Sugar is addictive because it makes us feel good. Sugar boosts the serotonin levels in your brain which helps you to feel calmer and happier – and because we all want to live happier lifestyles, we tend to chase our sugar addiction which could cause more problems in the long run. Not to mention the dental issues that await you down the line. If you consume sugar regularly, stay on top of your oral hygiene and make sure you attend your Dentist Louisville appointments regularly.
Here are 5 easy ways to start losing that sweet tooth today!
Wean yourself off the sweet stuff
Going cold turkey when trying to quit something doesn’t always work and you end up worse than where you started. By gradually reducing the amount of sugar in the foods that you eat you could eventually learn to enjoy your food without the sweetness. For example, you currently enjoy your morning coffee or oatmeal with sugar – by removing the sugar all together it might taste disgusting, but by cutting back half a spoon at a time your taste buds will adapt to the taste and you will be able to cut adding sugar altogether.
Stay Hydrated
Sometimes when we think we are craving the sweet stuff, it is in fact our bodies trying to tell us we are dehydrated, and we need to fill up on some water. However, some people don’t like to drink plain water. A lot of the water we take in each day comes from the food we eat. You can ensure proper hydration by drinking other fluids and by eating foods that have a high-water content. Some of these include; Cucumber, Celery, Tomatoes, and Spinach. Or perhaps you can try some green tea or some lovely Zingy Ginger Tea to keep those sugar cravings at bay.
Cut down on processed foods
In a 2013 study from Connecticut college, researchers found that the sugar from processed foods are almost as addictive as heroin or cocaine? Eating sugar artificially stimulates a region of your brain to produce dopamine, the pleasure neurotransmitter, as soon as those dopamine levels drop we start to feel a bit unhappy. Because we want to feel good again, and we do crave the good feeling, we eat sugar packed foods again – which leads to addiction.
Stabilise your blood sugar
Instead of eating 3 big meals a day, cut it down to several small meals throughout the day. When you do this, your body will produce that wonderful serotonin, which make you feel a lot more happier and will help you to get a good night’s sleep.
Meditate the stress away
A neuroscientist from Harvard Medical School discovered that meditation not only has the power to reduce stress, but it has the ability to change the brain, it does this by increasing the “gray” matter in the auditory and sensory cortex. When you stress, you release cortisol, which increases your blood sugar levels. By adding meditation to your schedule, you can relax during meals, which means your body will digest your food better and absorb all the nutrients you need.
These are just some of the ways you can lose your sweet tooth and start your path to a healthier and happier lifestyle. Do you need help getting rid of your sweet tooth? Join us on our 7 day sugar free programme that will help and guide you
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