Addicted to Sugar? Why It Happens And How to Break It

I have to admit, I never thought that I would ever be addicted to sugar. I have always, and I mean always been a savoury over sweet kinda girl. Hand me a bag of crisps and I can and will devour them before you can even blink. But put Chocolate on the table and I will maybe have a square or two before I lose interest and forget they are even here.

I used to feel somewhat proud of this. I had fallen in to almost every other over eater category. What can I say I love food. So I was happy that I seemed immune to the sweet addiction. At least there was one thing that I didn’t feel the need to overindulge in.

This was me………. until I had a baby.

A lot of new mums I know have experienced the same need for sugar post baby so what is it about female hormones that make us crave sugar? Besides the need to up your calorie levels while breastfeeding, it is also said that serotonin levels drop dramatically after having a baby which leads to strong sugar cravings. Chuck in the sleepless nights and high levels of stress and BOOM. We turn into Sugar Junkies.

Unfortunately for us, once you have boarded the sugar train it is very hard to get off. Sugar is highly addictive, and has even been said to be more addictive than cocaine. It stimulates the reward centres of the brain which causes withdrawal symptoms if you do not get your daily fix. Read about How Sugar Hijacks Your Brain And Makes You Addicted here.

Not only is sugar highly addictive, it is now been classed as the root cause of obesity and obesity related diseases. Sugar is high in calories, however they are empty calories. Meaning that there in no nutritional value what so ever. So with its addictive properties making people want to binge eat and fill up on sugary foods. Their bodies in the mean time are consuming way to many calories whilst depleting the body of nutrients it needs for optimum health.

So How do you ditch the sugar?

Go Cold Turkey

I am sorry to say but there is no other way but to go cold turkey. Just like with any other addictive substance, cutting it out straight away is the best way to detox and get it out of your system. Going down the moderation route will end in disaster. One little bite will set you up and leave you wanting more. Choose a few days where you are likely not to be tempted and go cold turkey.

Do not Give in

This is where you need to muster all the willpower you have. It will be hard but it will be worth it in the end. For me it was harder than I thought. I had serious withdraw symptoms. My usual lazy self was willing to take my son and hike up the hill in the rain just for a piece of cake. I gave in a few times only to make it harder on myself the next day. Be strong and stay in the house if need be. You don’t need any temptations at this time.

Do all your shopping online

This piece of advice was my saviour. If i were to go and walk around the grocery store while fighting my cravings I would be setting myself up for failure. Online shopping not only helps me to save time in my busy mummy schedule and it helps me to get straight to the point and buy only the things I need for our meals. No shopping cart envy or lovely smells to tip me over to the dark side.

Get your 5 a day

Another reason you may be finding it hard to curb the sugar cravings is that your body is desperate for some nutritional therapy. With our modern diet revolved around a lot of processed food. Chances are most of us are not getting enough of the vitamins and minerals our bodies need. Incorporate more fruits and vegetables in your diet. What helped me to curb my cravings was to start the day with a green smoothie. Check out my recipe here.

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Books to help you quit sugar and change your lifestyle

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So there you are. I hope these tips can help you to cut the sugar addiction and detox your body. I know that it is hard, but in the long run your body and skin will thank you for it.

 

xxx

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