| A large percentage of us can admit to sugar | | | | of food cravings. Chronic stress, illness, poor nutrition, |
| cravings. In fact, you may be hard pressed to identify | | | | and medications can increase the work load of our |
| someone who does not like the taste of sugar. | | | | adrenal glands contributing to a state of feeling "tired |
| Sugar can be detrimental to weight loss efforts, as the | | | | but wired" and wanting a quick energy fix. |
| body stores excess sugar as fat. Experiencing sugar | | | | These imbalances can be corrected! Proper nutrition |
| cravings does not mean that one is weak-willed or it's | | | | can go a long way to supplying the body with the |
| "all in their head". There are actual biological reasons | | | | nutrients it needs to produce adequate amounts of |
| for craving sugar. | | | | serotonin, cortisol, and other chemical messengers. In |
| Many times people crave the foods that are actually | | | | addition, types of food such as protein do not cause |
| harmful to their body. And sugar is definitely | | | | the increased elevation in blood sugars that |
| detrimental. It is pro-inflammatory in the body, | | | | carbohydrates do, so you are less likely to experience |
| weakens the immune system, contributes to weight | | | | the dip that can promote cravings and hunger. |
| gain and tooth decay, acidifies the body, depletes | | | | Chromium is a mineral that can help stabilize blood |
| nutrients, and increases the risk of cancer, just to | | | | sugar and reduce sugar cravings. Other vitamins and |
| name a few. | | | | minerals, amino acids, and herbs for the adrenals can |
| So what is sugar? Sugar is the generic name for | | | | be utilized as appropriate to help bring the body back in |
| sweet, simple carbohydrates. Examples are fructose | | | | balance as well. |
| (in fruits), lactose (in milk), sucrose (in maple syrup, | | | | Sugar is hidden in the vast majority of processed |
| sugar cane, and sugar beets) and sucrose (table | | | | foods. For example, the next time you reach for that |
| sugar). When we ingest starches and sugars, our | | | | bottle of low-fat dressing, soda pop, or can of tomato |
| body converts them into glucose, our blood sugar. | | | | sauce, take a peek at the label. Watch out for |
| This is either utilized by our body for energy or stored | | | | ingredients ending in "ose" as it signifies the food |
| as fat. | | | | contains sugar. The closer the word is to the top of |
| Diabetics have elevated blood glucose levels because | | | | the list of ingredients, the more sugar the product |
| their bodies cannot metabolize sugar properly. The | | | | contains relative to the other ingredients. One can of |
| most common type of diabetes that is growing in | | | | regular soda can contain nearly 10 teaspoons of |
| epidemic proportions is type 2, and in many cases it is | | | | sugar. That's almost the entire daily "recommended" |
| completely preventable through diet, exercise, and | | | | amount of sugar in one item! |
| weight loss. The American Diabetes Association | | | | So if you would like to stop the sugar cravings and |
| estimates that 23.6 million Americans have diabetes | | | | lose weight, switch to a whole foods diet with |
| and nearly 1/4 of them do not know they have the | | | | abundant amounts of vegetables and lean protein such |
| disease. Eating lots of sugary foods along with | | | | as fish or chicken, and moderate amounts of |
| carrying extra pounds can put you more at risk for | | | | carbohydrates in the form of whole grains and fruit. |
| developing diabetes. | | | | Eat smaller meals and healthy snacks throughout the |
| When you experience sugar cravings, there can be | | | | day and make sure you eat breakfast. Consider a |
| several things at play. One is low levels of | | | | multivitamin and source of omega-3 fatty acids such |
| serotonin. Carbohydrates such as breads and pastas | | | | as fish oil to help insure you are getting optimal |
| and sugary foods are a quick source of serotonin, our | | | | nutrition. Commit to regular exercise. If this does not |
| "feel good" chemical messenger in the body. This is | | | | do the trick, seek the advice of a health professional |
| why sugar can be so addicting - it can help us | | | | who can help identify probable imbalances and correct |
| temporarily feel better. But very shortly the body | | | | them. So rather than blame yourself the next time |
| uses up the serotonin and we experience the blood | | | | you experience a craving, take it as a sign that your |
| sugar "crash" and lower serotonin state, and the cycle | | | | body is letting you know that it is probably not getting |
| repeats itself. Adrenal fatigue can be another cause | | | | what it needs to be optimally healthy. |