This means that not long after eating, your body will be craving more quick energy in the form of sugary, fast-releasing foods. Certain vitamins and minerals are needed to help you balance your blood sugar levels, eating a varied, balanced diet is important to help meet these needs.

Keep your trigger foods, such as chocolate, biscuits, cakes and cookies, out of the house or at least out of sight. Certain points in the day can be a trigger — your commute to the office, passing the coffee bar, the 3pm vending machine run.

A UK study found that people who increased the length of their sleep each night reduced their sugar intake by as much as 10 grams the following day. Call a friend as a distraction strategy, as well as for valued words of encouragement. You could even take on the challenge of beating your cravings together.

Going for a walk, run or other form of exercise helps stabilise blood sugar levels and makes the blood sugar hormone, insulin, more effective.

A small study in the UK reported that soaking in a hot bath for an hour lowered blood sugar levels in sedentary, overweight males who were unable to exercise.

Davina McCall: How to be sugar-free Our favourite lower sugar recipes Our guide to sugar-free baking Why is sugar bad for you?

This article was reviewed on 26th October by Kerry Torrens, Registered Nutritionist. Kerry Torrens BSc. She is a member of the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine BANT and a member of the Guild of Food Writers. Over the last 15 years she has been a contributing author to a number of nutritional and cookery publications including BBC Good Food.

All health content on bbcgoodfood. com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional.

If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider. See our website terms and conditions for more information.

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Summary Yogurt is a high-protein snack that could help you control your appetite and cravings. Even though they have been dried, they are a great source of fiber, potassium, iron and beneficial plant compounds.

Having a few dates instead of a soda or some candy can give you a sweet fix and also provide you with healthy nutrients. You could even try pairing them with nuts like almonds for a sweet and crunchy treat. However, remember that dates are very sweet, so stick to one portion at a time, or about three dates.

Summary Dates are very sweet, so they can fix your craving for sugar while providing you other beneficial nutrients too. Sweet potatoes are nutritious, sweet and very filling. They contain mostly carbs but also fiber and a number of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium.

For a delicious treat, try them roasted with cinnamon and paprika like in this recipe. Including a source of protein like meat, poultry or fish in your meals may help prevent sugar cravings 28 , In fact, if you are trying to lose weight , eating adequate amounts of protein may be very important for managing your food intake, cravings and weight 30 , 31 , 32 , Summary Good sources of protein like meat, poultry and fish may help keep you full and prevent cravings for sweets.

The sweetness of the fruit combined with the filling effects of yogurt can satisfy your need for something sweet, all while providing lots of beneficial nutrients. Summary Smoothies made with whole fruits and yogurt can combat your cravings for sweets.

Soda is extremely sweet, and drinking high amounts of sugar-sweetened beverages has been linked to a number of diseases, including heart disease and diabetes 36 , 37 , Switching to a sugar-free version can help you get a sweet fix without the added sugar and calories.

Summary Switching out your high-sugar drinks for ones made with artificial sweeteners can give you a sweet taste without all the added sugar. Prunes are dried plums. This means you can reach for them as a healthy alternative to candy when you just have to have some sugar.

Their high fiber content and naturally occurring sorbitol also mean they may help relieve constipation. Sorbitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol that tastes sweet but is absorbed slowly in your gut Summary Prunes are sweet, nutritious and high in fiber, so they can be a healthy food for satisfying cravings for sweets.

Eggs are another high-protein food that may help keep your appetite and cravings in check. In fact, research has shown that having a high-protein breakfast like eggs may reduce hunger and help people eat less throughout the day 41 , 42 , This may be partly because a high-protein breakfast suppresses the hunger hormone ghrelin and increases some of the hormones that make you feel full, including peptide YY PYY and glucagon-like peptide-1 GLP-1 44 , 45 , This suggests that an egg breakfast could keep you feeling fuller for longer and keep the cravings at bay 43 , Summary Eggs can be a good choice, especially for breakfast.

Trail mix is the name often given to a snack containing dried fruit and nuts. Nuts contain healthy fats, proteins, fiber and plant compounds. Eating them has been linked to a number of health benefits , including improved risk factors for heart disease and diabetes Summary Trail mix combines the sweetness of dried fruits with nuts.

