Everyone knows the feeling of wanting something sweet. Some eat desserts when feeling stressed, while others do so to compensate for a deficiency of certain micronutrients in the body. How can one overcome this habit? Experts decided to conduct a month-long experiment involving those who wish to eliminate their strong cravings for sweets. They offer these helpful tips to achieve the desired goal.
1 - Compensate for the calories consumed through physical activity. A person should expend as many calories as they take in. For example, a slice of cake is equivalent to walking for 15 minutes on a treadmill or doing 30 squats.
2 - Consume foods rich in chromium. Scientists have proven that a deficiency of chromium in the body stimulates the craving for sweets. Foods containing chromium include tuna, salmon, beef liver, chicken legs, eggs, beets, and persimmons. For reference, 100 grams of fish provides half of the body's daily requirement of chromium.
3 - Develop a new, beneficial habit. For instance, when the desire for sweets appears, engage in a useful task such as dusting, washing kitchen utensils, mopping the floor, or even rearranging furniture. Psychologists confirm that these activities help form a type of conditioned response in a person. Dr. Sergey Agabkin states, "You will see that within just one week, a person will start to distance themselves from sweets as much as the devil distances themselves from incense." According to him, people view sweets as a celebration. However, if this is preceded by "not-so-pleasant spices" in the form of useful but not very enjoyable tasks, sweets will not bring as much pleasure as before.
4 - Organize aroma therapy. Scientific studies have shown that certain essential oils, such as orange, lavender, cardamom, and cinnamon, reduce the desire for sweets. Therefore, one should tie a piece of wool thread around their wrist with a drop of scented oil during the day, as inhaling it will help diminish the craving for sweets, according to Dr. Agabkin.
