How to Stop Intense Sugar & Junk Food Cravings

Even if you've suffered from insane junk food cravings for many years, know that you can retrain your brain and your cravings. You don't have to feel stuck in this vicious cycle.

I had a serious sweet tooth for years. Although I only consumed the good stuff I made myself at home with good ingredients, I still didn't want to put my pancreas at risk with these constant blood sugar rushes I was sure I was getting after eating a slice of 2 of cake twice a day. It was a habit I wanted to kick, to feel a sense of control over my mind and eating.

I noticed I experienced these cravings almost daily during moments of stress or when I felt tired. Looking for ways to stop my emotional eating and to boost energy levels, especially mid afternoon, became a priority for me.

Many people who have these same junk food addictions or sugar cravings end up suffering from the long term consequences of these addictions such as diabetes and obesity.

It's important to know that most processed foods contain lab created chemical ingredients specifically designed to be addictive, If you find yourself picturing these foods and cravings them intensely, its time to take control.

Here are a few helpful tips to Stop Sugar Cravings:

1) Eat More Fruit

Eat as much fruit as you need when you experience sugar or junk food cravings. Real fruit (non-GMO) contain fiber and vitamin C which slows down absorption of fructose in the fruit which helps to prevent intense blood sugar spikes that lets say a eating chocolate cake would. GMO fruits have been modified to be sweeter, so try to avoid them.

Fruit contain antioxidants and vitamins that our bodies will benefit from, whereas processed snack foods contain absolutely nothing, they are empty carbs.

Buy from local farmers that dont spray their fields and dont use Apeel or other toxic waxes that prevent spoilage on their fruit

2) Energy Boosting Smoothies- with Purple Sea Moss

Many of us crave sweets and coffee during that midafternoon slump where its a struggle to keep our eyes open and focus on work or whatever it is we need to do.

I find that green smoothies are energizing, filling, and give us a slow sustained sugar release.

Sea Moss contains 92 out of 102 vital minerals, vitamins and compounds that our body needs.

 It is very rich in iodine, calcium, vegan collagen, iron, magnesium and so much more, which is why I add to my smoothies to ensure I'm getting my daily vitamins. 

For high quality Purple Sea Moss Click here.

 My Energy Boosting Smoothie Recipe: 

2 tablespoons Purple Sea Moss

1 cup frozen berries

Big handful of fresh kale or spinach

a small bunch of cilantro

a few leaves of fresh lettuce

1/3 mango or Avocado

1/4 banana

3) Stop the Junk Food /Dopamine Cycle

For many of us emotional eaters, food means more to us than just sustenance, food is source of comfort, pleasure. And that's because when we eat palatable foods high in sugar, fat, and salt it triggers a dopamine release, which gives us pleasure. As we do this again and again it creates habit circuits in the brain. This continual dopamine release causes addiction as well as causes reduction in dopamine d2 receptors, which makes us experience less pleasure with the same amounts, so we have to eat more to experience the same pleasure. This leads to weight gain

For this reason its important to eat a whole food, natural diet and to completely avoid all processed foods.

Foods in their natural state contain fiber and nutrients which slows down the blood sugar release, and give us sustained energy, plus they will not trigger the same dopamine reward pathway. Its hard to get addicted to and overeat cucumbers, carrots, apples and lettuce.

So what can we do? Keep fresh whole foods on hand at all times. If you get that craving reach for a whole food first. Whether its a fruit, vegetable, or wholegrain ancient grain bread.

If you try that and you still crave that processed chocolate cake- try replacing it a few days a week with something that isnt as bad: for example dark organic chocolate or dip fresh nuts in melted organic chocolate. Every week or 2 choose a healthier and healthier snack until slowly you will train your body to enjoy natural foods that are not designed to be as palatable as processed foods. We have to retrain our taste buds as well.

One thing I always notice is that on the very rare occasion that I eat a processed sweet - it is so incredibly sweet and addicting that it hits me. None of my homemade sweets trigger cravings of the same intensity. Its the MSG and the other addicting chemicals and the processed sugars and high fructose corn syrups that are making this nation junk foods addicts.

If you had a bad day and caved in to your craving, immediately afterwards do something healthy for your body- a walk in the sun, a jog, eat a salad. According to Dr Amy Shah, this practice can rewire your brain.

4) Stay Hydrated- But Avoid Sweet liquids

Often we eat when we are actually just thirsty. Thirst signals are often mistaken for hunger. Drink spring water throughout the day. But be sure to avoid any and all sweet liquid drinks.

For a wonderful diet program that could rewire your brain and retrain your taste buds check out our Weight Loss Diet Plan

Nutrition for the Mind

Professor Linus Pauling was a strong advocate for using nutrition to treat mental health, and he criticized the medical community for dismissing vitamin therapy for psychological disorders. Just as a lack of certain vitamins or minerals causes physical illnesses—such as scurvy from a lack of Vitamin C or osteoporosis from a deficiency in calcium—deficiencies in specific vitamins and amino acids can lead to brain and mood disorders. And this is very important when we are talking about rewiring our brain to combat sugar and junk food cravings.

Other notable psychologists, including Dr. Abram Hoffer, supported this idea, with Hoffer successfully using Vitamin B3 to treat schizophrenia.

The Brain Needs Specific Nutrients to Thrive

Have you ever skipped a meal? Consumed junk food and perhaps experienced a headache, fatigue, or irritability. Some foods give an energy boost followed by a crash, while others may trigger tiredness right away.

It’s clear: what we eat directly affects how we feel. 

Poor eating habits can starve our brain of essential nutrients, leaving it underperforming.

We are eating foods grown in nutrient depleted soil. Much of the crops are genetically modified which actually causes inflammation in the body when we eat them.

Plus We eat foods that are picked too early, and shipped in dry ice or refrigeration.

What are we to do? How can we nourish our bodies with the food supply being so tainted?

Two of my brothers and my father are both incredibly health conscious. They are serious and regimented about their health routines and diet. It's admirable.

Below is the advice that my father and one of my brothers gave me years ago.

Consume as many fruits and vegetables as you can, cooked, raw etc... The more fresh vegetables you eat, the more it will compensate for the lack of nutrients.

Choose vegetables that are not sprayed.

Choose local over imported, tree ripened, organic (especially fruits/vegetables that are heavily sprayed), eat as many colorful fruits/as you can. see how your body reacts.

CARBOHYDRATES ARE CRUCIAL FOR MOOD AND OVERALL BRAIN HEALTH

Carbohydrates are crucial for mood.

The brain primarily runs on glucose from carbohydrates. 

But It's important to choose the right carbohydrates.

Avoid all processed or refined carbohydrates, which raise blood sugar and feed candida. Instead, opt for wholegrain, ancient non-GMO grains.

Kamut bread is the healthiest choice for those suffering from mood disorders.

Kamut is an ancient grain very high in B-vitamins. B vitamins are crucial for brain health. In fact, a lack of B vitamins cause cause depression, anxiety, irritability, lethargy, and fatigue.

To learn more about Kamut bread click here.