This gives your sweet fix some added nutritional value. Fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, kombucha and sauerkraut are sources of beneficial bacteria. This makes it possible for your gut bacteria to influence your food intake in a number of ways.

Some of these compounds may even mimic hunger or fullness hormones in your body, influencing your appetite and food cravings 51 , However, no studies to date have examined the effects of eating fermented foods on food cravings, and more research is needed Summary Fermented foods can contribute to maintaining a healthy gut, which could influence your appetite and food intake.

Whole grains are high in fiber and contain nutrients including B vitamins, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, manganese and selenium 54 , Eating whole grains has been linked to a longer, healthier life, and their high fiber content also means they may help you feel full 56 , 57 , 58 , Whole grains can also promote the growth of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacteria , Lactobacilli and Bacteroidetes in your gut.

Interestingly, their filling properties cannot be explained by their fiber content alone. It has been suggested that their influence on gut bacteria may also contribute to this effect Overall, making sure you are eating enough and including foods like whole grains in your diet will help keep you full and may help prevent sugar cravings.

While eating vegetables may not be satisfying when you are experiencing an acute sugar craving, including them in your diet regularly could be helpful. Vegetables are high in fiber and low in calories.

They also contain lots of beneficial nutrients and plant compounds 4. Eating more vegetables is probably one of the best things you can do for your health and could lower your risk of diseases like heart disease and cancer Adding vegetables is also a great way to bulk up your meals, helping you feel more satisfied throughout the day Dominic D'Agostino, PhD.

The glycemic index provides insight into how particular foods affect glucose but has limitations. Stephanie Eckelkamp. Ami Kapadia. Being aware of these causes of inaccurate data can help you identify—and avoid—surprising and misleading feedback. Joy Manning, RD.

Inside Levels. Levels Co-Founder's new book—Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health—releases May 14; available for pre-order today.

Metabolic flexibility means that your body can switch easily between burning glucose and fat, which means you have better energy and endurance.

Jennifer Chesak. Written By Barbara Brody. Reviewed By Austin Perlmutter, MD. Article highlights Sugar acts on the same brain reward pathways as addictive drugs which is why cravings can be so strong.

Environmental cues like smells and sights trigger the brain's dopamine system which makes us crave sugar. Stress causes short-term mood boosts from sugar but leads to a vicious cortisol-craving cycle in the long run. Time, replacing cues, mindfulness, balanced diet, and stable blood sugar are ways to break the brain's sugar craving cycle.

While controversial, research shows cutting sugar for 4 weeks can retrain your brain and dissipate cravings through deconditioning. Get updates, new articles, exclusive discounts, and more. Email Required. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Summary Swap regular chocolate out for a few squares of dark chocolate, which contains less sugar and higher levels of healthy polyphenols. Try looking for a snack bar made with whole oats and sweetened with fresh or dried fruit, rather than table sugar. The best bars have been made with whole foods.

They are likely to be higher in fiber and contain more beneficial nutrients, even if they are still quite sweet. Alternatively, you could try making your own healthy snack bar using a recipe like this one. Summary Snack bars that have been made with whole foods can make a healthy sweet treat.

Chia seeds are a good source of many important nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids , soluble dietary fiber and some healthy plant compounds 11 , This sort of fiber readily absorbs water and swells up to form a jelly-like substance in your gut, which may help keep you feeling fuller for longer and prevent sugar cravings Chia seeds are also versatile, so if you want a dessert to satisfy your sweet craving, you could try making a chia pudding like this one.

Summary Chia seeds are high in soluble fiber, which could help you feel fuller for longer and curb your sugar cravings. Chewing gum can be a great way to control your sugar cravings.

Gum or mints that are made with artificial sweeteners taste sweet but contain a minimal number of calories and no sugar. Although results are mixed, some studies have also found that chewing gum could help control hunger, cravings and the intake of carb-heavy foods later in the day 14 , 15 , 16 , In addition to helping you fight the urge for sugar, chewing gum after your meals is good for your teeth Summary Chewing sugar-free gum can provide you with a sweet taste that may help curb your cravings and control your food intake.

