Sugar cravings can be one of the biggest challenges when it comes to quitting sugar, but luckily, there are a few simple ways to take the edge off.

Sugar cravings are often a result of imbalances of hormones and blood sugar levels in the body as a result of detoxing from sugar. The duration of these cravings varies from person to person, often depending on a number of factors, such as the severity of the sugar addiction and the ability to manage stress and other triggers. Sugar cravings can last anywhere from a couple of days to a few weeks, and many will experience other withdrawal effects of quitting sugar like headaches, mood swings, and fatigue. After you’ve made it through the withdrawal stage, sugar cravings may continue, but they’ll become less intense over time. As the body adjusts and recalibrates to a lower sugar intake, you may find you have fewer cravings and can resist them more easily – but until then, you may find yourself struggling to keep from falling off the wagon. That’s where we come in. We’ll be exploring some tips and tricks to reel in sugar cravings and reducing their impact on your health.

1. Eat wholesome meals

Eating wholesome, nutritionally-balanced meals can help to reduce sugar cravings, especially those rich in protein and healthy fats. These foods provide much-needed energy and help regulate blood sugar levels, reducing the chance of sugar cravings. Try starting the day off with avo and an egg on toast or a bowl of oatmeal.

2. Find healthy alternatives to old favourites

If you’re missing chocolate, opt for darker varieties, and if you love your morning cereal, make your own version with whole grains, nuts, seeds and yoghurt. When sugar cravings hit, you’ll want to have healthy alternatives to sugary treats on hand. Fresh fruit, raw vegetables, and dips like hummus are all satisfying snacks that can keep the wolf from the door.

3. Deal with stress

Stress is one of the biggest triggers for sugar cravings that can have even the strongest of wills faltering. This is because our bodies produce the stress-hormone, cortisol, which is known to increase sugar cravings. That’s why it’s important to keep the stress to a minimum, and simple things like meditation, yoga and daily exercise can all help.

4. Get a good night’s sleep

Sleep is a massive part of hormone regulation and it can even crosses over into our eating and waking cycles – that’s why you’ll want to make sure you’re getting quality sleep. This means sleep without interruptions or lights, and try to aim for a minimum of 7 hours. When we miss out on sleep, we’re more likely to crave quick energy boost from unhealthy foods like sugar.

Need a little extra help? It’s no secret that a sugar habit is a tough one to beat – wherever you go, sugar is there. Unlike ditching alcohol, there are few places where sugar is unwelcome. From birthday parties and functions to the office pantry, Sunday markets and the supermarket. Is it any wonder that so many of us find it hard to quit the stuff? That’s why it can also help to join a program like ours – our 8-Week Program is based on accountability, support and providing the essential resources to set you up for success. We’ll help you change the way you look at food – and that doesn’t mean you have to follow restrictive diets or miss out on your favourite foods; we believe you can still enjoy delicious food without jeopardising your health. With celebrity chef Sarah Glover on our panel of experts, you’ll have an array of fun recipes at your fingertips, along with our own exclusive armoury of simple, tasty and healthy recipes for everything from daily meals to impressive entertaining. We’ve also got nutritionists, personal trainers and naturopaths in our team of experts, and they understand what our bodies need and how to best arm ourselves against those cravings. So, if you’ve been having a little trouble keeping that sugar addiction at bay, we’re here to help. We know it can be hard to stick to your health goals – especially when you’re trying to manage it alone. When you sign up with us, you’ll have access to clear-cut meal plans, community support and exclusive access to our sugar-free content. Here’s what’s on offer:

1. 8 weeks of meal plans and shopping lists.
2. 90+ member-only recipes.
3. Community forums to share your journey.
4. Support and guidance from the I Quit Sugar team.
5. Exclusive content from our panel of experts.

So, if you’re ready to ditch sugar and the host of maladies that come with it, it’s not too late to join. We’d love to help you get started on your health journey. Sign up HERE today!