In a viral Instagram video last month, which came straight from his kitchen, the actor Saumya Tandon claimed she had given up sugar and all sugar substitutes, including Honey And jaggeryfour years ago. The diva shared, “I only eat fruits and dry fruits and desserts made from them. This is a game changer. To try ! I will continue to post desserts without using sugar/honey/jaggery and make you believe that we can also eat sweet without sugar. Let me know what you thought of it. (sic).”

Surprising causes of sugar cravings:

Reacting similarly, in an interview with HT Lifestyle, Prachi Chandra, Senior Clinical Nutritionist at Sakra World Hospital, Bangalore, revealed, “Cravings, especially sugar cravings, are a person’s worst enemy. diet. The types of foods each person craves vary greatly. Most of us crave sweets after meals. Generally, consuming sugary snacks is most often not caused by hunger but by the desire to provide temporary comfort, by consuming highly processed and tasty foods, especially sweets, which stimulate the system of the brain and activate specific areas of the central nervous system, giving the body a feeling of relief, joy and short-term mood improvement.

She pointed out: “Are we becoming sugar addicts or sugar addicts? is the question that needs to be answered. Craving sugar every now and then is okay, but frequent sugar cravings are not a good sign. Sugar cravings also occur more when we are stressed, lack sleep, lack magnesium, eat foods that lack nutrients such as fiber and protein or due to obesity, d hormonal imbalance and poor intestinal health.

Prachi Chandra highlighted that the WHO recommends that sugar consumption should be less than 10% of total energy, i.e. 40 g for adults and in children, less than 30 g per day. She added, “The side effects of sugar consumption are weight gain, dental caries, cardiometabolic diseases, mood changes and hyperactivity in children as well as intestinal dysbiosis, etc. Sugar consumed in the form of glucose, sucrose, fructose or starch (as found in sugar, honey, jaggery or fruits) provides the same calorie (4 kcal/1 g), so eat honey, jaggery, Brown sugar is the same calorically speaking.

Life-Changing Tips to Crush Sugar Cravings Naturally:

The nutrition expert suggested, “Including natural sugars from sweet fruits, vegetables like sweet potato are a better option instead of consuming ultra-processed sweet meats in the presence of a certain amount of fiber and micronutrients. Free sugars are a source of empty calories and provide no nutritional benefit.

To reduce sugar cravings, Prachi Chandra recommended trying these tips:

1. Include a variety of foods in your diet to get adequate amounts of macro and micronutrients and maintain gut health.

2. Avoid consuming processed and empty calorie foods like chocolates, cold drinks, sweets, fruit juices, etc.

3. In case of cravings after meals, prefer to eat naturally sweet seasonal fruits and vegetables such as cooked sweet potatoes, pumpkins, etc.

4. Eat soaked dry fruits like raisins, dates, apricots, figs, etc.

5. Drink enough water as dehydration can trigger food cravings.

6. Eat small, frequent meals and healthy snacks.

7. Exercise regularly as it causes the release of endorphins, which helps reduce stress-related cravings.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions you may have regarding a health problem.