Decode Your Cravings It's not just Sugar!

Are you craving SWEETS?

Most of the time, when we crave sweets, it's not sugar that our bodies need. Most of the time, our bodies are sending a craving that may feel like a sugar craving, but it's really lacking in other key functions or nutrients.

When a sugar day dream starts hitting, first ask yourself if it is a true message coming from your body or if you are getting a habit signal. If you eat a sugary snack most days when you get home from work, your habit memory will remember this and send a reminder to you when you walk in the door that it's time for the sweet train!

If it's habit, it's time to sweat it out and change your habit... distract yourself and replace that sugar habit with a different one and give your body some time to adapt!

If it's truly a craving, let's get a better idea of what your body might be telling you. Sugar has no nutritional value and our bodies don't have any purpose for it, so really... it isn't sugar that your body needs!

1. you may be dropping blood sugar, running on low glucose. If you are inconsistent with eating carbs or choosing the wrong type of carbs, insulin may have done its job too well and now we are left with less-than-ideal blood sugar levels. This will send a sugar craving out, since sugar is a fast way to get the obvious... sugar in the blood! Try instead, a protein source and fruit or starchy carb. For example, cottage cheese and berries or a tortilla with chicken and hummus wrapped up in it! If you choose fast carbs like sugar or ultra processed options, you'll likely end up with low blood sugars in another hour! Disregard and consult your doctor if you are diabetic or have been diagnosed with hypoglycemia!

2. You may be consuming too many ultra processed carbs or not eating carbs correctly! This may cause your metabolic hormones to be in a state of dysfunction. You may be a chronic sugar burner (and thus craver) because your body has forgotten how to burn fat and things sugar is its only energy source! For information on this and how to be metabolically flexible, check out METABOLIC 360

3. Are you getting enough protein? If not, your body will send an intense craving that may feel like a sweet craving. This can go for any missing macro. Our bodies need a certain profile of nutrients and when we lack proper nutrition, we will get signals from our brain to eat and we might just think it's telling us to eat the donut because we don't want to believe it's nudging us for some chicken and veggies!

4. Are you hydrated?

5. Are you rested and relaxed for the most part? Chronic stress can lead to cortisol fluctuations and dysfunction! This will lead to exhausted adrenal glands, and you guessed it... a craving for quick energy. We will think we need sweets when really, we need sunlight, a nutritious meal, some deep breaths and a calmer mind! For more stress reducing tips, follow me on [http://instagram.com\empoweredbycarbs_]Instagram. Better yet, send me a DM and we can brainstorm!

Sugar cravings become programed in our body memory. We don't need sweets or sugar and eating them is never a solution. Giving in often leads to a bigger issue, whether it's an hour form now or a year from now.

Start tuning into key REASONS why we are getting signals for quick energy and notice patterns that keep us in the sugar cycle!

xoxo

Christie

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