhaustion, autoimmune conditions, digestive and mood imbalances, obesity, and diabetes. Sugar is also in almost all conventional and even many natural bread, canned vegetables, yogurt, pasta sauce, hummus, sauces, salad dressings, and unfortunately even baby food and baby formula. Educating yourself on all the different forms that sugar comes in on the ingredient list is a great start to build your road map of avoiding certain products. Remember there are many other names for sugar viz. sucrose, lactose, fructose, glucose, dextrose, maltose, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, sorbitol and barley malt.
If you’re ready to win the battle here are some tips to end sugar cravings:
Avoid Processed Foods.
Did you know that sugar and processed foods are as addictive as heroin or cocaine? Eating sugar artificially stimulates a region of your brain called the nucleus accumbens to produce dopamine, the pleasure neurotransmitter. Soon after eating sugar or processed foods dopamine levels drop, and you start to feel a bit “down.” You crave this “feel-good” feeling again and eat more sugary or processed food again and again, so sugar leads to addiction. . This addiction leads to a sick cycle of adrenal exhaustion, autoimmune conditions, digestive and mood imbalances, obesity, and diabetes.
Eat Fermented Foods
Fermented foods and drinks are one of the most important ways to reduce or even eliminate cravings for sugar and are particularly effective in this regard. The positive effects can be felt in as little as five. Remember, a fermented vegan protein can also help to stabilize blood sugar levels. You can also drink ready-made probiotic liquids for a quick cravings fix. Simply sip 2 oz. of your favourite probiotic liquid, any time a craving hits and you will be amazed at how the sour taste of fermented foods and drinks relieves the desire for sugar and processed foods. Here is another big benefit of fermented foods and liquids: If you do happen to eat something sweet, like a piece of fruit or a sweet potato, the probiotics in fermented foods and drinks will eat up the sugar, reducing the damage that sugar would do in your body.
Boost your serotonin. …
Serotonin, the hormone that affects your mood can be increased through diet, exercise, and the right sleep schedule. When you have plenty of serotonin, you are less likely to have cravings for sweets. Serotonin regulates your mood, curbs cravings and suppresses your appetite. You can boost your serotonin levels steadily with complex carbohydrate foods such as brown rice, sweet potato, plantain, nuts and fruits. These provide a more reliable energy supply and support better brain function. Serotonin also makes you feel less anxious, more emotionally stable and tranquil and even more focused and energetic.
Drink plenty of water. … 
You may sometimes think that your body is asking for sugar, when in fact it’s dehydrated and really craving water. This is especially true as we get older and lose our taste for water, which manifests as hunger. Your body is mainly water and your organs need it to function properly. Lack of adequate water in your body leads to thicker blood and as a consequence, high blood pressure. We also suggest a warm cup of green tea with a little apple cider vinegar and a touch of lemon with your meals. This way, your sweet taste is satisfied.
Stabilize Your Blood Sugar
Keep your blood sugar stable by eating several small, healthy meals throughout your day instead of three large portions to avoid dips in blood sugar. Ideally you should eat your protein meals between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. as protein takes longer to digest than any other food. Your evening meal should be more digestible; that means less protein. If you do this, your body will produce more serotonin, you will feel happier, and you will sleep much better at night. Avoid foods labelled “fat free” or “low fat:” These foods usually contain more sugar than their full fat counterparts, because they have to make up for losing the flavour from fat by adding more sugar. Green drinks are loaded with nutrition, help boost your energy and reduce cravings for sugar and processed f
oods as well as helping hydrate the body. Drunk throughout the day these will also help stabilize your blood sugar.
Use Coconut oil
When you reduce or remove sugar from your diet, try using coconut oil and a little cinnamon to add flavour to your food, plus coconut oil is an extremely healthy fat which does marvelous things for your health. If you have a hard time leaving sugar out of your morning coffee, try blending coconut oil with your coffee for a rich-tasting energy boost.
Sweet potatoes are sweet and starchy and are a great snack when you’re craving a sugary treat. Ty are a complex carbohydrate and are best eaten later in the day. Try roasting a sweet potato and top it with coconut oil and a little cinnamon with a slice of avocado. This is one of the healthiest, low sugar snacks you will ever eat and you will get the benefits from three of the healthiest foods on the planet.
Drink Herbal tea
Keep some strongly flavoured teas like ginger or peppermint, or a naturally sweet one like licorice, at your work for a sugar-free pick-me-up during the day. Be careful with licorice if you suffer from high blood pressure. If your sugar cravings are brought on by stress or poor sleep, choose a tea blend that will help you relax and wind down before bed. Real cocoa with coconut milk and a little cinnamon is ideal. You may even add a teaspoon of black strap molasses for a slightly sweeter taste without aggravating your sugar cravings.
While any fruit can be considered nature’s candy, bananas are great. Use them to naturally sweeten smoothies or make banana ice cream. They are a great addition to the diet, helping you feel satisfied longer. They are also full of potassium which boosts your energy and help reduce blood pressure. Alternatively you can have some avocado for a delicious afternoon snack to help you power through the last bit of your workday. Dates are also highly recommended instead of most dried fruits because they are intensely sweet and rich, plus ground dates can be used in place of sugar in baked goods. Goodbye sweet tooth.
Disclaimer: The contents of this website are not intended to replace a one to one relationship with your health practitioner nor are they meant as medical advice. You are encouraged to do your own research and make your own decisions in partnership with your medical practitioner.