How to beat chocolate cravings

Want to know how to beat chocolate cravings and kick your sweet tooth to the curb? Louise Pyne has the answer.

No matter how dedicated you are to eating healthily, cravings can get the better of you. This yearning for a particular food is often your body’s way of crying out for help. It could be searching for the nutrients it needs to function effectively or if you’re skipping meals in a bid to save calories, it could be your body’s way of telling you that it needs fuel – and fast.

As sugar provides a quick-pick-me-up for falling blood glucose levels, it’s usually the first choice to boost sluggish energy levels. ‘Most of the time the desire for sugar is caused by hypoglycaemia (low sugar in your blood). As your brain senses that there is not enough glucose in the blood, it triggers sugar cravings to refuel the body with quick energy. Cravings before your period, especially for chocolate are usually due to fluctuating levels of oestrogen and progesterone, and it’s also worth noting that chocolate cravings can also be an underlying cause of magnesium deficiency,’ explains nutritionist Michela Vagnin.

We also hanker after the sweet stuff for the buzz it provides. ‘If your brain believes that something is going to make you happy, it can initiate the craving response. One study from the journal NeuroImage suggests drug cravings are not different from food, shopping or other cravings,’ adds Michela. In fact, a whole body of research shows that sugar produces changes in the brain which resemble addiction. Sugar activates the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is the brain’s ‘pleasure centre’ and when you cave into your urge, dopamine levels surge, making you feel good. The bad news is that sugar puts you down just as quickly as it picks you up, bringing with it an energy crash and starting a never-ending cycle of wanting more in order to get the same feel-good hit.

Fortunately, putting a few smart strategies in place can help you curb the munchies before they strike. Factor healthy snacks like a chopped apple with nuts or oatcakes with a healthy dip like houmous into your day to limit blood glucose dips and replace artificial sugars with natural sugar substitutes like stevia and xylitol as these have a minimal effect on blood glucose levels. If you really can’t resist the desire for something sweet – have a piece of fruit like mango, pineapple or apple instead.