Cravings can be a way that your body is telling you something. Honor your cravings by getting to the root cause of it, and find out what your body really needs.
There are many root causes to sugar cravings. Weaning off sugar can be so much easier if you tackle these root causes, rather than just going cold turkey.
Yin/Yang Imbalance
All foods can be placed on the Yin/Yang spectrum based on their energetics. Yin foods are cooling and expanding, while Yang foods are warming and contracting.
When we eat too much Yang foods – such as red meat, salt and egg, our body will want some Yin foods to restore balance. Sugar and alcohol are extreme Yin foods that our body would usually crave.
Armed with this knowledge, you can reduce your sugar cravings by eating less extreme yang foods and instead, choose foods that are more neutral on the Yin/Yang spectrum. Examples are whole grains, fish, sea vegetables, beans, root vegetables, and winter squash.
Energy Quick Fix
Cravings for sugar or refined carbohydrates can happen when our body needs an energy fix. Our body can extract energy from sugar very quickly, and is therefore the “food of choice” when a quick fix is needed.
To avoid the need for an energy quick fix, eat for sustained energy. Eat meals that are low in glycemic load – whole unprocessed foods such as whole grains, vegetables, and beans are great choices. They are high in fiber, which moderates the speed at which the sugar is absorbed by the body. Also, make sure you include a moderate amount of good fat and lean protein to slow down stomach emptying and increase satiety.
What can you do?
Pay attention to circumstances under which you have cravings – after eating a lot of salty and meaty food? Or, at 4pm when you are falling asleep at your desk? Your observation will get you closer to the root cause, and you can implement the recommendations that are targeted to what is making you crave sugar.
