In a viral Instagram video last month that came straight from her kitchen, actor Saumiya Tandon claimed that she gave up sugar and all sugar substitutes, including honey and jaggery, four years ago. The diva shared: “I only eat fruits and dried fruits and desserts made from them. This is a game changer. Try it! Let’s keep posting sugar/honey/jade free desserts and make everyone believe that we can eat sweet without sugar😉. Let me know what you think. (sic).”
Surprising Reasons for Sugar Cravings:
Responding to the same, in an interview with HT Lifestyle, Prachi Chandra, lead clinical dietitian at Sakra World Hospital, Bangalore, revealed, “Food cravings, especially sugar, are the worst enemy of dieters. The types of foods that each person craves are very different. Most of us feel the urge to eat something sweet after a meal. As a rule, the desire for sweet snacks is most often not caused by hunger, but by the desire to give yourself temporary comfort by consuming highly processed and tasty foods, especially sweets, which stimulate the brain’s reward system and activate certain areas of the central nervous system, giving the body a short-term feeling of relief, joy and improved mood.”
She emphasized: “Are we becoming sugar addicts or sugar addicts?” that is the question that needs to be answered. It’s normal to have an occasional craving, but frequent sugar cravings are not a good sign. Sugar cravings are exacerbated when we’re stressed, sleep-deprived, magnesium-deficient, eating foods that lack nutrients like fiber and protein, or because of obesity, hormonal imbalances, and poor gut health.”
Prachi Chandra noted that the WHO recommends that sugar intake be less than 10% of total energy ~40g for adults and less than 30g per day for children. She added: “Side effects of sugar consumption include weight gain, tooth decay, cardio-metabolic disease, mood swings and hyperactivity in the child along with intestinal dysbiosis, etc. d. Sugar consumed as glucose, sucrose, fructose, or starch (as in sugar). , honey, jade, or fruit) provides the same caloric value (4 kcal/1 g), so consuming honey, jade, brown sugar is all the same in terms of calories.”
Life-Changing Tips To Get Rid Of Sugar Cravings Naturally:
A nutrition expert suggested: “Including natural sugars from sweet fruits, vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, is the best option instead of consuming ultra-processed sweet meats with a certain amount of fiber and micronutrients. Free sugar is a source of empty calories and provides no nutritional benefit.”
To reduce sugar cravings, Prachi Chandra recommended trying the following tips:
1. Include a variety of foods in your diet to get enough macro- and micronutrients and maintain gut health.
2. Avoid eating processed foods that have empty calories like chocolate, cold drinks, sweets, juices, etc.
3. In case of food cravings, prefer naturally sweet seasonal fruits and vegetables such as boiled sweet potatoes, pumpkin, etc.
4. Eat soaked dry fruits like raisins, dates, apricots, figs, etc.
5. Drink plenty of water as dehydration can cause cravings.
6. Eat small and often healthy snacks.
7. Exercise regularly as it releases endorphins that help reduce stress-related cravings.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor for any health concerns.
