4 Ways To Curb Your Sugar Cravings

Late-night Candy Crush binges are fuelling your real-world sugar habit. Here's how to switch off weight gain - by Millie West

It's no secret that we’re all slaves to our screens, but some of us might want to keep under the covers just how far it goes. In Australia, as many as 70 per cent of adults take their smartphones to bed with them* and many continue to check it through the night. But this isn’t yet another story warning of blue light’s ability to sabotage sleep. Rather, it’s about how your late-night habits, whether scrolling, streaming or sliding into DMs, could be to blame for your slowly expanding waistline.

WATCH: These Are The Fruits With The Most Sugar

According to a rodent study conducted by the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior, exposure to blue light is directly linked to sugar cravings and, as a result, your inability to keep your hands off the fridge door. The researchers found that male rats that were shown blue light at night experienced cravings for sweet foods the following day. Worse still, they displayed a reduction in glucose tolerance caused by spikes in blood sugar – a warning sign of pre-diabetes.

And your phone-related lack of sleep isn’t helping, either. Sleep deprivation has been proven to increase the production of ghrelin, a hormone that triggers hunger, while reducing your levels of satiety hormone leptin. That means you’ll find it harder to feel full, no matter how many Krispy Kremes you shovel down.

Banishing screens from the bedroom – or, at least, limiting your nocturnal blue-light exposure with an app such as F.lux or Twilight – is the simplest solution. Trust us, that “U up?” text can wait until the morning.

HIT SNOOZE ON YOUR SWEET TOOTH

Keep the lid on your sugar habit with our pick and mix of simple tips

1. THREE SQUARE

Eating regular meals that have a good macro split between protein, quality carbs and healthy fats will help to maintain satiety and prevent your blood-sugar levels from plummeting.

2. SNACK RIGHT

The magnesium in nuts and dark chocolate improves cells’ sensitivity to insulin and maximises the amount of sugar that your body can metabolise to cut spikes and crashes.

3. EXTRA HELPINGS

Add spices, such as cinnamon, to your meals and snacks. Studies have shown that they could help to improve blood-sugar control. Sprinkle a spoonful on your morning oats.

4. GET MOVING

Combat stress with regular exercise. Not only will this reduce anxiety, it will also top up your energy levels, which is a major factor in why people seek out sugar in the first place.

Millie West

Millie is a freelance lifestyle journalist and columnist for British GQ and Men's Health, primarily covering food, drink, travel and fitness.

HIT SNOOZE ON YOUR SWEET TOOTH

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