How to Kick Your Sugar Cravings
Sugar cravings can take hold of you in more ways than one and for some, sugar is an addiction. There are many natural techniques that help your body and mind through cravings. You don't have to let sugar control you!
Physiologically, your body does a lot of work to restore balance after a sugar binge. Recent research suggests that sugar lights up the addictive pleasure pathways in the brain in a similar way to cocaine and heroin.
When you try to cut down on sugar your body gets temporarily out of balance and you can feel irritable, anxious, confused or have trouble sleeping – meaning, you experience cravings and withdrawal.
Emotionally and mentally, cutting out sugar can reveal thought patterns and emotions that have been masked by your daily intake of sugar, such as low-self esteem or feeling unfulfilled in some way.
Apart from the many health benefits, resolving addiction to any substance can do one fundamental thing for you that will change your life for the better; it can help you find yourself again. You could be stressed, tired from life, a little lost or may not have known yourself in the first place. Sugar can become the artificial high so that life feels a little bit sweeter. Only the feel good effects don’t last and after indulging, you have a sugar crash and nothing has changed.
What happens when you strip away false supports such as sugar hits? You bring yourself back to your centre and are able to connect to what is meaningful in life, what resonates with you and begin to live authentically. This could be finding positive people, places, jobs, thoughts or emotions, and from these connections with your true self you find peace, joy and wisdom.
It is important to look at the underlying reasons behind why you crave sugar. The more we work on the core issues, the better we understand ourselves and the stronger we become physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. You are able to nourish yourself through positive activities and don't even feel the need for sugar! Imagine that?!
This may sound like a big step but fear not, there is much you can do to help yourself through cravings! Once you start listening to your body and supporting yourself, you will find it easier to beat those cravings and negative behaviours as you start to feel more energised, clearer and balanced.
Simple Ways to reduce sugar cravings
Use essential oils mixed with a carrier oil and massage into your feet, put drops in a bath or on your pillow: Geranium for healing and emotions, Marjoram for anxiety and Clary Sage for sleep, nervous tension and stress.
Acupressure is easy, it balances the energy systems of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Chakras – place your hands on the soles of your feet or across your wrists for 5-10 minutes upon waking and before bed.
Enjoy sweet treats by replacing sugar with natural sweeteners such as Stevia or rice syrup.
You don’t have to do it alone
If you would like to work on overcoming addiction or sugar cravings, come and see me at the Live Well in Manuka, to book call 02 6295 0400.
You don’t have to rely on your will power alone. Kinesiology can help you uncover blocks that have been preventing you from getting back into balance. So if you’d like Kate’s expert support give Live Well a call, or book online here.