Legumes like lentils, beans and chickpeas are great plant-based sources of fiber and protein. In fact, 1 cup grams of lentils provides you with around 18 grams of protein and 16 grams of fiber Both these nutrients are thought to increase feelings of fullness.

Thus, in theory, including legumes in your diet could help you feel fuller and reduce hunger-driven sugar cravings. In line with this, a recent review found that eating lentils may aid weight loss This may be partly due to the short-term beneficial effects that legumes can have on your appetite 21 , Summary Legumes like lentils, beans and chickpeas are good sources of protein and fiber.

Including them in your diet could help curb hunger, leaving you less likely to get a craving. Additionally, some studies have suggested that yogurt could be a good snack to help regulate your appetite and control your cravings 23 , 24 , 25 , In fact, one study found that healthy-weight women who had high-protein Greek yogurt for an afternoon snack were less hungry and ate less later in the day, compared to those who had a lower-protein snack or no snack at all Summary Yogurt is a high-protein snack that could help you control your appetite and cravings.

Even though they have been dried, they are a great source of fiber, potassium, iron and beneficial plant compounds. Having a few dates instead of a soda or some candy can give you a sweet fix and also provide you with healthy nutrients.

You could even try pairing them with nuts like almonds for a sweet and crunchy treat. However, remember that dates are very sweet, so stick to one portion at a time, or about three dates. Summary Dates are very sweet, so they can fix your craving for sugar while providing you other beneficial nutrients too.

Sweet potatoes are nutritious, sweet and very filling. They contain mostly carbs but also fiber and a number of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium.

For a delicious treat, try them roasted with cinnamon and paprika like in this recipe. Including a source of protein like meat, poultry or fish in your meals may help prevent sugar cravings 28 , In fact, if you are trying to lose weight , eating adequate amounts of protein may be very important for managing your food intake, cravings and weight 30 , 31 , 32 , Summary Good sources of protein like meat, poultry and fish may help keep you full and prevent cravings for sweets.

The sweetness of the fruit combined with the filling effects of yogurt can satisfy your need for something sweet, all while providing lots of beneficial nutrients. Summary Smoothies made with whole fruits and yogurt can combat your cravings for sweets.

Soda is extremely sweet, and drinking high amounts of sugar-sweetened beverages has been linked to a number of diseases, including heart disease and diabetes 36 , 37 , Switching to a sugar-free version can help you get a sweet fix without the added sugar and calories.

Summary Switching out your high-sugar drinks for ones made with artificial sweeteners can give you a sweet taste without all the added sugar.

Prunes are dried plums. This means you can reach for them as a healthy alternative to candy when you just have to have some sugar.

Their high fiber content and naturally occurring sorbitol also mean they may help relieve constipation. Sorbitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol that tastes sweet but is absorbed slowly in your gut Summary Prunes are sweet, nutritious and high in fiber, so they can be a healthy food for satisfying cravings for sweets.

Eggs are another high-protein food that may help keep your appetite and cravings in check. In fact, research has shown that having a high-protein breakfast like eggs may reduce hunger and help people eat less throughout the day 41 , 42 , This may be partly because a high-protein breakfast suppresses the hunger hormone ghrelin and increases some of the hormones that make you feel full, including peptide YY PYY and glucagon-like peptide-1 GLP-1 44 , 45 , This suggests that an egg breakfast could keep you feeling fuller for longer and keep the cravings at bay 43 , Summary Eggs can be a good choice, especially for breakfast.

Trail mix is the name often given to a snack containing dried fruit and nuts. Nuts contain healthy fats, proteins, fiber and plant compounds.

Eating them has been linked to a number of health benefits , including improved risk factors for heart disease and diabetes Summary Trail mix combines the sweetness of dried fruits with nuts.

