3 nutrients that help curb sugar cravings

Do you ever find yourself craving chocolate and rather than eating just a few squares, you end up consuming the entire block?

What about after dinner? Do you find that even though you feel full after eating you still need something sweet?

You're most certainly not alone!

Often I hear clients say they have a sweet tooth, they can’t control themselves or once they start they can’t stop.

It can cause them to believe they have no self-control or will power and there is nothing they can do about it.

But what if it that sweet tooth was not as a result of not having enough self-control, but was instead a nutrient deficiency?

Who would have thought!?

There are key nutrients the body requires to function optimally and a deficiency in these nutrients could be causing:

1. sugar cravings

2. binge eating; and the

3. feeling like you’re unable to stop.

The good news is this is something that can be remedied by increasing your intake of certain foods or with supplementation.

Want to know what they are? Then lets get straight into it

1. Tryptophan

The first nutrient is Tryptophan which is an essential amino acid and it can suppress sweet cravings and appetite amongst many other things. It works to regulate appetite and those sugar cravings so they are less intense.

Foods high in Tryptophan include: bananas, beef, beans, dairy products, cottage cheese, fish, legumes & lentils, oats, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds and soybeans.

2. Chromium

The next nutrient is Chromium is a trace mineral and regulates lipid, carbohydrate, and protein metabolism, as well as keeps a balanced check on insulin sensitivity. Excess intake of refined foods and sugars can increase chromium demands. This nutrient is helpful if you struggle with binge eating and sweet cravings as it assists in the uptake of glucose into cells.

Foods high in chromium include: asparagus, apples, cheese, egg yolk, grape juice, liver, mushrooms, nuts, oysters, potato, prunes, raisins and yeast.

3. Magnesium

If you are craving chocolate close to your cycle or something sweet after dinner even when you are full it’s likely due to the body craving magnesium, not sugar.

Magnesium is a mineral and is important for many processes in the body, including regulating muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure and making protein, bone, and DNA. Our soils are typically low in this nutrient so a supplement is often needed.

Foods high in magnesium include: almonds, cashews, cocoa, eggs, figs, leafy greens, legumes, parsnips, seeds, soy beans and wholegrain cereals.

Start incorporating some of these foods into your diet this week. You'll be surprised at how a few simple changes can make a big difference.

PS. If you'd like some help and support with your diet to losing weight sustainably (without dieting), increasing energy levels, improving relationship with food or managing a disease or condition I'm here to help.

For more information or to book an appointment visit: https://www.louiseellennutrition.com.au/nutrition-services