Don’t feel bad whenever you go back for that second helping of chocolate cake or another bowl of ice cream. No, it’s not your fault because humans have an evolutionary instinct to crave high-caloric sweet foods.
According to dietitian Elizabeth Ward, RD, we are born fond of sweets. This is a survival instinct we have fabricated into our DNA and strengthened by the habits we develop over time. Whenever we eat anything with sugar or fat, the release of dopamine we get makes us feel great. And this is why it’s so difficult to turn down that 2nd helping of apple pie.
When you eat sugary foods at certain times, e.g., a dessert after dinner, your body can become trained to the habit. And before long, wanting something sweet turns into needing it. A sugar craving.
One remedy for sugary cravings is to always eat fiber and protein when you have something sweet. It slows down the absorption of sugar into your bloodstream, so you won’t get a sugar spike, which is usually followed by a blood sugar drop then a need for more sugar.
And another remedy is to be aware of the foods known for causing blood sugar spikes. Read on to find out what some of them are.
Breakfast Muffins
Blueberry muffins contain little fiber and lots of sugar. A healthier alternative would be a corn muffin. It has about 510 calories, but you won’t experience a sugar craving, and you’ll feel full longer.
Sugary Cereals
How many times have you loaded up on a bowl of cornflakes or almost any boxed cereal then needed to reload again straight after finishing? These cereals load you up with sugar to crave more sugar. Opt for a bowl of hot oatmeal instead.
Bagels
Once the carbohydrates in a bagel are converted to glucose (sugar), a massive surge of glucose is triggered into the bloodstream. Which means time for more sugar.
Other unhealthy foods that will induce sugar cravings include granola bars, sugary instant oatmeal packets, white rice, pasta, and bread. Avoid them as much as possible.
