Parker/2017
Sugar is addictive.
That’s true, we now know, from scientific studies, rats will choose sugar water over cocaine whenever given the choice. Sugar triggered production of the brain’s natural opiates or morphine-like compounds in these rats. French scientists’ findings demonstrated that sweetness can surpass cocaine reward even in drug-sensitized and drug-addicted individuals according to the Huffington Post,
I always thought it was odd how AA meetings serve loads of carbs and sugary snacks. Alcohol is sugar. It’s just trading one addiction for another. Ok, so sugar is addictive and adds weight to your midsection. [tweetthis]What do you do if you want something sweet?[/tweetthis] Well, with a little creativity, you can find new ways to satisfy your sweet tooth, without the sugar highs and crashes that go hand-in-hand with sugar consumption.
Are you a chocoholic?
I don’t know about you, but if I have a choice of sweets, I always go for the chocolate. Some like milk chocolate, which I find it to be too sweet. I love dark chocolate instead. There are a variety of healthy chocolate products out there that offer the taste you crave (without the extra calories). The downside? Unless you can be satisfied with a couple of squares of chocolate, once you start snacking, you’ll end up hopelessly looking for more inside an empty wrapper.
Try this instead. Whip up a glass of chocolate “milk” (use cow, almond, or coconut) or a cozy cup of hot chocolate. Your sweet tooth will be satisfied and you can sip at your leisure, giving you the chocolate taste you crave over an extended period of time.
Is Candy your thing?
If candy is what your sweet tooth craves, then this healthy substitution is just for you. Buy a bunch of grapes and transfer the grapes to an airtight container. Freeze them overnight and pack them in a small plastic bag or container to enjoy as a snack at work or on the go. Their natural sweetness is sure to satisfy cravings, and the popsicle-like consistency of the frozen grapes delivers a candy-like texture. You can also do this with blueberries, which I prefer over grapes. If you do use grapes, make sure they’re organic.
Love ice cream?
It’s funny how I used to love ice cream, but don’t really crave it any longer. Sure, on a really hot day, it’s fun to go to the Scoop, but that’s a once in awhile treat. The scoop is a local hole-in-the-wall ice cream store where, on a hot summer day, the line weaves down the block. They only take cash and their ice cream is made of pure, local ingredients. So the vanilla, honey, lavender really has pieces of lavender in it. Amazing!
Store-bought ice cream can be a lot less high quality and filled with chemicals that you really don’t want to be eating. I’ve found many DIY ice cream recipes, but they all end with “place all ingredients into an ice cream maker”. That’s not a piece of kitchen equipment that I have or want.
Here’s a much easier solution to the DIY ice cream that uses only 1 ingredient. Wow! It does take some planning though. I buy bananas almost weekly and freeze them when I get home from the store. I peel them, break them in half and toss in a freezer bag. That way, I can have a frozen banana for my protein shake whenever the desire arises.
Frozen Banana Ice Cream
- Cut ripe bananas into small or medium-sized pieces and store them in an airtight container.
- Place it in the freezer and wait at least 2 hours (or overnight).
- Use a food processor or blender to whip the bananas into a creamy consistency. Take a break every minute or so to scrape down the sides with a spatula.
- Transfer it back to the container and freeze until solid (you can also enjoy your ice cream right away!).
Tip: Get creative and add a dash of honey or peanut butter while the bananas are blending. A tablespoon of dark chocolate chips, raw chocolate powder, or flaked coconut will pair perfectly with the banana flavor, too!
Great. So now you have some options of how to satisfy your sugar cravings without eating the entire pan of brownies. As you can see, using the natural sweetness of fruit can be very satisfying. Once you get used to just enjoying fruit, you’ll start to find other sweet products just too sweet. Trust me, I’ve been there. Sugar is addictive and if you need help breaking the sugar cycle, do what I did, RESET your body. If you want to do a 5 or 7 day RESET program to get off of sugar, just email me at donna@donnaAcupuncture.com.
Want to curb your sugar cravings but having a hard time doing it? Have you tried doing everything but still end up giving in to sweet temptations? Want to lose that excess weight due to sugar?
