Any doubts that winter was upon us were shattered last weekend as Queens was pummeled with 20+ inches of snow. As we finally settle into the doldrums of the season, we are more susceptible to falling prey to sugar additions and the negative fallout we suffer from them, such as weight gain, increased blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well as higher risk for diabetes, cancer and heart disease, and no less important, possible tooth decay. Act now to break sugar addiction before it’s too late. Here’s how…
Sleep on it—Research shows that lack of sleep increases cravings, make sure you get 7-8 hours of sleep a day.
Eat less more—Hunger is a major culprit of sugar addiction. Keep your blood sugar stable by eating at regular intervals, every 3-4 hours. Start with a nutritious breakfast with protein, like eggs or a protein shake, and have smaller meals throughout the day, but avoid eating at least three hours before bedtime.
Trading places—When snacking, replace candy, chips and soda with fruit, nuts and seeds. Sure, fruit contains sugar, but fructose is metabolized differently than processed sugar. Apples are especially good as they are a natural appetite suppressant. Still, restrain yourself. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing, and eating too much fruit has been known to increase belly fat, which increases your chance of type 2 diabetes. Be especially wary of grapes or cherries, which are high in sugar, and more conducive to “pop” into your mouth, leading to eating more of them.
Take a pill—Among its positive attributes, Vitamin D helps control appetite. But retaining the proper levels of the vitamin, which is replenished by sunlight, is especially hard in the winter, when the sun is seldom out and people are staying indoors from the cold. Taking a supplement a few times a week can help. Other amino acids, such as Glutamine, tyrosine and 5-HTP, also help reduce cravings.
Remain sugar-free FREE—Diet sodas and sugar-free gum are not your friends. On the contrary, ingesting artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, sucralose, saccharine, even stevia, will actually increase your desire for sweet food.
DO something—Whenever sugar cravings strike, throw yourself into an activity. Take a walk, clean out the closet, start a project you’ve been putting off. Replace the need with redirection. Plus, the satisfaction of getting a long-overdue job done will help supplant the delusional satisfaction that comes from sugar.
Steinway Family Dental Center is a family-oriented dental practice equipped with the newest in dental technology and techniques to maximize patient convenience, comfort, and satisfaction, serving the community for over 15 years. For more information, please visit www.alldentalneeds.com or to schedule an appointment call 718-728-3314.
