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Healthy Eating

7 Tips for Busting Sugar Cravings During the Holidays

What strategies can we use to avoid loading up on sugar more than we usually do over the holidays? I’ve got a few solutions that have worked for me, and I’d like to share them with you.

Jeff Taraday

Written by Jeff Taraday Last updated on December 19, 2013

Ah, the holiday season. Time to buy presents, spend time with loved ones, and deal with being surrounded by endless amounts of baked goods, sweets, and candies. Any office this time of year is starting to fill up with baskets of calorically-dense goodies, and there are bound to be tons of cupcakes, cookies, and candy canes lying around at holiday parties. Coupled with the stresses of the season, it’s no wonder that a lot of us, even those of us who lead an incredibly healthy lifestyle, end up loading up on sugar much more than we usually do.

What strategies can we use to avoid this pleasure trap? I’ve got a few solutions that have worked well for me in the past, and I’d like to share them with you.

Tip #1: Reduce Your Caffeine and Alcohol Consumption

The rollercoaster of energy and hydration levels stemming from drinking caffeine in the morning and alcohol in the evening can make anyone more susceptible to sugar cravings, so watching your intake of these liquids can help control your desire for sweets. Moreover, some studies have suggested that drinking coffee can impair the body’s ability to control glucose levels.1

Tip #2: Drink More Water

This goes hand in hand with the previous tip, since dehydration can sometimes manifest itself as sugar cravings. If you find yourself staring at the plate of cookies in your office kitchen, have a glass of water and wait a few minutes to see if you’re still pining for the sugary stuff as much.

Tip #3: Eat Plenty of Fruit and Sweet Vegetables

The natural sugars in whole foods such as berries, apples, and sweet potatoes can help satisfy your sweet tooth, and the high fiber content will help to fill you up. These naturally-occurring sweet foods are far better options compared to confections and baked goods.

Tip #4: Abstinence Is the Best Policy

If you can really eat one cookie or piece of candy and leave the rest, have at it, but most of us are unable to do this. It turns out that consuming foods with a high glycemic index may fuel addictive cravings and hunger.2 So instead of telling yourself “I’ll just have one,” you’re better off staying away from the sweet stuff altogether.

Tip #5: Hit the Gym, Trail, or CrossFit Box

Continued physical activity helps balance blood sugar levels, reduces tension, and boosts energy. All of this reduces your desires for sugar.

Tip #6: Find Time to Relax and Get Your Sleep 

How long and how well we sleep plays a role in our susceptibility to hyper-palatable foods. The worse we sleep, the more likely we are to overeat.3 So no matter how stressful the holidays may seem, be sure to make adequate sleep a priority.

Tip #7: Find Sweetness in Your Life 

This may sound hokey, but cravings might not always be a sign that your body needs sugar or sweets. Cravings sometimes have psychological components, so take some time to look introspectively and make adjustments accordingly. Finding balance in your life might help balance out your desire for sugar.

References:

1. Moisey LL, Kacker S, Bickerton AC, Robinson LE, Graham TE. ., “Caffeinated coffee consumption impairs blood glucose homeostasis in response to high and low glycemic index meals in healthy men,” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. May 2008.

2. Lennerz BS, Alsop DC, Holsen LM, Stern E, Rojas R, Ebbeling CB, Goldstein JM, Ludwig DS. 2013., “Effects of dietary glycemic index on brain regions related to reward and craving in men,” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. June 26 2013.

3. St-Onge MP, McReynolds A, Trivedi ZB, Roberts AL, Sy M, Hirsch J, “Sleep restriction leads to increased activiation of brain regions sensitive to food stimuli,” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. February 22 2012.

Photos courtesy of Shutterstock.

Jeff Taraday

About Jeff Taraday

Jeff Taraday is a reformed junk food addict and barbecue junkie who discovered the power of a whole foods, plant-based diet in in 2010. Prior to his dietary change, he was thirty pounds overweight and a heavy drinker. Switching to a plant-based diet has helped him lose the extra weight and transform him into a fitness and exercise junkie and a plant-based nutrition advocate.

Jeff is a certified Health Coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and a Nutritional Education Trainer through the Nutritional Education Institute. He has also completed a certification in plant-based nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Foundation. He is the author of the blogThe Plant Eater, and coaches individuals and families around the country in nutrition how to incorporate nutrient-dense, plant-centric meals into their daily lives.

He is also a member of the board of Groceryships,a non-profit that provides grocery scholarships, nutritional education, and emotional support to low-income families in Los Angeles, California.

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