How to Beat Food Cravings
Learning how to eat fresh, living, whole foods is the key of how to beat food cravings. It will also help you reach your ideal weight, strengthen your immune system, boost your energy and your mood. By focusing on adding the highest quality foods to your diet your body will become balanced and this is how you stop food cravings.
Breaking cravings for sugar and other foods can seem like an impossible challenge for most people. Especially if you've been struggling with a sweet tooth most of your life and you have no idea where to start.
It takes 3-5 days for most people to stop sugar cravings when they use a natural whole foods diet and remove sources of sugar from their diet. This includes refined wheat and flour products, sweetened dairy products, table sugar, honey and other sweeteners as well as the temporary removal of fruit as well. We remove fruit for a short period of time as this helps to keep blood sugar balanced, which is key to reducing cravings for sugar and comfort food.
By reducing the sugar in your diet you will also improve your digestion and reduce digestive symptoms like bloating, gas, constipation and diarrhoea. Because you are reducing the artificially sweet foods in your diet you will start to enjoy the sweetness of vegetables and once your re-introduce them again fruits.
Once you know how to beat food cravings it's a skill you'll always have. You'll know how to eat for energy, keep your blood sugar balanced and get all the nutrients you need for true wellness. A natural, whole food diet is how to eat to be the best you possible.
If you'd like to learn how to curb carb cravings for good it's important to balance your blood sugar which usually involves increasing protein intake and fibre. The best way I've found to do this is using the Metabolic Balance plan and personalised nutrition from a blood test.
Action steps to stop the cravings
1. Drink sufficient water
Thirst can be confused for hunger. When a craving strikes try drinking a glass of water and waiting for 15 minutes to see if it subsides.
2. Eat sufficient protein
Eating more protein can reduce cravings and appetite and help stop overeating. Having a protein breakfast has been found to reduce after dinner snacking.
3. Manage stress
Learning stress management techniques such as breathing exercises, yoga or meditation can help reduce cravings. Stress also increases cortisol, which can contribute to weight gain. Try to minimise stress where possible.
4. Get sufficient sleep
When you're tired your body basically has sleep or sugar for energy. If you don't get sufficient sleep you are more likely to crave sugar.
5. Eat balanced meals
By providing your body with the macronutrients and micronutrients it needs, you are less likely to get cravings. It's import to have a balance of carbs, fats and protein at each meal.
How the Metabolic Balance Plan can reduce cravings
While learning how to beat food cravings you will be eating specific food, to balance your blood sugar. Eating lots of vegetables, high in phytonutrients and you'll be drinking water to help nourish your body.
The Metabolic Balance diet will help you to drop weight, boost your energy and reduce cravings. There are so many health benefits to breaking your sugar habit but the biggest benefit of following the Metabolic Balance Plan is that you will learn to turn on your body intuition. This will help you identify which foods work for you as an individual and which foods work against your health.
You will carry many of these positive health habits into your future to create optimum wellness in your life. If however you slip back into your old routines you have the tools to balance your blood sugar and stop your sugar cravings again at any time.
Read more about my Fuel & Nourish with Metabolic Balance Program.