Sugar replacements

Do you find that, in much the same way an alcoholic reacts after having one drink, you tend to binge once you’ve consumed one sugar-laden food item? You’re not alone. Sugar (and for some people, wheat products like bread) can have a more-more-more effect on the brain. So while you’ve been looking after yourself with exercise and gay massage, all that self-care goes straight out the window once you’ve had that first biscuit, because you don’t stop until the whole packet is empty. It’s even more demoralising if, up to that point, you’ve been having a healthy day, consuming salads and other nutritious things. The energy we get from treats like cake is not very sustaining. It gives us a quick lift after which we swiftly plummet. And then the temptation can be to go for more sugar and repeat the cycle with even worse results. The day ends with us feeling sluggish, irritable, even tearful perhaps. But the good news is that there are foods that actually keep sugar cravings at bay, so that we don’t even make that first mistake. And it’s worth limiting our consumption of sugar for more reasons than just the bad energy. Long-term excess sugar can lead to heart disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes and other nasties. If you’re taking the trouble to stay health and look after yourself with regular gay massage London appointments, then it’s a shame to undo the good work with a bad diet. So here are some foods you can opt for that will not only be pleasant to consume but which will also reduce your inclination to go for the sugar.

Almond Butter

For years, we’ve been eating peanut butter, but almond butter is the new peanut butter. It’s richer, more delicious and will give you the kind of satisfaction you’d been hoping to get from a chocolate bar. With plenty of healthy fat and a good dose of protein, it also has a natural sweetness. Just have a spoonful and let the magic commence on your tongue.

Chia pudding

You may have seen this popping up more often in cafes and at organic supermarkets. It’s delicious and provides the rich, sensual pleasure you might once have tried to get from sugar-heavy tapioca puddings. It’s easy enough to make your own chia pudding – it just involves whisking the seeds into coconut milk and then leaving it overnight, but there are all sorts of varieties you can create.

Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate bars with fewer than five grams of sugar are widely available. Go for one with a high cocoa percentage and just have a few squares. It’s not nearly as binge-triggering as milk chocolate and is far healthier.

Cinnamon

There’s a mild natural sweetness to cinnamon, so consider shaking it over porridge in the morning in place of the sugar, agave, maple syrup or honey you might once have used. You’ll end up with just as pleasing an experience without giving your blood sugar a sudden spike.