Natural health: How can I get rid of my Easter chocolate sugar cravings?

The more sugar we eat, the more we tend to crave it for quick energy or comfort. Picture: iStock 

I gave up sugar for Lent and felt the better for it. But since feasting on chocolate over Easter, I’m now craving it more than ever. Other than going cold turkey again — which I found tough — I’d like to try a more sustainable approach to managing my sweet tooth.

Sugar cravings can be really tricky to manage, and there are so many triggers for them, especially if you already know that you have a sweet tooth. The more sugar we eat, the more we tend to crave it for quick energy or comfort.

It is worth reminding ourselves that these cravings can be driven in part by gut bacteria that thrive on sugar. These microbes produce compounds that interact with the gut-brain axis and may influence our food preferences.

The good news is that rebalancing your gut microbiome can go a long way towards changing the foods your body craves. You can do this through increasing your intake of whole foods, particularly vegetables, leafy greens, and fermented foods, as well as supplementing with a good probiotic. You are already on the right track by planning a more sustainable, gradual long-term approach to reducing sugar intake rather than another round of cold turkey.

This usually makes it a little easier to eliminate the sugar-loving bacteria without rebound cravings and detox symptoms.

Several kitchen spices are used in herbalism to help balance blood sugar levels and reduce cravings. These include fenugreek seeds, clove buds, and cinnamon bark. Cinnamon, in particular, has been shown in clinical trials to reduce fasting glucose and total cholesterol levels, while some studies suggest that cloves may improve insulin sensitivity in abdominal fat and liver cells.

The herb Gymnema sylvestre (known as ‘sugar destroyer’ in Ayurveda) is used specifically to help suppress sugar cravings. You can drink it as a tea or take it as a supplement.

Liquorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is naturally sweet and can also be taken as a tea. As an added benefit, it supports adrenal function and improves energy levels.

Chromium picolinate supplementation is often suggested to help improve insulin sensitivity and balance blood sugar levels, with many people using it to reduce sugar cravings. The recommended dosage is 200µg (micrograms) daily for at least three months.

I find it difficult to get over any emotional shock or upset — my mind tends to play it on repeat. Is there a remedy you could suggest?

While your response is linked to emotional upset, it can be highly beneficial to begin by supporting your nervous system. If you are not already using magnesium, I would recommend it. Magnesium supports nerve health and the production of serotonin, and helps improve sleep quality, reduce anxiety, and ease restlessness or irritability.

Magnesium and calcium are usually taken together — you need twice as much magnesium as calcium. The recommended dosage is between 400-600mg of magnesium (and a corresponding 800-1,200mg of calcium).

It is estimated that we have an average of 40-50,000 thoughts daily, with only 10% of these being novel. This continuous flow of thoughts creates our inner dialogue and influences how we perceive our reality. If around 90% of these thoughts are habitual daily ruminations, it is important to take charge of where our minds go to manage our wellbeing.

You may benefit from reading the book Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess by neuroscientist Dr Caroline Leaf. Backed by clinical research and illustrated with compelling case studies, this book outlines a scientifically proven five-step plan to identify and tackle the root cause of intrusive thoughts in your life, so you can experience significantly improved mental and physical health.