Well, lucky you then! it´s
Halloween month and candy time is here.
Read and learn about the meaning of the word
Sweet Tooth.
Sweet Tooth: A liking for sweet foods
Traducción: Antojo por comer cosas dulces
Happy and Scary Halloween to you!
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How to lose a sweet tooth
(BPT) - Most of us have been there at some point. You somehow find yourself barefoot in your kitchen at
midnight, eating ice cream out of the container. Alternatively, the
mid-afternoon energy slump has landed you in front of the vending
machine pining for a package of candy. Maybe the kids didn't exactly
have to twist your arm to make brownies last weekend. And, by the way,
is that whole sleeve of cookies really gone?
How is it that,
despite our most valiant efforts, a sugar craving can effortlessly throw
a healthy way of life off track? And how do we combat these cravings in
an effort to eat better?
Get a handle on the basics.
Hydration,
protein intake and movement all play an important role in sugar
cravings. In fact, it's estimated that 75 percent of Americans are
chronically dehydrated. "Lack of hydration is a real problem, because
our bodies are primarily water," says Cindi Lockhart, senior program
manager for Health and Nutrition at Life Time Fitness.
Adequate
hydration is essential for energy, nutrient absorption and improved
digestion, maintaining body temperature, detoxification, easing joint
pain, optimal mental function, younger appearance and weight control.
Furthermore, by the time actual feelings of thirst set in, they're often
mistaken for hunger. "Naturally, as we reach for the nearest cupcake in
an inadvertent attempt to resolve physiological thirst, our 'cravings'
will not be satiated," says Samantha Bielawski, registered dietician and
personal trainer at Life Time Fitness.
Optimizing protein intake
can also help stabilize blood sugar spikes and crashes, which cause an
energy level roller coaster and an endless cycle of cravings for sugar
and carbohydrates throughout the day. "A lot of my clients are shocked
to learn their true protein needs and are pleasantly surprised when they
are liberated from the urge to eat every two to three hours," says
Bielawski.
Bielawski says movement and exercise can also impact
your sweet tooth. "Not only will a walk distract you from the nearby
vending machine fare, but you'll also enjoy the
non-sugar-induced-serotonin boost. Add some sun exposure - especially
during the midday slump, and you'll feel naturally invigorated."
Ditch healthy labels.
Recently,
there's been an increase in the amount of healthy labels gracing
products in grocery store aisles. Even still, Bielawski says it's
important to choose wisely. "Every nutrition choice either moves you
toward health or away from it. In my experience as a dietitian, most
foods plastered with flashy labeling and elephant-sized font proclaiming
their healthy qualities are anything but." She says processed foods
that are unrecognizable in nature are typically high in carbohydrate and
grossly lacking in hunger-busting protein and fat. Processed
carbohydrates like these give a temporary high, possibly fueling sugar
addiction, but what goes up must come down. Healthier options include a
handful of cashews, hard-boiled eggs or Greek yogurt topped with
grain-free granola. "The bottom line is man-made food rarely provides
nourishment. We should all try to stick with unprocessed, natural foods
whenever possible," says Bielawski.
Arm yourself with adequate sleep.
Research
shows when healthy adults are sleep-deprived they tend to crave
carbohydrates and can develop disruption to normal blood sugar
regulation. "This means your body is even more apt to add that sugary
intake directly to your midsection," says Bielawski.
Retrain your taste buds.
"One
of the Life Time Weight Loss Support Groups I am involved in found
added sugars in everything from gravy mix to canned mushroom soup, and I
am confident that those specific foods don't taste overtly sweet to the
average American," says Bielawski.
Experts agree that our sweet
sensors require much more sugar now than they ever have before to
actually promote the sensation of "sweet." The answer, however, isn't
simply transitioning to chemically fortified sugar free alternatives to
enjoy at liberty.
"While an artifically-sweetened dessert is OK as
an occasional treat, any dessert food - whatever the sweetener -
shouldn't take up a substantial portion of your diet," Bielawski notes.
"While it may sound extreme,going cold-turkey on sugar can go a long way
in turning down those taste buds to their natural subtlety." Bielawski
adds that we might even find ourselves fully satisfied with the silky
sweetness of roasted beets or the vivid taste of fresh summer
raspberries, no longer needing the taste of a diet soda, which is a very
good problem to have.
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