We’re quickly approaching the holidays: that time of year when sweets are abundant. And Halloween is the first stop of the season! It may feel like a dish full of candy corn is haunting you from every surface in sight. If you’re regularly battling (and giving in to) cravings, and the ongoing sugar consumption is making you feel lousy, there are some simple things you can incorporate into your daily life to help reduce your desire for the sweet stuff.

1. Fill up on the good stuff

If you’re perpetually hungry and unsatisfied, you’re far more likely to find yourself overdoing it with sugary foods. To help reduce cravings, set yourself up for success by preparing healthy meals. Protein and fats, like avocado, salmon, nuts and eggs, will satiate you and keep you full throughout the day, so you don’t find yourself wanting more to eat. It’s also important to eat plenty of healthy foods you find satisfying. Many people think “healthy” food = boring, but this is far from the truth!

Dehydration, stress and fatigue can all increase sugar cravings as well, so keep that in mind as you go throughout your day, and notice how you’re physically feeling when you find yourself craving sugar. Making sure you’re not perpetually hungry or possibly thirsty will help combat the desire to go searching for something sweet.

2. Find an alternative to sugar

A craving is often not about the actual food you seek, but rather the perceived short term gratification it provides for your brain (even if it’s not necessarily positive for your health or doesn’t feel good physically). And the more we give into a sugar craving, the more it becomes a habit. One that’s harder to break the longer it’s been on loop.

The next time you have a craving, try to pause and simply observe your behavior around it. Is there something that actually feels good for your body that you can do as an alternative to eating sugar? Maybe doing some deep breathing or calling a friend can provide the stress relief you need. Perhaps taking a bath or cozying up with a good book can be comforting at the end of a long day. Getting feel-good endorphins from a walk or some form of exercise you enjoy is always a great option.

It may take some experimenting to find what works for you, but it starts with awareness of your habits and eating patterns, noticing specific times you tend to seek out sugar.

3. Use Sugar Shift

Perhaps the easiest thing you can do to curb sugar cravings is add our probiotic Sugar Shift into your daily health routine. It helps your gut microbiome transform unneeded accumulation of sugars (glucose and fructose) into mannitol, which is naturally eliminated from the body. This process helps establish harmony in the gut, reduce cravings, and can lead to weight loss. Most of our customers notice improved overall wellness in just 2-4 weeks!

Halloween candy has nothing on you when you’re armed with Sugar Shift. Click here to check out the science!

Try adding one or all of these simple steps to kick your sugar cravings. I’d love to hear what’s helpful for you, and what changes you notice in your health as you consume less sugar.

Wishing you a happy, safe, and sugar-free Halloween!