Here’s What I Did to Beat Sugar Cravings

Sugar cravings are linked to this specific deficiency.

Sugar craving is pretty wild. You know that feeling when it’s mid-afternoon, and suddenly you’re on a mission to hunt down anything sweet?

It can be tough to resist, and before you know it, you’ve wolfed down a whole bunch of sugary treats.

But here’s the thing, it’s not just about having strong willpower or being able to control your cravings. There are all sorts of reasons why we might crave sugar — from not getting enough of certain nutrients to dealing with stress and anxiety.

But there is one surprising deficiency that is a common cause of sugar cravings.

It is iron deficiency.

As you may know, iron deficiency may lower your energy levels, causing feelings of fatigue and lethargy. As your body struggles with low energy over an extended period, it may start seeking a quick energy boost to get you going.

That’s when sugar comes in.

Sugar cravings often accompany iron deficiency, but there are some things you can do to deal with them.

How to deal with iron deficiency?

As we learn more about sugar cravings, we’re figuring out ways to beat them that don’t rely on sheer willpower.

To tackle iron deficiency anemia, the usual fix is to pop iron supplements to up your body’s iron levels. It works well and usually doesn’t cause any long-lasting problems.

The most common approach is to increase the amount of iron in your diet or take iron supplements. Some iron-rich foods you could include in your diet are red meat, seafood, spinach, beans, fortified cereals, egg yolk, pumpkin seeds, and lentils can also help boost your iron levels.

Note that if you’re experiencing low energy levels, it might be worth paying a visit to your healthcare provider to get your iron levels checked.

My personal experience with iron deficiency

As an athlete, I always make sure to take my vitamins and minerals, especially when I’m putting my body through some heavy physical work.

But, one day, I started feeling super lazy and constantly wanted to snack on sweet things. I felt weak, fatigued, and easily out of breath during workouts, which left me frustrated and discouraged. I struggled to keep up with my usual training routine. My endurance was compromised, and my performance suffered as a result. Even simple tasks such as climbing stairs or carrying groceries became exhausting.

Then, I realized that my sweet tooth got even worse before and during my period, and I was feeling super low on energy. Turns out, it’s not uncommon for us ladies to lose 20–30 mg of iron during our periods, and sometimes that amount can increase to 50–250 mg, depending on the flow. And even though I was eating foods high in iron, it wasn’t enough to make up for the loss.

So, firstly, I was increasing my iron intake through diet by consuming iron-rich foods like red meat, leafy greens, beans, and fortified cereals can be helpful.

But it was not enough for me.

I started taking iron supplements, and let me tell you, it made a huge difference! I finally started feeling more energetic and didn’t crave sweets as much.

I even had the energy to jump as always.

That’s what I did to deal with sugar cravings. Now, I can treat myself to a candy or two without having to finish a whole bar every day.

I really hope that this information will be helpful to someone, and help them overcome their strong cravings for sweets. By maintaining a healthy diet that is not deficient in any essential nutrients, you can lead a healthier and happier lifestyle.

Final note: Regular blood tests and consultations with a healthcare provider can help ensure that iron levels are maintained within a healthy range for optimal athletic performance.

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