6 Healthy Foods To Satisfy Sugar Cravings

Are you often plagued by a sugar craving? If yes, don’t fret! We all get cravings and it is not uncommon to have a sweet tooth. Eating sugary foods are just too hard to resist. Anything sweet is highly desirable due to the powerful impact sugar has on our brain’s reward system. It activates the brain in the same way that drugs like cocaine or heroin do, making us more prone to keep on craving more sugar. So, what should we do to fight sweets addiction?

Excessive sugar makes you feel lazy and affects your body in many harmful ways such as it promotes ageing, diabetes, weight gain, etc. Well, I am not asking you to completely deprive yourself of a treat every now and then. Avoiding all sugar is not realistic. But you can at least swap some of your sugar-filled treats out for some of the healthier options. Here I am going to share a list of certain foods that will help you fight sugar cravings. These foods will give you a boost of sweetness with the added benefit of fibre and vitamins.

# Banana

Banana provides natural sweetness. It can satisfy your cravings along with providing a lot of healthy nutrients and plant compounds. It’s a quick and fibre-rich snack that will keep you feeling full and satisfied. The natural sugar in it does not spike up blood sugar and insulin levels.

# Berries

Berries taste sweet but they are actually quite low in sugar. Thanks to its high fibre content! They are a perfect nutritious choice to fight sweets addiction. Eating berries may also help reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes. So, next time when you are craving to eat something sweet, grab a handful of berries.

# Sweet Potato

To satiate sugar and starch cravings, keep baked sweet potatoes at hand. Sweet potatoes contain L-tryptophan, an amino acid that can help in satisfying sugar cravings. They may taste sweet because of the presence of natural sugars in them but due to their fibre content, sweet potatoes do not cause a spike in blood sugar levels.

Not only this, they are highly nutritious too, providing a good dose of potassium, iron, and vitamins A, B-6, C, and D.

# Dark Chocolate

If you find yourself craving regular chocolate, make a healthier choice by swapping it out for a few squares of dark chocolate.

Raw, dark chocolate contains less sugar and higher levels of healthy plant compounds known as polyphenols. It is rich in magnesium, essential fibres and B vitamins. This kicks sugar cravings by satisfying your sweet tooth.

Make sure to consume chocolate that contains more than 70% cocoa. You may also combine fruits and dark chocolate to stop sugar cravings.

# Dates

Dates are a great way to hit that sweet spot! You’ll get sweetness, fibre, protein, and it will keep you full without giving in to temptation. The high soluble fibre content helps in fighting off sugar cravings.

Dates are rich in potassium, iron and other beneficial plant compounds. No doubt, they are high in calories, but unlike sugar, the calories obtained from dates come with a lot of nutritional properties.

Consuming a few dates instead of a soda or some candy is the best way to stay away from sugar and nasty sugar substitutes. You can also replace sugar with dates in your desserts. This can give you a sweet fix and also provide you with healthy nutrients.

# Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are a good source of many important nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids. They contain soluble dietary fibre which readily absorbs water and swells up to form a jelly-like substance in your gut. This may help keep you feeling fuller for longer and fight sweets addiction.

Fibre, protein, and healthy fats- the perfect trifecta in chia seeds helps in boosting satiety and keeping blood sugar levels stable.