I talk a lot about sugar cravings and how to overcome them - this is always easier said than done. But it's so important to our overall health and management of blood sugar issues, that the topic will always pop up.

So with this said, here's some information that just came to me from one of my favorite health sites, CARE2. They share 7 ways to send your sweet tooth packing, ways to lick those sugar cravings for good with natural foods, nutrients and food timing tricks.

Saffron: Research shows that an extract of the spice saffron (Crocus sativus) gets to the root of sweet cravings and helps eliminate them. It works by regulating brain pathways in what is now referred to as the "Feed-Feedback Cycle." Researchers have found that between-meal snacking (used as a measure of cravings) was reduced by 55% when participants took saffron extract.

Snacking: Sugar cravings often arise from low blood sugar levels. It's the body's way of letting us know that it needs more energy to fuel our cells. But so this signal works for us and not against us, we need to choose healthy snacks. Eating sugar when you have sugar cravings just creates a vicious cycle that's hard to break, causing a rapid rise in blood sugar levels that will come crashing down within an hour or two, inspiring more sugar cravings. Snacking every two to three hours on healthy snacks stabilizes blood sugar levels, stopping sugar cravings in their tracks.

Protein: Protein foods break down slowly, gradually releasing energy to the body as it needs it, keeping blood sugar levels stable. When most people hear the word "protein" they assume this means meat or poultry, but that's not the case. There are many excellent vegetarian protein foods, including: lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans, pinto beans, cashews, almonds, walnuts, pecans, avocados, and quinoa, as well as many other delicious options.

Chromium: Chromium helps maintain strong arteries, blood and heart health, and it also plays a significant role in alleviating a "sweet tooth." Chromium lessens cravings, mood swings and weight gain linked to fluctuating blood sugar levels, since it helps keep them balanced. Chromium can give energy levels a boost too. It is also naturally found in many whole grains, Romaine lettuce, onions, beans, legumes and ripe tomatoes. Supplementing with 200 to 500 micrograms of chromium daily can help reduce cravings.

Water: Our body sends us messages when it needs something. Due to most people's tendency toward food, we may misinterpret dehydration as hunger pangs. It's always smarter to drink a large glass of pure water when the sweets are calling, and then wait 30 minutes before indulging in something more. Most of the time the cravings disappear.

Fiber: Similar to protein foods, eating fiber helps stabilize blood sugar levels to prevent rapid spikes and drops, thereby reducing or eliminating cravings altogether.

Fruit: When nothing but something sweet will satisfy your sugar cravings, have a piece of fruit. It helps improve overall health and comes with lots of minerals, vitamins, fiber, and phytonutrients that help slow the absorption of its natural sugars. There are so many delicious fruits to choose from. Just keep some on hand when you have a sugar attack.

With this in mind, I stock up on organic Medjool Dates - this fruit is hearty, and satisfies not just my sweet tooth, but my desire to chew, chew, chew as well.

Give these tricks a try and see if you not only lick your sugar cravings, but drop a few pounds and improve your overall health at the same time!

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Sources:
www.blogs.bodyandsoul.com.au
www.onlynaturalinc.com
www.infinitelifefitness.com
www.tasteofhome.com
www.ebay.com.au
www.telegraph.co.uk
www.health.com
www.foodnetwork.com
www.comfytummy.com