By eliminating all sugars from your diet, you are taking a huge step in the fight against unhealthy cravings. A healthy diet maintains a steady blood sugar level which, in turn, should curb your perceived needs for sweets and empty calories. Nonetheless, cravings can be psychological or emotional in their origin and will take some work your part to fully address. This is especially true in Austin, Texas, given the amount of temptation in the city’s food industry. Here are some more tips to tackle those unwanted hungers:

Dos and Don’ts:

1. Make sure your breakfast is rich in protein.
2. Drink plenty of water or caffeine-free herbal tea throughout the day.
3. Consider a fiber supplement to enhance fullness, if you are still feeling hungry with three meals and two snacks a day.
4. Consider supplements that can help minimize cravings: Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin D3, L-glutamine, chromium, alpha lipoic acid, among others. Ask our staff about adding these to your regimen if you haven’t already.
5. Get regular exercise – it is proven to reduce cravings!
6. Get regular and quality sleep – also proven to reduce cravings!
7. Identify the stressors that precede your craving: write down the time of day, situation, feelings, etc. You may see a pattern emerge.
8. Be prepared – if you have a voice telling you it’s time for a treat at these stressful times, be prepared with an answer for that voice. For example: “Eating candy will only distract me from my stress for a few minutes but it will leave me feeling worse for the rest of the day.” OR “I have the ability to choose a healthy snack AND deal with this stress right now, the stress is temporary and I won’t let it derail my health.”
9. Take a time out to reduce your stress with simple deep belly breathing for 3 to 5 minutes. Try this when cravings are the most intense or when you feel stress mounting. Also do it when you are feeling calm. You cannot overdose on stress relief techniques!

This information illustrates the type of guidance patients receive in Austin Preferred’s Functional Nutrition program. Furthermore, if you are interested in meeting with the Nurse Practitioner about improving your wellness, please contact us to schedule an evaluation.