Sugar Cravings with The Atkins Diet Articles | Low Carb Lifestyle Pages

You can never know which foods contain sugars and which do not. In fact, most of the whole grain breads that we so commonly consume contain some form of the sugar or another. The consumption of sugar is quite predominant on a national scale in America. People who do not eat blatantly sugary foods like sweets might still feel a craving for sugars when they are on the Atkins diet. Most of the foods that seem to be healthy carbohydrate foods actually have sugar present in them. That is the reason why when you go on an Atkins diet, you feel something like withdrawal symptoms for them.

Sugar is deeply related with the energy levels of the body and hence the overall wellbeing of the body through the bloodstream. That is why the cravings are felt when the sugar levels in the body go down. This is compounded by the fact that our normal diet consists of foods that are high in sugar. Concentrated sugars in the food will proportionately increase the sugar levels in the blood too. That is why organs like the pancreas get confused and might release excess insulin to combat this increased level. Too much of this happening can trigger the onset of a pre-diabetic condition in the body. The reason behind this is the excessive functioning of the pancreas due to which it can no longer function normally.

The Atkins diet can effectively stop this vicious circle. That said, it is necessary to add that the Atkins diet will not stop the cravings that you have on its own. We are so much used to sugar-rich foods that it becomes very difficult to come out of the desire for them.

Planning does help, though. The point is to strike a balance with the protein, fat and the fiber present in the diet so that the blood sugar does not fall to drastically low levels. It is also important not to starve for long periods. This can be achieved by healthy snacks. The snacks help to actually keep the blood sugar at proper levels. Snacks like boiled eggs, nuts, seeds and cheese are permitted in the Atkins diet. These help to fight the sugar craving without actually having to eat the sugar-rich foods.

Most times, when a person gets sugar cravings, it is indicative of a nutritional deficiency. A craving for chocolate might indicate a deficiency of magnesium. These can be controlled by multivitamin supplements, which are good for people on an Atkins diet. You can also supplement your diet with zinc and chromium.

Brushing teeth is a surprising way to fight off sugar cravings too. If your are on an Atkins diet and are getting the pangs for consuming some sugar-rich foods, then you can stave them off by using the Listerine breath strips or by simply brushing your teeth. These help to benumb your mouth. Another very simple method is to drink two glassfuls of water. Keeping a full stomach helps too.

The common tactic of keeping all the sugar foods out of your reach is also helpful. Do not reach out for your refrigerator when you get those sugar pangs; instead go out and take a walk. You will find that you can forget your desire for sugar when you do this. Enlist your friends' support to help you overcoming the sugar pangs. There are also Atkins diet forums on the Internet that can support you.

Substituting what you crave for with a low carbohydrate version of it works well too. You will find yourself less desirous for that particular food by doing that. Today, there is a long list of low carbohydrate products on the store shelves that you can use – you have low carbohydrate chocolates, ice creams, candies and yogurts. You can use these to stay more faithful to the Atkins diet plan without sacrificing your sweet tooth.

People on the Atkins diet cannot avoid the cravings for sugar. But these methods can help you to stave them off and remain loyal to your diet and thus to your weight loss regimen.