The Best Foods to Crush Sugar Cravings and Lose Weight Fast
It's that time of year when sweets are all around us, everywhere we go. And while these treats are delicious, sugar is perhaps one of the biggest culprits in derailing our health and weight loss goals this time of year.
If you find yourself struggling with intense sugar cravings-you're not alone! The Cleveland Clinic says that people often crave sugar because of its highly addictive qualities or because they're not eating enough quality food throughout their day.
To fight these intense sugar cravings this holiday season, it's important to eat foods that will give you plenty of nutrients and keep you feeling satisfied longer. To find out which foods are best for this, we talked with Laura Burak, MS, RD, author of Slimdown with Smoothies, and founder of Laura Burak Nutrition.
Continue reading to learn what she recommends, and for more on how to eat healthy, don't miss Simple Ways to Start Losing Weight Immediately, According to Science.
Nuts
According to Burak, including healthy, high-fat foods in your diet can help crush pesky sugar cravings. "The protein and fat content naturally found in nuts, coupled with a nice amount of fiber, help to stabilize blood sugar and create satiety, or that feeling of fullness and satisfaction so you don't feel the urge to grab a candy bar or donut at 3 pm."
Nuts are not only helpful in curbing sugar cravings, but they have many other health benefits as well. According to a report published in Nutrients, nuts have been known to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, while helping with high blood pressure and inflammation as well.
Avocado
Avocados can be used in so many ways: on toast, in smoothies, to make dressings or sauces, or just enjoyed with some salt and pepper. Regardless of how you choose to eat them, you'll benefit from their healthy fat content and will hopefully be less tempted to reach for the sweets.
"Just like nuts, avocados stabilize your blood sugar and can be an excellent preventative measure to craving sweets," says Burak, "so try adding some avocado to your sandwich or salad, or just eat it plain drizzled with olive oil and lemon and see how this satisfying superfood addition can really make a difference in cravings."
Fruit
It's normal to crave something sweet, especially because your body thrives on a certain amount of sugar every day. However, this means naturally occurring sugars like what is found in fruit, not added sugar. This is why Burak recommends curbing your sugar cravings with some fresh fruit.
"Try some fruit instead and you may be surprised because it is called nature's candy after all. In other countries, fruit is considered a dessert but in America, we don't look at it this way. When you start incorporating natural sources of sugar instead of super sweet treats like candy, your taste buds can change to prefer less sugar."
Whole milk dairy like yogurt
If you are in need of a delicious but filling snack in the middle of the day, try some yogurt that doesn't have a lot of added sugar. "A quality yogurt contains natural milk sugar and is a good source of protein and fat, so the combo can satisfy sweets cravings," says Burak.
And if you're really feeling those cravings, add some fresh berries or coconut flakes on top.
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