Added sugars might make your food or drink taste a little sweeter, but they also wreak havoc on your body. A diet high in sugar raises your risk of developing diabetes, obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and more, including certain types of cancer.

Sugar is highly addictive, which means cutting it out of your diet isn’t easy. But giving up added sugar can reduce your risk of many serious illnesses to help keep your body happy and healthy. Adding certain foods to your diet can help kill your pesky sugar cravings so you can beat your addiction once and for all.

Here are six foods that kill sugar cravings:

1. Protein

Eating protein instead of sugary foods can help stabilize your blood sugar levels. A meal rice in protein slows down the body’s absorption of sugar to prevent glucose spikes, which also helps to reduce sugar cravings. Try lentils, back beans, yogurt or kefir.

2. Healthy Fats

Consuming healthy fats can make the transition to a low-sugar diet a little bit easier. After you eliminate sugar, your body turns to fat for energy. Eating a diet rich in healthy fats will help fuel your body the healthy way and reduce sugar cravings. Add avocados, coconut oil, nuts, seeds and leafy greens to your diet.

3. Fiber

Foods that are naturally high in soluble fiber can help manage your sweet tooth. Fiber slows down the speed of digestion, which helps to stabilize your blood sugar levels. It will also help you feel full after a meal and reduce unhealthy cravings. Try nuts, flaxseeds, berries and carrots.

4. Foods Rich In Probiotics

Probiotics help reduce Candida yeast in the body, which feeds on sugar. Candida can cause many health issues, including skin rashes, weight gain and yeast infections. Eliminating sugar and adding probiotics to your diet can help starve the Candida and promote a healthy gut. Try kefir, apple cider vinegar, Greek yogurt and kombucha.

5. Sour Foods

When you have a craving for something sweet, fight the urge by eating something sour instead. Many sour foods are high in probiotics and organic acids, which help support healthy bacteria and eliminate bad bacteria. Add sauerkraut, kimchi and other fermented foods to your diet to help kick your sugar cravings.

6. Herbs And Spices

Adding a variety of herbs and spices to your diet can help reduce sugar cravings and boost your overall health. Ginger and turmeric have natural anti-inflammatory properties. They are also known to lower blood sugar levels and fight against insulin resistance.

Sources:
Runtastic
Livestrong
Mind Body Green
Authority Nutrition
Dr. Axe