Dandelion Greens with Wehani Rice, image permissions
Oftentimes people try to eliminate sugar cravings by increasing their consumption of naturally sweet foods, such as fruit, dates, and natural sweeteners such as honey and maple syrup. While these foods are certainly better choices than refined sugar, I find that this switch alone isn’t effective at eliminating the crushing sugar cravings that many sugar-addicted people experience. In fact, only switching to naturally sweet foods can make sugar cravings worse.
One of the most effective tips I’ve witnessed in my clients in eliminating even the worst sugar cravings is to increase consumption of bitter foods. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) sweet and bitter are viewed as opposite flavors – yin vs. yang. Eating too much sugary and sweet foods places the body in a state of imbalance and causes a snowballing of sugar cravings. The best way to balance the body is therefore to increase the consumption of bitter foods – think about balancing an old-fashioned scale with weights on both sides.
Bitter foods also have the advantage of being some of the most detoxifying and nourishing for the body. This article written recently by Dr. Andrew Weil describes how important bitter foods are in the diet and their many benefits.
Add bitter foods, such as arugula, dandelion greens, endive, green tea, and even unsweetened cocoa nibs (the stuff chocolate is made from) to your diet several times per day to decrease your overall sugar cravings. Eating a teaspoon of cocoa nibs or drinking a cup of green tea is a very effective and immediate cure for acute sugar cravings.
As time passes and you continue to bring your diet into balance, you’ll find that your preference for sugar and your cravings fade away. Foods you used to be addicted to will become sickeningly sweet to the point that you won’t be able to eat or drink them anymore. And it can happen faster than you think!
If you want personal support to conquer your sugar cravings please don’t hesitate to contact me to schedule a health history consultation. Sugar cravings generally do not take more than 3 months of bi-weekly appointments to completely eliminate. You’ll feel so much better when you’re in control, not the sugar.
Eat Happy!