Are you riding the sugar roller coaster?
You start the day promising yourself you'll "eat healthy" today and resist the cravings.
There isn't enough time to make a filling breakfast, so you grab a coffee to keep you going through your hectic morning.
Midmorning hits. Your energy is dropping.
The hunger pangs are setting in.
The fog over your brain is real.
"I'll just grab a quick top-me-up" you think as you throw back a muffin or soda.
Within minutes, your energy soars, you feel superhuman and power through half of your to-do list.
Then, bam!
You feel like you’ve been hit by a bus, want to curl up in bed and take a nap… oh and those sugar cravings are back again, stronger than ever.
Sound familiar?
Maybe you can relate to the above scenario, although it’s not sugar, but starchy foods like chips, bread, pasta and crackers?
Cravings for these types of food are really common, especially in the pre-menstrual phase of our cycles.
Whilst eating like this can feel really good for a few minutes, it’s usually pretty clear that riding this roller coaster of energy and mood changes throughout the day is not serving us long term.
Why do we crave sugar?
Craving sugar and sweetness is normal and very common.
Eating processed sugar is the fastest way to increase your blood sugar levels as it requires very little breaking down and can quickly supply your body with energy.
When our blood sugar levels drop, our body sends out the signal that we need to eat to pick them back up again.
This signal can be interpreted as a craving for sugar, particularly when we are tired.
Sugar also makes us feel better because it triggers the release of brain chemical called dopamine, which gives it an addictive quality.
In fact, science shows that the cravings and withdrawal symptoms of sugar addicts are comparable to heroin and cocaine addiction!
The secret about sugar cravings is that they can be satisfied by things other than sugar.
Unlike a true drug addiction, where only that drug will do, sugar cravings can actually be overridden by eating balanced meals and snacks.
This is the key to overcoming your sugar cravings so that you can finally step off that sugar roller coaster and enjoy blissful balanced energy, stable moods and balanced hormones.
Is eating sugar and refined carbohydrates ‘bad’?
Regularly eating large amounts of processed sugars (like white table sugar, candies/lollies, soft drinks/sodas, cakes, pastries and desserts) as well as processed carbohydrates (like white bread, pasta and biscuits) causes a very rapid spike in our blood sugar levels.
Having high blood sugar is dangerous for the body, so it responds by secreting high levels of a hormone called insulin.
Insulin works like a marshal who directs the sugar out of our blood and into our cells for energy production and storage.
This is a normal process and necessary for our survival, however in excess can lead to hormone imbalances.
How does sugar affect my hormones?
The hormonal problems related to blood sugar begin with excess insulin.
Just like estrogen and progesterone, insulin is also a hormone. When it becomes imbalanced, it causes a flow on effect.
High insulin levels cause cortisol (our stress hormone) to rise as well.
Cortisol causes our body to produce less progesterone, in order to prioritise our survival rather than our reproduction.
This is a normal mechanism in times of stress and is your body’s way of trying to protect you whilst this ‘threat’ of high blood sugar ensues.
The problem is, when this scenario occurs long-term, is can manifest in symptoms like pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), mood changes, spotting before your period begins, and increased levels of anxiety.
Did You Know That Even Your Ovaries Have Insulin Receptors On Them?
This means they respond to changes in your blood sugar levels.
In certain people, excess insulin triggers the ovaries to produce more testosterone and lower estrogen.
This can lead to irregular ovulation, long cycles and high androgen symptoms (acne breakouts, unwanted hair growth and thinning hair on the head).
Excess insulin is a common underlying cause of the condition Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and is estimated to be the main driver in 70% of cases.
PCOS is a condition of high testosterone and irregular ovulation, which is commonly driven by blood sugar and insulin issues.
So, how do I lower my blood sugar levels?
Preventing large amounts of insulin release isn’t about never eating the foods described above.
Many of these foods cause great pleasure and are integral parts of celebrations and socialising.
