Some studies have shown that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of these polyphenols may help improve markers of heart health 8 , 9. Summary Swap regular chocolate out for a few squares of dark chocolate, which contains less sugar and higher levels of healthy polyphenols.

Try looking for a snack bar made with whole oats and sweetened with fresh or dried fruit, rather than table sugar. The best bars have been made with whole foods. They are likely to be higher in fiber and contain more beneficial nutrients, even if they are still quite sweet.

Alternatively, you could try making your own healthy snack bar using a recipe like this one. Summary Snack bars that have been made with whole foods can make a healthy sweet treat. Chia seeds are a good source of many important nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids , soluble dietary fiber and some healthy plant compounds 11 , This sort of fiber readily absorbs water and swells up to form a jelly-like substance in your gut, which may help keep you feeling fuller for longer and prevent sugar cravings Chia seeds are also versatile, so if you want a dessert to satisfy your sweet craving, you could try making a chia pudding like this one.

Summary Chia seeds are high in soluble fiber, which could help you feel fuller for longer and curb your sugar cravings. Chewing gum can be a great way to control your sugar cravings. Gum or mints that are made with artificial sweeteners taste sweet but contain a minimal number of calories and no sugar.

Although results are mixed, some studies have also found that chewing gum could help control hunger, cravings and the intake of carb-heavy foods later in the day 14 , 15 , 16 , In addition to helping you fight the urge for sugar, chewing gum after your meals is good for your teeth Summary Chewing sugar-free gum can provide you with a sweet taste that may help curb your cravings and control your food intake.

Legumes like lentils, beans and chickpeas are great plant-based sources of fiber and protein. In fact, 1 cup grams of lentils provides you with around 18 grams of protein and 16 grams of fiber Both these nutrients are thought to increase feelings of fullness. Thus, in theory, including legumes in your diet could help you feel fuller and reduce hunger-driven sugar cravings.

In line with this, a recent review found that eating lentils may aid weight loss This may be partly due to the short-term beneficial effects that legumes can have on your appetite 21 , Summary Legumes like lentils, beans and chickpeas are good sources of protein and fiber.

Including them in your diet could help curb hunger, leaving you less likely to get a craving. Additionally, some studies have suggested that yogurt could be a good snack to help regulate your appetite and control your cravings 23 , 24 , 25 , In fact, one study found that healthy-weight women who had high-protein Greek yogurt for an afternoon snack were less hungry and ate less later in the day, compared to those who had a lower-protein snack or no snack at all Summary Yogurt is a high-protein snack that could help you control your appetite and cravings.

Even though they have been dried, they are a great source of fiber, potassium, iron and beneficial plant compounds. Having a few dates instead of a soda or some candy can give you a sweet fix and also provide you with healthy nutrients.

You could even try pairing them with nuts like almonds for a sweet and crunchy treat. However, remember that dates are very sweet, so stick to one portion at a time, or about three dates.

Summary Dates are very sweet, so they can fix your craving for sugar while providing you other beneficial nutrients too.

Sweet potatoes are nutritious, sweet and very filling. They contain mostly carbs but also fiber and a number of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium.

For a delicious treat, try them roasted with cinnamon and paprika like in this recipe. Including a source of protein like meat, poultry or fish in your meals may help prevent sugar cravings 28 , In fact, if you are trying to lose weight , eating adequate amounts of protein may be very important for managing your food intake, cravings and weight 30 , 31 , 32 , Summary Good sources of protein like meat, poultry and fish may help keep you full and prevent cravings for sweets.

The sweetness of the fruit combined with the filling effects of yogurt can satisfy your need for something sweet, all while providing lots of beneficial nutrients.

Summary Smoothies made with whole fruits and yogurt can combat your cravings for sweets. Soda is extremely sweet, and drinking high amounts of sugar-sweetened beverages has been linked to a number of diseases, including heart disease and diabetes 36 , 37 , Switching to a sugar-free version can help you get a sweet fix without the added sugar and calories.

Summary Switching out your high-sugar drinks for ones made with artificial sweeteners can give you a sweet taste without all the added sugar. Prunes are dried plums.

This means you can reach for them as a healthy alternative to candy when you just have to have some sugar. Their high fiber content and naturally occurring sorbitol also mean they may help relieve constipation. Sorbitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol that tastes sweet but is absorbed slowly in your gut Summary Prunes are sweet, nutritious and high in fiber, so they can be a healthy food for satisfying cravings for sweets.

Eggs are another high-protein food that may help keep your appetite and cravings in check. In fact, research has shown that having a high-protein breakfast like eggs may reduce hunger and help people eat less throughout the day 41 , 42 , This may be partly because a high-protein breakfast suppresses the hunger hormone ghrelin and increases some of the hormones that make you feel full, including peptide YY PYY and glucagon-like peptide-1 GLP-1 44 , 45 , This suggests that an egg breakfast could keep you feeling fuller for longer and keep the cravings at bay 43 , Summary Eggs can be a good choice, especially for breakfast.

Trail mix is the name often given to a snack containing dried fruit and nuts. Nuts contain healthy fats, proteins, fiber and plant compounds. Eating them has been linked to a number of health benefits , including improved risk factors for heart disease and diabetes Summary Trail mix combines the sweetness of dried fruits with nuts.

This gives your sweet fix some added nutritional value. Fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, kombucha and sauerkraut are sources of beneficial bacteria. This makes it possible for your gut bacteria to influence your food intake in a number of ways.

Some of these compounds may even mimic hunger or fullness hormones in your body, influencing your appetite and food cravings 51 , However, no studies to date have examined the effects of eating fermented foods on food cravings, and more research is needed Summary Fermented foods can contribute to maintaining a healthy gut, which could influence your appetite and food intake.

Whole grains are high in fiber and contain nutrients including B vitamins, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, manganese and selenium 54 , Eating whole grains has been linked to a longer, healthier life, and their high fiber content also means they may help you feel full 56 , 57 , 58 , Whole grains can also promote the growth of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacteria , Lactobacilli and Bacteroidetes in your gut.

Interestingly, their filling properties cannot be explained by their fiber content alone. It has been suggested that their influence on gut bacteria may also contribute to this effect Overall, making sure you are eating enough and including foods like whole grains in your diet will help keep you full and may help prevent sugar cravings.

While eating vegetables may not be satisfying when you are experiencing an acute sugar craving, including them in your diet regularly could be helpful. Vegetables are high in fiber and low in calories.

They also contain lots of beneficial nutrients and plant compounds 4. Back to Recipes Low-calorie chicken recipes Low-calorie vegetarian recipes calorie meal recipes Low-carb family meals.

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Home How to Guide How to stop sugar cravings. How to stop sugar cravings. Kerry Torrens — Nutritionist. What are sugar cravings?