Wellness, Nutrition, Fitness, Health

Thinking about your next sweet treat ALL of  the time? A naturopath’s guide to kicking cravings.

February 5, 2025

We’ve all felt the pull of sugar cravings, they can hit straight after a meal or in that mid-afternoon slump. Sometimes, it feels nearly impossible to resist reaching for a sweet treat. These cravings can be signs of the body’s need for balanced blood sugar or can be influenced by emotional factors such as stress.

While it might feel challenging to break free from these cravings, embracing a holistic, naturopathic approach can help you have more balance, support your digestion, and promote long-term wellness.

Why Do Sugar Cravings Happen?

Blood Sugar Imbalances
When your blood sugar dips, whether from skipping meals, sugary rich food choices, or heightened stress, your body calls for a quick energy fix. Usually, this comes in the form of sugary, processed foods. These spike your blood sugar briefly, only to be followed by a drop, keeping you stuck in the cycle of craving more sugar.

Digestive Discomfort & Nutrient Absorption
Digestive health can influence cravings. When your body struggles to absorb nutrients from food, it may signal for easily digestible carbohydrates as a quick energy source. This can be particularly true if you’re dealing with bloating, indigestion, or other digestive discomforts.

Stress and Emotional Triggers
Stress is another major player in sugar cravings. When we are stressed, the body releases cortisol, which drives cravings for comfort foods that offer fast energy. Emotional eating occurs when we use food to cope with stress or emotions, often leading to cravings for sugary treats or high-fat foods that offer temporary comfort.

How to Naturally Curb Sugar Cravings

Balance Blood Sugar with Intentional Meals
One of the most effective ways to reduce sugar cravings is to maintain steady blood sugar levels throughout the day. That means enjoying regular, well-rounded meals that include a balance of protein, healthy fats, and fibre-rich carbohydrates.

  • Protein helps slow the absorption of sugars, supporting steady energy levels.
  • Healthy fats offer sustained energy and reduce the urge for quick-fix snacks.
  • Fibre-rich foods like vegetables, legumes, and whole grains slow glucose absorption, helping you feel fuller for longer and preventing those energy dips that lead to cravings.

Eating balanced meals that include protein, healthy fats, and fibre can help keep blood sugar steady, reducing the need for quick energy fixes.

Turn to Herbs for Support
Certain herbs have been traditionally used for their ability to support digestion and manage sugar cravings. Gymnema (Gymnema sylvestre), known as the “sugar destroyer” in Ayurvedic Medicine, is traditionally used to reduce sweet taste recognition, making sugary foods less appealing over time, and helps in the management of sugar cravings.

Barberry (Berberis vulgaris), is a herb traditionally used in Western Herbal Medicine to support digestive system function and gastrointestinal health. Barberry assists with the breakdown of dietary fats, stimulates digestion, and supports gallbladder function—all essential components of a healthy digestive process.

If digestive discomfort is fueling your sugar cravings, supporting digestion is key. By supporting digestive balance, Barberry may assist with wellbeing and healthy digestive system function, which in combination with Gymnema, can help in the management of sugar cravings.

For additional support, the Wanderlust Barberry + Sugar Cravings blend brings together these carefully selected herbs traditionally used to support digestive health, manage sugar cravings and support well-being. Incorporating this blend into your daily routine, alongside balanced meals and mindful stress management, may help you take proactive steps toward managing sugar cravings and building a healthier relationship with food.

Sugar cravings don’t have to dominate your day. By addressing factors like imbalanced blood sugar and digestive discomfort, you can work towards finding balance and creating positive, lasting changes for your health and well-being. 

Explore Blood Sugar Support

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