How Sweet It IS

Most of us crave it.   Some find substitutes for it.  More are avoiding it.  What is “it”?  Sugar!  The sweet, some might say addictive substance has an alluring quality that many can’t pass up.   Resisting may not be necessary, but rather limiting and savoring could be the key to sweet success.  Consider trying one or all of the following to manage your sugar consumption:
 
Sweet Seven – getting at least 7 hours of sleep per night may help you slash your sugar intake for the next day, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.  Sleep-deprived brains get stronger reward signals from sugar laden junk food, so rest up to resist the call of sugar.
 
Pause – I want it now, usually trumps willpower, but even a small (25 second) pause can strengthen your resolve to make healthier choices according to researchers at Rush University.  When a sweet craving hits, try waiting ½ a minute to see if you choose a less-sugary snack.
 
Swap – Use spices in place of sugar to add a sweet flavor to food and beverages. Roast vegetables for a candy-like treat.  Try fruit as a topper for almost anything in a bowl (yogurt, oatmeal, salads or even stir-fry). Sip on fresh flavored water.  Pass by the vending machine and treat yourself to a seasonal piece of fruit.  One small swap at a time leads to a sweet victory against added sugar consumption.
 
Fake Out – Diet coke? Equal in your coffee? Artificial sweeteners seem too good to be true and they are. The fake stuff still tempts our taste receptors, which ignites reward signals  in your brain that drive you toward sweet foods. When the brain detects sweetness but doesn’t get the calories it expects, it seems to respond by seeking out those calories later, making sweet cravings stronger. Begin to cut back on the artificial sugar substitutes and your sweet tooth may thank you.
 
Reset -  Not easy, but a potential solution to crushing sugar cravings is to cut out added sweeteners (real or fake) for about a week. This reset heightens your sensitivity to sweet foods, allowing you to begin to cut back on overall sugar consumption. A study cited in The Permanente Journal found that after six days of no added sweeteners, 87% of study participants stopped craving sugar.
 
 
With sweet love and devotion to you and your health,  learn just how sweet life can be without the added sugar.