Cast Out Those Cravings

Are you constantly battling with sugar cravings and episodes of emotional eating? When trying to lose weight, cravings for sweets and starches can throw you off track and sabotage your weight-loss efforts.

There is little point in fighting against your cravings—what you may need instead is to balance your blood sugar to get rid of cravings for good.

In addition to eating a balanced diet filled with fibre, protein, fat, fruits, and vegetables, there are also some natural and safe weight-loss supplements that contain helpful ingredients to help maintain your blood sugar balance—and reduce your cravings.

When looking for a supplement to end your need for sweets, there are two essential ingredients you should look for.

5-HTP

A naturally occurring amino acid, 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) is a precursor to the feel-good neurotransmitter (brain chemical) called serotonin. When you are feeling stressed, anxious, or depressed, the body craves sweets in order to bring serotonin levels up.

Because food, mood, and eating behaviours are intimately linked, this can often lead to bingeing on sugary treats that are also high on the glycemic index. The result: excess weight gain, especially around the abdominal region.

Taking a supplement that contains 5-HTP is thought to help with weight management in addition to eliminating cravings and desires for comfort foods.

Chromium

An oversecretion of insulin caused by overeating of high glycemic index foods, stress, or lack of physical activity will equate to excess weight gain. Chromium, a trace mineral that plays an essential role in balancing blood sugar and increasing insulin sensitivity, can help our cells “feel” their insulin, thereby promoting long-term weight-loss success.

Remember, cravings are not a sign that you are weak; rather, they are a sign that your blood sugar levels are “out of whack.” By eating a balanced diet, drinking water, and supplementing with a few key ingredients, you will soon notice cravings are a thing of the past.

6 tips to help keep your cravings at bay

1. Eliminate processed foods that contain added sugar, as they tend to cause blood sugars to bounce around and trigger fat storage.
2. Avoid specialty coffee drinks with added sugars and syrups.
3. Turn to naturally sweet foods such as berries, grapes, watermelon, or melons.
4. Keep frozen mangoes or grapes in the freezer to pop at night when cravings for sweets tend to hit.
5. Pop some protein (eggs, chicken, fish, or turkey) to dampen cravings.
6. Drink a glass of water with fresh-squeezed lemon to help pass through the craving.