3 Unorthodox Ways to Satisfy Sugar Cravings

When it comes to nutrition, I like to give you food for thought that you won’t find elsewhere. In this post, I’ve got 3 Unorthodox Ways to Satisfy Sugar Cravings where the proof, is literally in the pudding. These aren’t your typical substitute sugar for stevia recommendations but is a deeper look at what’s causing the cravings in the first place and how to eliminate them; at least for the time being.

You see, sugar cravings are fundamental to our nature and are something that will reappear if the underlying issues that are causing them are not tended to.

3 Ways to Stop Sugar Cravings - by Aria Zoner

Let’s take a look at what causes sugar cravings in the first place and simultaneously learn 3 Unorthodox Ways that we can satisfy them.

Health Hacks with Aria Zoner

– October –

3 Unorthodox Ways to Satisfy Sugar Cravings

Option 1: Slow down the Fire

Sugar cravings are a fact of life. But the easy to digest carbohydrates that the body’s craving during this time are just the kindling that gets the fire going, sort of speak, they’re not to be confused with the hunger for the main source of fuel, which I think oftentimes they can be. Quick burning sugars satisfy the fast-burning aspects of our metabolism, or as I like to say our digestive fire. But this desire for sugar can be slowed down once an oil-rich or fat burning source of fuel is added on top of it.

While the craving may be thought of or seen as being for sugar or something sweet, the processed sugars and empty calorie sweets that are eaten in hopes of satisfying it are not what the body wants. On the physiological level, what the body wants is natural sugars: polysaccharides, vitamin C, and other nutrients that are found in starchy vegetables such as:

  • Beets
  • Carrots
  • Corn
  • Peas
  • Parsnips
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Squash
  • Etc.

When these foods are combined with an oil-rich, fat burning source such as:

  • Olive & Coconut Oils
  • Cacao or Coconut Butter
  • Avocado
  • Ghee
  • Flax & Chia Seeds
  • Walnuts or Pine Nuts

…the digestive fire that is causing the sugar cravings can be slowed to a point of satiation.

I talk more in-depth about our digestive fire in this video:

WATCH: 3 Sure Fire Food Strategies

Option 2: Look at it this way…

I’d like to share with you now a completely different way to look at sugar cravings which during my own struggle to get off processed sugar, I used; and feel it was my best weapon against them. After doing my own research and experiments on this topic I began to see the sugar cravings (the ones that make us feel guilty, ashamed, or otherwise in a state of mind where we know that this isn’t good for us) for what they really are: cancer, arthritis, and dozens of other inflammatory or degenerative diseases trying to feed themselves – thru tricking me into craving what it is that they want.

Barnacles!

While a sugar craving is a sugar craving, the impact of what we feed that sugar craving is drastically different; especially when considering its long-term impact on our health.

How I see it, the addictive nature of sugar serves only to feed the parasitic nature of the diseases that thrive in the acidic pH of its environment. Once my body was flushed of artificial sugars and had been refilled with nutritionally-rich sources of natural sugars and fats/oils, the voice of the illnesses and degeneration (death knocking at my door) were put to rest and I feel that death was postponed for me, at least for a little while longer.

It’s true what they say: Life is sweet. But if you feed it too much sweet, it’ll give you the sweep.

That being said…

Option 3: Give in to the Craving

Let’s face it, you need a treat. Why torture yourself? The angst, the guilt, the interpretation of there being something lacking from your life is worse for you that just eating the sugar.

To feel like I could celebrate food again, what I did was found suitable replacements to eat instead of products with sugar; and just like that, it was snack:30 once again!

Here’s a few of my go-to snacks for when sugar cravings start to kick in:

  • Steamed yams with sea salt, coconut oil, and cinnamon.
  • Oranges, carrots, and apple slices with cardamom.
  • Dried mango, pineapple, papaya, or jackfruit.
  • GORP sprinkled with cacao powder.
  • Dried cranberries and walnuts.
  • Dates and almond butter.
  • Berries and a banana.
  • Chia Pudding.
  • Water.

15 years ago, when I began eating these kind of snacks as my treats, not only did my sugar cravings for things like Reese’s and Little Debbie’s become manageable, but the sugar crashes that always followed eating those kinds of foods went away too.

Now that I’m choosing to use a cleaner burning fuel as my source of dessert, my fire is more productive and doesn’t leave me feeling burnt out either.

Basic Chia Pudding Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup Raw Organic Chia Seeds
  • 1 cup Water
  • 1 heaping tsp Coconut Milk Powder
  • Large dash of Vanilla Powder
  • Pinch of sea salt
    (Optional)
  • Spices (Cacao powder, cinnamon, clove, etc.)
  • Fruit (Raisins, berries, pears, etc.)

Directions:

Combine ingredients into a cup, stir well, then let sit from 10 minutes to overnight depending on how soft you want it. Mixture will gel and can become pudding. To give it a smoother texture, either blend it once soaked or grind the seeds beforehand in a coffee grinder.

In Summary:

Stop sugar cravings in their tracks, or better yet, don’t try to stop them at all but simply give them what it is that they deserve, by doing 1 or all 3 of these Unorthodox Ways to Satisfy Sugar Cravings:

  1. Transition from fast-burning to slow-burning calorie sources.
  2. See the sugar craving for what it is: A. Just an aspect of the metabolism in motion. B. Diseases trying to feed themselves.
  3. Find a healthy replacement then give in to your sugar craving.

Until next time, this is Aria Zoner, wishing you strength and willpower as you travel on the path of health & wellness.

How do you satisfy your sugar cravings? I’d love to know…

*During 2017, I’m releasing 3 new Health Hacks each month here at The Trek. To catch up on the year so far, check out my author page – Aria Zoner

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For additional tips on wellness, nutrition & long-distance hiking, visit Whole Food Hiker.

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Comments 2

  • Nadine : Dec 28th

    I’m hooked. Thank you for posting your recipes and explanations!
    Making a list of new staples for my cupboard!
    Happy New Year!

    Reply
    • Aria Zoner : Dec 31st

      K.I.S.S. applies to food too. It’s back to the basics in 2018. Cheers you way too!

      Reply

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