Sweets for my sweet

Ever wondered why that mid-afternoon caramel-coated chocolate bar seems so irresistible? It seems science can provide some of the answers why we just can’t control ourselves around chocolate: it’s all in the hormones.

Hormones have been blamed for a range of human conditions, from murderous PMS symptoms to falling in love. But hormones have a less well known, everyday function: they control the signal to eat.

When these hormones are overstimulated or under stimulated, cravings for certain foods can occur. And we all know which type of foods become irresistible - when was the last time you got a craving for broccoli or brussel sprouts?
So when your body tells you it needs chocolate, you can automatically dive for the snack box, or be better equipped to understand what you really need.

Chocolate is actually not really the culprit. It contains magnesium, which we need when we get nervous so who can be blamed for wanting the cocoa bean hit? However, the minerals in chocolate can be taken in supplement form and may address a deficiency in your body so you no longer crave it.

Insulin is a hormone which takes sugar from our blood to our cells so that it can be used for energy production. When we eat sugar, insulin is made and we get fuel for energy. However, drinks high in sugar and very sweet foods cause the body to overproduce insulin. When this happens, the body starts to store sugar as fat, our blood sugar drops along with our energy and we consequently crave more sugar.

This is why the sweet snack is a short-lived solution: people generally experience a quick surge in energy and then a huge dip. This can have a cyclical effect as you may feel you need more and more sugar to function.

CCK is another hormone that is made in the body and is responsible for appetite suppression. Refined and processed foods reduce the production of this hormone and we feel the urge to eat sweet food as it provides the quickest form of energy. CCK is produced when fats and proteins are absorbed and our appetite ceases.

HOT TIPS FOR REDUCING SUGAR CRAVINGS

So next time you feel an unbearable urge for a sweet treat, try some of these tips for reducing cravings instead:

• If you increase fibre in your diet, CCK production is increased as well. This will fill you up, so you desire food less.

• Decrease the amount of refined and processed foods you eat as these cause the overproduction of insulin.

• Chromium, vanadium and magnesium are required to balance blood sugar and decrease the secretion of insulin.


• Lose some weight, as people carrying more fat have higher insulin levels.


• Increase consumption of protein rich foods such as fish, lean meats, nuts and seeds (these are particularly good for an afternoon snack as they contain good fats and protein) and legumes. These increase production of CCK and are not stored as fat.

• Increase intake of “good” fats such as oily fish and flax oil. Only use ghee (clarified butter) or olive oil to cook with. This decreases insulin levels.

• Gymnema is a herb that decreases sugar cravings and Panax ginseng can help with blood sugar regulation.