Chocolates, cakes, and sweet drinks… Sugar cravings are extremely common, especially among women.
Photo via Lisa Kilgour, Nutritionist
In fact, 97% of women and 68% of men report experiencing some sort of food craving, including cravings for sugar and those experiencing a sugar craving can feel a strong urge to eat something sweet and can find it difficult to control themselves around food.
This can lead to binge eating or over-consuming of calories, sometimes on a regular basis. But guess what? There are foods that are not sugary that you can eat when you’re craving for sugar, according to Healthline.
#1 Fruits
We’ve said this before, and we will say it again… fruits are the best!
Fruit is naturally sweet but also contains a lot of beneficial plant compounds and fiber, allowing you to have your fix while keeping it healthy.
Mangoes and grapes have slightly higher sugar levels, so if you’re really craving for something sugary, you could try some grapes and mangoes to give you the sweet hit you need and stop your cravings in its track!
#2 Dark chocolate
Did you know that chocolates can actually be healthy?
Chocolate is one of the most commonly reported foods people eat when they crave for sweets, and this is especially true for women.
If you find yourself, craving for some chocolate, dark chocolate is the healthier choice as it contains more than 70% cocoa and healthy plant compounds known as polyphenols.
Though sometimes, dark chocolate tends to be a little bit more expensive…
Remember not to eat too much chocolate as it still contains sugar and fat!
#3 Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are a good source of many important nutrients including Omega-3 fatty acids, soluble dietary fiber and some healthy plant compounds.
This fiber absorbs water and well up to a jelly-like substance in your stomach, which may help you feel fuller longer and prevent sugar cravings!
#4 Yogurt
Yogurt is a healthy snack that is high in protein and rich in calcium. It is also one of our favourite snacks whenever we feel a craving for sugar.
Researchers have found that yogurt is great in helping to regulate your appetite and control your cravings.
#5 Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are very nutritious, sweet and very filling!
They contain mostly carbs but also fiber and a number of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium.
Did you know that some people get sugar cravings because they aren’t eating enough throughout the day? Your body is just trying to tell you, “Hey, feed me!”
Including carbs such as sweet potatoes into your diet can combat this by adding calories to your meals and making them more balanced, all while providing the sweet taste you’re craving for!
However, if you find yourself wanting sugar so badly and regularly, or you feel out of control around sweet foods, you might want to take a closer look at your diet.
If you just need a quick sugary fix to satisfy your cravings, then try swapping your usual sugary-filled snacks with some of these foods we’ve listed. Hope this helps!
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
