Ways to Outsmart Food Cravings

Ways to outsmart food cravings:

1. Use chromium. Steady blood sugar with 1,000 mg. of chromium picolinate, which curbs cravings and allowed subjects to consume 25% fewer calories (according. to the journal Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics). Chromium keeps blood sugar from spiking, a major cause of food cravings.

2. Use cinnamon. Cinnamon naturally reduces blood sugar levels and natural production of insulin. Sprinkle it liberally on your foods, such as hot cereal, or in your cooking, such as breads and cakes. Also, cinnamon comes in supplements (find "Cinnamon Force" in your health food stores.) Use as little as ¼ tsp. a day for these effect.

3. Get enough sleep. Skimping on sleep triggers a 15.5% plunge in the appetite-suppressing hormone leptin and a 14.9% rise in ghrelin, which stimulates appetite. The result is an increase in cravings. Being awake for long periods makes your body think it needs more food for energy.

4. Curb cravings with gum. Chewing one stick of gum per hour can keep cravings at bay for up to 3 hours straight. The act of chewing tricks your body into feeling as if it's full.

5. Sniff vanilla or grapefruit oil. Sniffing vanilla's strong aroma saturates your senses and alters your sense of taste, slashing your urge for sugary treats. Just sniff vanilla extract from your pantry. Also, grapefruit essential oil has the same effect. Its pungent aroma triggers a rise in appetite-dampening proteins. Dab some on your wrist and sniff it when sugar-cravings arise.

6. Lift weights. Building muscle helps level out your blood sugar by making your body's cells more sensitive to insulin.

7. Sip a glass of water. Many cravings are psychological and will go away if you wait about 15 minutes.

8. Eat a small portion. Eat a bite or two of what you crave. You don't need 3 cupcakes to satisfy your cravings, just a bite or two.