Oh, the dreaded sweet tooth – that urge for sweet, sugary treats.  It’s something we all share.  Most of us also share the battle of willpower.  We must fight over and over again to keep ourselves from overindulging in those sweet foods we crave.  First, let me say that it’s not possible to eliminate sweets from your diet, so that will not be a realistic goal.  However, there are strategies we can use to keep us from having to use sheer strength of will to overcome these cravings.

As with any addictive substance, the more we have, the more we want.  We can allow sweets to become much more of our daily intake than is in our best interest for good health.  So balance is the key.

This is the time of year we work to balance excesses from the holidays, so I thought I’d provide you with some ways of natural balancing.  Yes, when we get out of balance and are not eating well, it’s hard to break out of that cycle.  Cravings can occur due to the chemistry imbalance we’ve created in our bodies – it’s not just a lack of willpower.  These strategies can help your body regain that balance and make it easier to get back into the healthy eating habit.

If your intake of animal protein is less than your needs, you will crave sweets.  There is a range of protein need based on physical size, muscle, and activity level.  Generally speaking though, one egg at breakfast then a serving of animal protein at lunch and dinner is a good amount to fulfill your body’s requirements in a day.  You can choose from 4 oz of red meat or poultry, or 6 oz of fish. People with lower protein intake than that are often craving more sweets. If you fall into this category, try bringing your daily intake of protein up to this level and see if your cravings subside.

If you have a tendency to add salt to everything you eat, you will crave sweets.  Sea salt is necessary in the diet to create hydrochloric acid in the stomach for digestion. Too much salt causes contraction of the body which may only be balanced by of water, but it probably won’t be the water that you’re craving… it will be the sweets.  The type of salt you choose also matters – use the best quality of unrefined sea salt whenever possible.  Herbamare is the brand I prefer.  Still, use it sparingly.  Use herbs, especially garlic and ginger, for flavour instead of salt.

If you are overtired from work or have trouble sleeping, you will crave sweets.  First, be aware of what you are going through and balance with rest and balanced meals versus many sweet snacks.  Second, sugary snacks are a quick fix, but you end up feeling even more drained after the short energy burst is over. The small amount of time it takes to plan ahead for healthy eating will pay off quickly and make it easier to sleep and feel rested.  Invest the time in yourself – you’re worth it.

Stress can create cravings for sweets, too.  Are you feeling stressed? Again, awareness is the first step. Be aware that alcohol is very sweet.  If you use alcohol to attempt to balance stress, your intake of sugars increases as a result.  There are other ways to reduce your feelings of stress. Try meeting friends, going to a movie or out for dinner, maybe listen to some music or go for a walk.

Part Two of this message will talk more about sugar and its role in diet and health, what healthy eating looks like, and further tips and shortcuts for managing your sugar intake and balancing your body and its chemistry.