Stop the Cravings

We have already discussed how sugar is bad for our teeth and body, but how do we stop the sugar cravings?

Cravings, by definition, are an intense desire for certain foods or flavors. Many people rely on artificial sweeteners to curb their sugar cravings, for example, Diet Coke. However, they may be even worse than real sugar. 

Researchers believe that heavily drinking diet sodas with artificial sweeteners such as aspartame or saccharin increase the risk of diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and liver problems. Additionally, according to Michael Greger M.D. FACLM, “The problem with artificial sweeteners is that a disconnect ultimately develops between the amount of sweetness the brain tastes and how much glucose [blood sugar] ends up coming to the brain. The brain feels cheated and figures you have to eat more and more and more sweetness in order to get any calories out of it.” So, as a consequence, at the end of the day, your brain says, ‘OK, at some point I need some glucose [blood sugar] here.’ And then you eat an entire cake because nobody can hold out in the end.” 

Therefore, diet drinks and artificial sweeteners do not help sugar cravings. In fact, they make them worse. 

So again, how do we stop sugar cravings? A fantastic way to start would be to start by drinking water with some fruit juice or fruit slices in it. That way instead of plain water, the flavoring from the fruit helps to gradually transition your body from drinking soda to water every day.