Beat Cravings With These 5 Foods

We all have cravings for sweets now and then. Sugar cravings are typically caused by foods you are already eating, which may cause blood sugar to drop, giving you a false sense of hunger and stealing your energy. Thankfully, this is a battle you can win. Here are 5 foods that effectively beat sugar cravings. Try including some of these foods in your diet each day to satisfy, energize and sustain you, and you can kiss the vending machine goodbye.

1. Avocados

Avocados are a wonderful food to conquer sugar cravings because they contain B Vitamins including Folate which lowers stress, 18 essential amino acids for a great source of protein, healthy fats, and Vitamin E. They are also an excellent source of protein. Avocados can be added to just about anything from salads, to smoothies, to omelettes, or used as a dip in guacamole.

2. Coconut oil

Coconut oil has been called “Nature’s Miracle Oil”, because this healthy food lowers insulin levels and keeps hunger in check without raising cholesterol. Coconut oil has also been touted as a weight loss aid, probably due to the fact that it turns off your sweet tooth. It provides beneficial fats to your liver, where fats are used for fuel, not for storage. Add it to smoothies, or use it to cook with. Coconut oil has an incredibly high smoke point which means the fat stays intact throughout the cooking process so they aren't damaging to the body, unlike other vegetable oils.

3. Flax seeds

Flax seeds alone don't cause weight loss, but they are a tool you can use to help reach your weight-loss goal. Their benefits come from the high fiber content and wealth of omega-3 fatty acids. Just two tbsp. of flax seeds contain almost 25 percent of your daily recommended fiber. Foods high in fiber take longer to digest and make you feel full faster and for a longer period of time, which also helps you consume fewer calories and curb unnecessary sugar cravings.

4. Yams

Yams are an excellent source of Vitamin B6 and Potassium, Vitamin C, and fiber, and at just 157 calories a cup, yams can be the perfect food for filling up and keeping cravings at bay. In addition, the natural fiber in yams slows down the rate at which your body processes sugar, keeping you from being hungry between meals. Yams can also be prepared in a wide variety of dishes that are a delicious way to add this delicious vegetable to your diet.

5. Eggs

Eggs have been proven to be one of the top foods to beat sugar cravings and lower hunger levels throughout the day. Eggs are an excellent source of protein, healthy fats, B Vitamins, Omega 3 fatty acids, and even small amounts of iron, which fill you up and power you throughout the day. They have also been proven to lower insulin levels and a hormone in our bodies known as Ghrelin, which stops hunger and prevents sugar cravings. Try having an egg at breakfast, lunch, dinner, or as a snack. Here's a tip for the week: hard boil a dozen eggs on Sunday and store them in the fridge through the week to grab and go.