Another holiday season full of cookies, cakes, brownies, and other sweet treats has come and gone. Now the rational side of your brain may realize that it’s time to back off the sugary sweets, but another part of your brain is screaming for more! Why is that and what can you do to tame the sugar addicted beast?
Don’t underestimate the power of sugar. It affects our brain in the same way that addictive drugs like cocaine and heroin can. The more sugar you eat, the more you crave. The best way to break the bond to sugar is to avoid eating it. Of course, drastic changes are hard to sustain, so making changes such as cutting your sugar consumption in half to start and making simple changes can help.
A few strategies include:
- Non-sugary ways to find comfort from stress. (a good book, warm bath, time with a friend)
- Reach for juicy berries and fruit.
- Don’t believe the “ I’ll only eat one lie”. An alcoholic can’t have one drink and it’s likely not going to end with one cookie either.
- Throw it out. Don’t let in or keep sugary sweets in the house. Give it away, throw it away or wash it down the drain. It’s NOT wasteful.