It’s easy to conclude that refined sugar is best left alone; the hard part is breaking the addiction.
Refined sugar offers zero nutritional value, promotes weight gain, leads to unstable blood sugar and energy levels, triggers inflammation, promotes premature aging, messes with your sleep and emotions, and exacerbates disease. Worse still? Refined sugar is as addictive as cocaine, acting on the same part of the brain.
Let's talk about how to stop sugar cravings.
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Get your daily dose of green juice
Why am I craving sugar? When you find yourself asking this question, know that it's your body signaling you that you are either lacking fresh fruits or dark greens in your diet.
When a sugar craving strikes, grab a bottle of green juice. Leafy green juices are loaded with nutrients that destroy cravings instantaneously. Even better? Once you replace your empty-calorie sugar habit with a nutrient-rich green juice habit, your body will actually start to crave greens!
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Stay hydrated.
Dehydration is one of the most common causes of sugar cravings. Hydrate with plenty of water and raw cold-pressed juices.
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Skip artificial sweeteners.
Recent studies have found that artificial sweeteners reduce dopamine levels in the brain, causing intense sugar cravings.
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Meet your magnesium needs.
What deficiency causes sugar cravings? Lacking magnesium affects the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels and deliver energy into the cells which can instigate sugar cravings. Eat more magnesium rich foods like raw nuts, seeds, avocados, cacao, leafy greens, and bananas. Grab a Peanut Butter or Cacao Hemp Smoothie for a quick jolt of plant-fueled magnesium. Rather chew your magnesium? A Simply Nutty Bar or portion of No B.S. Trail Mix will do the trick.
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Satisfy your sweet tooth with fresh fruit
The fiber in fruit will help you feel full so you’re less likely to reach for something unhealthy.
PRO TIP: Dates are amazing to have on-hand when a candy craving strikes. They naturally boost energy levels, contain fiber, as well as essential vitamins and minerals. Try using them in smoothies, as a grab-n-go snack, or maybe give one of our date-based Simply Nutty Bars a try.
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Remember: The devil is in the details.
If your solution to sugar cravings is to just limit yourself to having a little bit of sugar, you’re only feeding the addiction. Sugar makes you crave more sugar! When you tell yourself that just one little sweet won’t hurt, you’re actually setting yourself up for even more sugar cravings.
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Manage your stress levels.
Stress causes sugar cravings! Yoga, exercise, deep breathing, and essential oils are a few examples of healthy ways to manage stress.
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Treat yourself to a Vanilla Cashew Smoothie.
It tastes like a vanilla milkshake! It will help squash your need for a sugary dessert.
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Get a good night's sleep. Consistently.
Make it your mission to get on a strict sleep schedule. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day and try to steer clear of the screens (phone, tablet, computer, TV) a few hours before bedtime.
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Eat something protein-rich to balance your blood sugar levels.
Sugar cravings are worsened by blood sugar spikes and crashes. Get more protein into your diet to help keep them at bay. Stock your fridge with plant-based protein smoothies and keep nuts in your purse, car, or desk drawer to stop sugar cravings in their tracks.
Beat your sugar addiction with raw juice cleanses, cold-pressed juices, and plant-based protein smoothies. Shop now!