This gives your sweet fix some added nutritional value. Fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, kombucha and sauerkraut are sources of beneficial bacteria. This makes it possible for your gut bacteria to influence your food intake in a number of ways. Some of these compounds may even mimic hunger or fullness hormones in your body, influencing your appetite and food cravings 51 , However, no studies to date have examined the effects of eating fermented foods on food cravings, and more research is needed Summary Fermented foods can contribute to maintaining a healthy gut, which could influence your appetite and food intake.

Whole grains are high in fiber and contain nutrients including B vitamins, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, manganese and selenium 54 , Eating whole grains has been linked to a longer, healthier life, and their high fiber content also means they may help you feel full 56 , 57 , 58 , Whole grains can also promote the growth of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacteria , Lactobacilli and Bacteroidetes in your gut.

Interestingly, their filling properties cannot be explained by their fiber content alone. It has been suggested that their influence on gut bacteria may also contribute to this effect Overall, making sure you are eating enough and including foods like whole grains in your diet will help keep you full and may help prevent sugar cravings.

While eating vegetables may not be satisfying when you are experiencing an acute sugar craving, including them in your diet regularly could be helpful. Vegetables are high in fiber and low in calories.

They also contain lots of beneficial nutrients and plant compounds 4. Eating more vegetables is probably one of the best things you can do for your health and could lower your risk of diseases like heart disease and cancer Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine.

Join Now. Food cravings are normal and can hit you for lots of reasons: hunger, hormonal shifts, habit or even boredom, experts say. More than 90 percent of Americans experience food cravings, studies show.

Sugar has a physical effect on the brain, triggering the release of feel-good hormones like serotonin and dopamine. Culturally, we also tend to associate sweet foods with safety, comfort and happiness. The average American consumes 17 tablespoons of sugar a day ­— about two to three times the amount the American Heart Association recommends.

Foods high in sugar or carbohydrates spike insulin levels in your bloodstream. When your blood sugar drops again in an hour or two, you will find yourself craving your next fix. You can get off the blood sugar treadmill — and keep cravings at bay — by starting your day off with a breakfast high in protein, Alexander says.

Think eggs, Greek yogurt , cottage cheese or a smoothie with protein powder. Check out more of the benefits of high-protein breakfast , including a smoothie recipe.

To increase your odds of conquering cravings, aim for seven to eight hours of sleep a night, Aggarwal says. Try to get to the bottom of what typically triggers your desire for something sweet, Alexander suggests.

Often, it has nothing to do with hunger. Privacy Policy. Some people wolf down a sleeve of cookies when they need a distraction from a hard project at work. Others devour a bowl of ice cream to treat themselves after a hard day.

Target Optical. Once you identify your triggers, make a list of alternative ways to handle those feelings. Post the list where you will see it the next time the chocolate chip cookies are calling your name. If you have a spouse who insists on keeping sweets in the house, put those foods out of sight and out of reach, like in a container at the back of a top cabinet, Forman suggests.

Then keep healthier snacks like fruit, nuts and cut-up vegetables within reach. The American Heart Association recommends limiting calories from added sugars —from granulated sugar, corn syrup, even honey — no more than 6 percent of calories each day.

Check out the sugars in these foods. Some people who try to swear off sweets altogether end up losing self-control and binging. If that tends to happen to you, consider giving in to your craving, but limit yourself to a very small portion, suggests Jamie Pope, a registered dietitian and assistant professor of nutrition at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing.

This strategy works especially well if you choose something rich and decadent like cheesecake or a chocolate truffle, Pope says. To make fruit taste even sweeter, try freezing it, Pope suggests. For an indulgence that feels more like dessert, go for a frozen fruit bar with no added sugar.

Or munch on a piece of gum. Research has found that chewing gum can help suppress desire for sweets. Pope says she also likes sipping on a cup of naturally sweet hot tea like cinnamon, peppermint or raspberry.

You can even find unsweetened teas in dessert flavors like double dark chocolate, lemon chiffon and almond coconut macaroon. When Rush University researchers rigged a vending machine to build in a second delay when someone chose an unhealthy item, people often switched to a healthy option, according to a study published in the journal Appetite.

So the next time a craving comes on strong, stop where you are, take a deep breath and slowly count to Use the extra time to ask, Do I really want this? You may find that gives you the resolve to make a healthier choice.

Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.