Do essential nutrients have anything to do with helping you reduce sugar cravings? You bet! Put this information in your arsenal to reduce sugar cravings. www.themidlifemamas.com

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Protein is key to reduce sugar cravings, but what else can help reduce sugar cravings? Protein is a key player, but not all you need to reduce sugar cravings. Knowing a little bit more about why (other than it’s delicious and I waaaaant some…) you might be having sugar cravings is key to reduce sugar cravings. Your body might really be craving key nutrients that it’s missing. Fill in those nutritional gaps and you just might have a leg up to reduce sugar cravings!

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Do essential nutrients have anything to do with helping you reduce sugar cravings? You bet! Put this information in your arsenal to reduce sugar cravings. www.themidlifemamas.com

Minerals Can Help Reduce Sugar Cravings

If you are like 90 percent of Americans, your diet is low, but not deficient, in chromium. This important mineral plays an integral part in GTF, or glucose tolerance factor, which is found in your kidney cells and is necessary for insulin to work effectively in bringing glucose into your cells for energy. A chromium deficiency may cause intense cravings for sugar. (source)

Broccoli, barley, oats, green beans, tomatoes, and romaine lettuce are good vegetable sources of chromium. Lightly cooking or steaming these vegetables results in the least amount of chromium loss. For whole grains, the more refined they are, the more chromium loss – so look for unrefined sources. Thyme and black pepper are also great sources of chromium.

If your body lacks magnesium, you may have strong cravings for sugar products, especially chocolate. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, or LPI, magnesium is an important factor in over 300 metabolic reactions in your body and is needed by every cell. Magnesium is involved with the regulation of glucose, insulin and the neurotransmitter dopamine. If you don’t have enough magnesium in your diet, you may experience cravings for chocolate and sugar. (source)

Dark leafy greens are an excellent source of magnesium. These include spinach, swiss chard, kale, and collard or turnip greens. Nuts and seeds, beans (white beans, french beans, black eyed peas, kidney beans, chickpeas, and lentils), avocados, and bananas are other wonderful sources of dietary magnesium.

Taking zinc supplements to ward off the cold virus may be popular, but zinc is also needed by your body for wound healing, blood clotting and proper insulin and glucose utilization. A zinc deficiency can result in low insulin levels, which may lead to a craving for sugar.  (source)

The best sources of zinc in vegetables are black beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, navy beans, pinto beans, Romano beans, beets and beet greens, brazil nuts, carrots, dark leafy green vegetables, nuts and nut butters, onions, peas, seeds like pumpkin and sunflower seeds, and sprouts.

As with any minerals, supplements are available. But obtaining nutrients through your diet is always the best and most efficient way. If you feel that you may be deficient in any of these minerals, always check with your health care professional before starting any supplements!

Do essential nutrients have anything to do with helping you reduce sugar cravings? You bet! Put this information in your arsenal to reduce sugar cravings. www.themidlifemamas.com

Root Vegetables Can Help Reduce Sugar Cravings

Many root vegetables, like sweet potatoes, butternut squash, parsnips, carrots, onions, other winter squashes, and beets are naturally sweet and can also really help reduce sugar cravings by making you feel that you’ve gotten  your share of something sweet.

Root vegetables are usually high in Vitamin C, Beta-carotene (which gives many of them their orange tint), fiber, and essential minerals such as potassium, phosphorous, and magnesium. Their bright and deep colors – whether orange, red, or yellow – are a sign that they contain important antioxidants. (source)

Preparing Vegetables Deliciously!

I’ve always liked my veggies. For the most part, I’ve never met a veggie I didn’t like! But I truly understood the possibilities of making veggies over the top delicious when I found the book The Roasted Vegetable. It would not be an overstatement to call it a life changer for me – but I understand I may just be nerdy like that. Roasting vegetables helps bring out the sugar in the veggies allowing them to caramelize. This caramelization makes them truly delicious. If you stop eating processed sugar, you will open up your taste buds to the natural sweetness of vegetables and fruits.

So my best recommendation is to eat as many vegetables as possible. I find that I do better getting them in throughout the day if I have veggies at breakfast! Think: scramble or omelette. Protein and veggies – a great start to your day!

Information, Knowledge, Understanding, Tips, Hacks, Tricks - You'll get it all over the next 31 days. Kick your sugar addiction to the curb! www.themidlifemamas.com #sugaraddiction #write31days #sugarhabit #sugar
Information, Knowledge, Understanding, Tips, Hacks, Tricks – You’ll get it all over the next 31 days. Kick your sugar addiction to the curb!

TODAY’S PERSONAL SUGAR ADDICTION CHALLENGE:

What are your favorite veggies? Has it been a while since you’ve had them? What was your favorite way to prepare them?

SUGAR ADDICTION ACTION ITEM:

Tonight for dinner, pick a green vegetable and prepare (and eat) it for dinner.

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The Child Obesity Project contains information from over 25 experts in fields that each touch on the science or psychology of weight. This is a can’t miss series!

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