.: How to curb sugar cravings

NUTRITIONIST Lisa Guy shares her best dietary suggestions for combating sugar cravings.

DO YOU have trouble controlling your sugar cravings? Some days it is easy to avoid things like chocolate, and other days it is virtually impossible. So is there anything you can do to put a stop to the sugar cravings? Yes, there is.

Grazing on smaller healthy meals will ensure that your blood sugar levels remain stable. It is when your blood sugar levels drop that you will feel tired and flat and crave sugary foods to give you a short burst in energy. Don't skip meals either as this will cause your blood sugar levels to drop and increase the risk of you overeating at your next meal and making poor food choices.

Also, eating protein with your meals is an excellent way to steer clear of the chocolate attacks. Protein will help to keep your blood sugar levels balanced. Good sources of healthy protein include:

Breakfast: eggs on toast; muesli with nuts, seeds and yoghurt; fruit smoothie with protein powder.

Snacks: trail mix of nuts and seeds and dried fruit; hummus with rice crackers or vegie sticks; tub of yoghurt and fruit; protein bar. And protein powder mixed with chilled water can be a good snack after training.

Lunch and dinner: fish, chicken, lean meat, tofu, egg and legumes on sandwiches, with salad or vegies, or in stir-fries and curries.

Choose wholesome complex carbohydrates that are rich in fibre such as wholegrain breads and pasta, brown rice, whole oats and quiona. These foods slow the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, avoiding the sharp spike in blood sugar levels.

And make sure to steer clear of refined 'white' carbohydrates such as white bread, cakes, cookies, sugary breakfast cereal. These foods will only give you a short pick-me-up, before the sugar crash sets in. And will likely leave you craving more sweet things.

If you are still having trouble with sugar cravings after implementing these dietary suggestions, try taking chromium tablets daily. Chromium is a mineral that is important for balancing blood sugar levels and for curbing sugar cravings.