10 Really Easy and Practical Ways to Curb your Carb Craving

Dietary restrictions are sometimes necessary to either achieve weight-loss goals or to control our general health. Breaking down meals into their components, like proteins, sugars and carbohydrates can help us better regulate what we put in our bodies. Carbohydrates, in particular, have a bad reputation because of how long they stick around in the body. Carbohydrate foods include white pasta, cake and other desserts, potatoes and sugar. Generally, these things taste good so it’s hard to stay away from them. But cutting your carbs can be easier than you think with a few simple changes to your daily food routine.  Here are 10 awesome ways to curb your carb cravings while still enjoying the foods you love.

[tweet_box design="box_10"]Food for the Body is not enough. There must be food for the soul. - Dorothy Day[/tweet_box]

10 Simple Ways to Curb your Carb Cravings while Enjoying the Foods You Love

#1. Figure out what you’re really hungry for

While we think of cravings as desires for a particular food, this isn’t always true. Sometimes our body is telling us we want a certain food because our nutrients have run low. It’s also important to decide what you’re craving so that you don’t just eat any carb you can grab. For example, if you think you want chocolate, it’s likely your body has lowered zinc or magnesium.

#2. Use a different reward system

Whether we’re aware of it or not, there are several times when we use a food-based reward system. And typically, these foods are extremely sugary and high in carbs. For example, for nailing that presentation, you might decide to upsize your fries or have an extra cupcake. But this can easily disrupt all of your healthy eating and lifestyle practices. Change your thinking and offer yourself different kind of retail therapy like shoes, manicures, and a night of video games or movies.

#3. Use more spices

Weaning yourself off sugary and high carb foods might seem difficult because of how normal they are in our diets. But, by using different spices, you can get better flavor from your food without the carbs. Spices like vanilla, citrus and mint can be used to focus your tongue on the actual flavor and not just the sugar.

#4. Gymnema Leaf Extract

This is an extract used primarily in Indian alternative medicine treatments. It’s a great carb blocking ingredient that you can add into your daily nutrition. It’s effective at stabilizing your blood sugar levels, which reduces your feelings of hunger. It’s important to stay hydrated when taking this extract as it can also have minor laxative properties.

#5. Throw away the white foods

The tasty but harmful carbs we love to eat can be found in most white foods. These are foods like white rice, white flour pasta, potato chips, junk food and other overly processed baked goods. Throwing them away means you won’t be able to eat them if you do get a craving. Be sure not to stash any of these foods in your fridge either. That means getting rid of premade breakfast items like hashbrowns or processed grains.

#6. Eat breakfast

Eating a filling but not heavy breakfast each day will help you manage your cravings immensely. You won’t be as tempted to get carb-rich junk food in the middle of the day. This will also help boost your metabolism. It’s important not have a breakfast full of carbohydrates or sugars, as the effect won’t keep you filled until lunchtime. Certain foods that are marketed as healthy, like protein shakes, cereals and crackers are often loaded with carbs and eating them can stimulate later cravings. Be mindful of this and keep your breakfast balanced.

#7. Don’t skip meals

Cravings are triggered by your body needing nutrients or actual food. If you skip meals, whether for dieting or because you’re busy working, your body is going to trigger your carb cravings. If you can’t sit down for a full meal, having smaller and more frequent meals can help control your blood sugar levels. Keeping your serotonin and hormone levels even throughout the day will reduce your carb cravings later on.

#8. Eat more protein and fiber

Diets high in carbs will be unbalanced and can leave you feeling bloated or ill. Choosing carbs over healthy proteins and fats can also lead to serious medical conditions. To cut your carb cravings, have balanced meals that include good protein and healthy fats like coconut oil or nuts. This will help keep you properly full and reduce your cravings. Eating foods that are rich in fiber will slow your body’s digestive system. This means that you’ll feel fuller for longer and won’t want to overeat.

[caption id="attachment_21848" align="aligncenter" width="400"]There's a ton of different types of single ingredient, whole food protein sources... which are your favorites?[/caption]

#9. Take a glutamine supplement

We have naturally occurring proteins in our bodies that are meant to regulate our hunger. Sometimes, however, we need more to really combat the cravings. Glutamine is one of those naturally produced amino acids in our bodies that helps us feel happy, relaxed and most importantly, content. Adding glutamine powder in your water can help reduce cravings for both carbs and alcohol.

#10. Think before you eat

At the moment you feel a serious carb craving developing, take a moment to stop. Ask yourself if you’re really hungry or if you’re just bored and want something to do. Don’t just mindlessly get potato chips and then sit in front of your laptop. Test your craving by waiting at least ten minutes to see if you’re truly in need of food. You can use this minor break to even get some exercise and take a walk or do some light yoga. Once you stop thinking about food, you might be surprised that you weren’t as hungry as you thought.

Final Words

It might seem hard to give up your favorite foods. However, if you train your body to have less cravings for carbohydrate-foods, you’ll see a difference. It’s also important to not try and cut carbs totally from your diet. Carbohydrates are one source of energy for your body so cutting them can have disastrous effects. It’s also much better to practice moderation, using these tips, to avoid any carb binge-eating sessions. Maintaining a balanced diet is essential to your health. By learning how to properly handle your cravings, you can learn how to resist overeating carbs.

[tweet_box design="box_10"]Everybody needs a hug. It changes your metabolism. - Leo Buscaglia[/tweet_box]

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Author Bio: Rait Raak

Rait is a fitness junky, online marketer and founder of HowTonight.com blog where you can find tips for healthier, happier life. Connect with Rait on Twitter: https://twitter.com/howtonightcom  & Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/howtonight/

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