3 Tips to Break Your Sugar Habit

By Barbara Call Bourassa Although it may not fall into the same category as nicotine or caffeine, sugar can certainly be habit-forming. This type of behavior may not damage your health in the obvious ways that other addictive substances can, but its effects can still be quite unhealthy over the long term. A habit of drinking several cans of soda every day can lead to tooth decay while a constant craving for donuts can contribute to weight gain. And eating too much chocolate can flood your body with calories and caffeine. Like any bad habit, however, it’s possible to break an addiction to sugar. Here are some tips to help combat your cravings. 1. Be honest. The first step may be the hardest: admitting the problem and recognizing its causes. Some people seek out sugary snacks because their blood sugar has dropped, while others crave sweets at night for emotional rea sons. Whatever the cause, it’s important that you identify it. One way to do this is to keep a food journal. In addition to jotting down what you eat, record how you are feeling when you consume this food. This may help you identify not just what sweets you crave, but why. 2. Begin with breakfast. Always start your day with a healthy meal such as vegetable-filled omelet or a steaming bowl of oatmeal. If you skip that vital first meal of the day, you’re setting yourself up for overwhelming sugar cravings. 3. Remember Mother Nature. Familiarize yourself with the flavor of fresh, wholesome fruits and vegetables. You may be surprised to discover that they can satisfy your sugar craving just as well, if not better, than the cookies and cake you ordinarily gravitate toward. You may find the first few days especially difficult as your body attempts to adjust to less sugar. But as the weeks go by, your cravings should begin to subside, and sugar will become less of a necessity to your diet. Article Source