The key is to choose smaller portions of high sugar/high refined carbohydrate foods and pair them with other nutrients which slow the release of sugars into the bloodstream.
Despite what you might think, balancing your blood sugar and breaking up with sugar cravings isn’t hard.
You just need a proven roadmap to take you step-by-step through this often daunting process.
In my best selling PCOS book, the PCOS Repair Protocol, I go through a proven roadmap to banish sugar cravings forever.
To get you started, the next time a sugar craving strikes, try the following steps:
-
Drink a large glass of water (add some lemon, mint, berries or other natural flavour if this makes it more exciting) – often thirst can be mistaken for food cravings
-
Ask yourself: Am I truly hungry or wanting sugar for other reasons? Does your stomach feel hungry? When was the last time you ate?
- If you are truly hungry – please by all means: go and have a snack or meal! Choose a balanced meal support blood sugar levels (I teach how to create a balanced plate inthe PCOS Repair Protocol)
- If you aren’t truly hungry, read on:
-
Try breaking your thought pattern: Get up from your desk and take a stretch, go for a walk around the block, splash your face or take some deep breaths and see if this helps you interrupt your cravings long enough for you to explore them rather than engaging in them
-
Eat a spoonful of nut butter (e.g. almond, coconut or peanut butter) – these nut butters are subtly sweet so will often hit the sweet spot you are craving, but also provide your body with a healthy fat and protein source to help keep blood sugar stabilised
-
Be gentle with yourself when you do give in to cravings: No one meal, day or even week of eating will have a lifelong impact on your health and your hormones.
Don’t be hard on yourself if you can’t resist a craving.
Sometimes the emotional ‘beating up’ of ourselves for making poor food choices can be more detrimental to our health than the poor food choice itself!
Keep this in mind and be forgiving of yourself when you slip up – the goal is not perfection but sustainable change
- What are your experiences with sugar addiction?
- Do you feel like you are riding the sugar roller-coaster throughout the day?
- Have you found any strategies that help you fight cravings?
- Let me know in the comments below.
7 Comments
Hi,
I have a bad sugar craving/ addiction. I have tried so many different methods such as cold turkey, 1 x a week, only on weekends etc and nothing works. I need help bc I feel horrible when I eat the bad stuff but I still give in. Am I not strong enough?
Reply to Amanda Lopez
I like to eat oranges when I’m thirsty. I figured out if I’m thirsty, it means I’m wanting sugar and oranges hit the spot.
Reply to Shay
Hi Shay,
That’s great that you’ve found a natural way to hit that craving spot :) Does drinking water also help?
Tam.
Reply to Tamika Woods
Im definetely a self proclaimed sugar addict, my health and fitness goals are most times my motivations to stay on track and i find ways to ignore the craving by eating fruit, preotein smoothie etc, if my craving is for salty snacks i lean towards almond and nuts.
Reply to TLHOGI SEFOLO
That’s great to hear you have found some natural sweet treats to help to avoid the cravings. Thanks for sharing your tips :)
Tam.
Reply to Tamika Woods
I did a three-month fast from all added sugars earlier this year. The first half was really hard, but I’m really glad that I quit “cold turkey”. After practicing disregarding these sugar cravings for three months (with some help from my sweet husband in my weak moments), I have kicked my sugar addiction and can now enjoy sweets in moderation. My current goal is to not excede dessert 1-2x a week and to limit added sugars in my other foods as much as possible. I’ve been able to make permanent food switches such as making my own spaghetti sauce and pizza sauce from canned tomato sauce (with whole grain noodles/almond flour crust), making my own baked snacks (such as baked oatmeal with only banana to sweeten it and other fruits to make it taste exciting), and eating natural peanut butter when I need something sweet.
Reply to Whitney
Hey Whitney,
Well done you! it’s certainly not an easy thing to do. I’m very impressed by your home-made pizza sauces and almond flour crusts – yum! Keep up the amazing work :)
Tam.
Reply to Tamika Woods
Leave a Comment