Sugar craving is extremely common among people. Almost everyone’s got a sweet tooth.
People experiencing sugar cravings have a sudden urge to eat something sweet, and it isn’t easy to practice self-control, which results in overeating and crossing the daily calorie intake.
However, various foods can help minimize these pesky sugar cravings.
26 Foods That Can Lower your Sugar Cravings
1. Yogurt
Yogurt is very healthy and is a rich source of protein and calcium. Yogurt is good for gut health and helps the intestine to function better. It is a milk product and can be made easily at home. It is an excellent source of magnesium, vitamin B-12, and B-2. It helps in controlling sugar cravings and is a good appetizer.
2. Fruits
Fruits are naturally sweet. They contain fructose which is a simple form of sugar. They also have a lot of fiber, vitamins, and nutrients. Therefore swap fruits with unhealthy sweets. They help in reducing sugar cravings and also fulfill your sugary desire.
3. Spirulina
It is one of the wealthiest whole foods full of proteins. It contains antioxidants and is low in sodium content. Spirulina helps in controlling blood sugar levels. It has high magnesium content, hence helping reduce sugar cravings since deficiency of magnesium causes sugar cravings.
4. Avocado
Avocado helps in curbing the sugar desire. It is full of healthy fats and can be eaten raw or with yogurt. It is an excellent source of potassium and is rich in fiber. It can be a healthy substitute for unhealthy snacks and keeps you satiated for a more extended period.
5. Nuts
Nuts are sweet, satisfying, and loaded with beneficial minerals. Almonds are affluent in fiber, magnesium, and vitamin E; they help lower blood sugar levels and reduce blood pressure.
Pistachios contain unsaturated fatty acids, and potassium can help keep your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol in check. Therefore nuts are a good snack that can be consumed.
6. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice that happens to be sweet and can satisfy your sugar needs without raising your blood sugar. It also helps in fighting the cold, cough, and other diseases as well. It helps to warm the body during winters when taken with milk. Cinnamon is not only sweet but a great spice too!
7. Plant-Based Fat
Plant-based fats are a delicious way to mitigate sugar cravings. Coconut oil is a great plant-based fat that helps in reducing desire. Add a pinch of cinnamon and a tbsp of oil or take it as it is. It is a good source of good fat that is very much needed for the body.
8. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are naturally sweet and are royally nutritious. They help keep you full for a brief period not to have sugar cravings later in the day. They are full of proteins, healthy carbs, and fats. Hence, adding them to your diet is hugely beneficial.
9. Berries
Berries are a great source of fiber. They are full of nutrients and vitamins and are low in sugar. They also have high antioxidant properties and help in fighting a lot of diseases. These can be consumed when you want something sweet.
10. Snack Bars
Snack bars are usually high in sugar and fat. But if sugar cravings hit you hard, try snack bars rich in oats and low in sugar. Snack bars that are made with whole foods can make a healthy sweet treat.
11. Dark Chocolate
To satisfy your sugar cravings, you can have dark chocolates. They are a healthy substitute to milk chocolates as they contain less sugar and have cocoa. Try having dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content.
12. Legumes
Legumes like lentils, beans, and chickpeas are a prominent source of protein and fiber. Adding legumes to your diet could help you feel fuller and decrease sugar cravings. Adding legumes reduces high blood pressure, maintains sugar levels, and can lower the risk of heart diseases.
13. Dates
Dates are high in good sugar. They are incredibly beneficial for the body and provide ample amounts of nutrients to the body. Eating a few dates instead of some candy can help in curbing the sugar craving.
14. Smoothies
Smoothies made from fruits, yogurt, and veggies help reduce sugar cravings and provide numerous health benefits. To add a little flavor and to make them tastier, you can add chia seeds as well in your smoothies.
15. Sugar-Free Gums
Chewing sugar-free gum can give you a sweet taste that may help restrain your cravings and control your food intake. Their various flavors of sugar-free gums in the supermarket include mint, strawberry, etc. These can provide a sweet taste to your taste buds.
16. Prunes
They are dried plums. Prunes are full of nutrients, fibers, and vitamins. These dried plums are a good source of potassium as well. They help in lowering heart diseases and cure constipation as well. They are naturally sweet too. They can assist in fulfilling your sugar cravings.
17. Meat
Meat is rich in protein. Adding an adequate amount of meat protein to your diet will provide you with the necessary proteins required for the body. Proteins keep you full for an extended time, thereby decreasing the desire for anything sweet.
18. Fish
Fish is a good source of lean protein. Adding fish to your diet will provide a good amount of protein and keep you longing for a reasonable duration, reducing the sugar craving.
19. Sugar-Free Soda
Swapping your sugary soda with sugar-free soda helps in relieving the sudden urge of sugar cravings. They are low in calories and can provide the flavor of sweetness. The various brands such as Zevia Zero Calorie Soda, Root Beer, and Blue Sky are readily available in the markets.
20. Eggs
Eggs are a good source of protein. They help in weight loss, reduce hair fall and keep the body’s hormones in balance. They are a healthy choice for breakfast and assist in keeping you full for a more considerable duration and keep your sugar cravings afar.
21. Whole Grains
Whole grains are high in fiber and contain various other nutrients such as vitamins, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron. Entertaining whole grains in your diet will keep you full and may help in avoiding sugar cravings.
22. Fermented Food
Fermented foods are an excellent way to diminish sugar cravings. They are tangy in flavor that can satisfy the taste buds in the same way sugar does.
Fermented foods are a good source of probiotics. They help in reducing sugar cravings.
23. Vegetables
Vegetables are packed with fiber and are low in calories. They also contain lots of additional nutrients that are quite beneficial.
They keep you full for a longer time and decrease the urge to indulge in something sweet.
24. Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are high in fiber and keep you full for a more extended period.
They have surplus amounts of omega -3 fatty acids and antioxidants.
They can be sprinkled on fruits or can be made into pudding.
25. Trail Mix
Trail mix is a combination of dried fruits and nuts. Fruits and dry fruits are both excellent sources of multivitamins and nutrients. Dried cranberries, dates, and almonds provide a delicious taste to the mouth. This provides your sweet fix with some added nutritional value.
26. Herbal Tea
Herbal tea is slightly sweet naturally. It is an excellent source of antioxidants and provides other benefits such as lowering stress, detoxifying the body, and fighting against cold and cough. It will hydrate you and will kill your sugar craving. So brew a cup of herbal tea whenever you feel like having something sweet.
Bottom line
Experiencing a sudden urge to consume something sweet is normal. But regular cravings might also have other reasons, for example, deficiency of magnesium or stress. The alternatives mentioned above can help minimize the sugar craving and provide you relief from that sugar desire.