In the next 2 weeks until Valentine’s Day, love will be in the air everywhere…and so is sugar. If you are a sugar addict, and you know who you are, your skin is crawling right now. Most of us absolutely love, love, love sugar, but how do we keep it a healthy relationship and not become obsessed? Sugar is like your ex. If you are constantly in contact with your ex, how are you supposed to get over the relationship? Your ex keeps calling and you keep giving in, and so the vicious cycle of trying to get over an ex prolongs a long and painful journey. Sugar acts the same way. You see it everywhere. Your co-workers are bringing candy to work, and your kids are bringing home chocolate. And you keep giving in and wonder why you can’t ever get over sugar. In order to gain control over sugar and not let it control you, you need to practice 3 of my fool proof tips. Let’s turn your relationship with sugar into a healthy love relationship and not an unhealthy obsession.
Step #1: Get your zzzz’s.
How many hours are you sleeping? Are you waking at least once in the middle of the night, like me, because of a one year old? Does your work shift start early? The lack of sleep takes a huge toll not only on your energy level, but it also causes less control over a hunger hormone that comes from your stomach called ghrelin. It will only take one bad night of sleep to let ghrelin come out and party, and your natural response is to seek comfort foods for pleasure.
It’s important for you to reassess your sleep hygiene and talk to your doctor on how you can improve your sleep.
Step #2: Daily Probiotic
The bacteria that normally live in your gut plays a significant role in digestion, immunity, weight control, inflammation, the whole works. The good bacteria helps you process nutrients and protects you from toxins, but there are bad bacteria living in your gut too that try to steal away. The bad bacteria like to party, and they party with sugar. So they are sending ‘signals’ to you in the form of headaches, fatigue, poor concentration, and other dreaded symptoms that make you crave sugar. You feel so miserable that you have no other choice but to reach for that darn piece of chocolate. Taking a daily probiotic will restore balance of the good bacteria and keeps the bad bacteria in check.
Step #3: Add cinnamon.
Cinnamon, especially if you are diabetic, is one of the simplest, yet proven ways to help control your blood sugars. Adding a teaspoon to your foods or drinks 3-4 times in a day has shown to regulate insulin levels that spike after a meal, and those insulin spikes are what causes more hunger and thus sugar cravings.
