Even if you say no to dessert, skip candy at the movies, and avoid sugary soft drinks, how can you curb your sweet tooth and keep your blood sugar more stable?
You will remember that last week we talked about the correlation between sugar and migraines. This week I thought I would give you 5 tips to help you with those sugar cravings so you can get off off the sugar roller coaster and help your migraine patterns.
One thing I have learned from experience, natural sugars such as those found in fruit and berries taste so much sweeter and so much more delicious after you cut back on artificial and added sweeteners.
Retrain Your Brain
Experts say that once you get off the sugar roller-coaster, your brain simply stops craving refined sugars. As a side note, did you know that sugar is more addictive than cocaine, which is why we actually crave it. The key to stopping this “sugar madness” is to choose complex sugars found in fruits like berries, bananas and pineapple; and veggies like carrots, beets, tomatoes and sweet peppers, which process much more slowly and do not produce the blood sugar spike that triggers a migraine.
Avoid Hidden Sugars
Food labels are so sneaky. Sometimes we can’t even read what some of the ingredients are! Still food labeling is better than it used to be so now you can more easily recognize the sucrose, glucose and high fructose corn syrup which are hidden in packaged foods. With all the added sugar hidden in ketchup, barbecue sauce, spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, yogurt and much more more, become your own “food detective” and check out the labels before you buy.
Eat a Plant-Based Diet
What I eat is the main contributing factor to the drastic change I made to be whole “migraine life.” I know I have shared with you before that ditching all the processed foods and going to a plant-based, clean eating lifestyle totally transformed my life.
Dr. Daniel Amen (also known as “The Brain Doctor”, states: “Think of salad as the main course.” With this in mind, could it be that your best option is to stick to whole vegetables and fruits – ones that you prepare and cook yourself, whenever possible?
Combine Your Carbs
When you eat eat carbs, make sure they are only a fourth of the meal you’re eating. So have more sauce than pasta, more vegetables than meat or potatoes. Balance your meals.
Swap Breakfast Carbs for a Smoothie
I love my smoothies. What’s more they don’t have to be bland or boring. They can be so very tasty and they most definitely keep you full and satisfied for hours with the right ingredients. So, instead of skipping breakfast, or chomping down on something like a bagel that will only spike your blood sugar mid-morning, why not start your day with a delicious green shake?
Why not spend a few weeks getting control of your sugar cravings. Not only will you be less cranky, but you will have more energy, fewer migraines and as an added bonus, you will probably lose a few pounds.
It’s hard to avoid sugars altogether – they’re everywhere. It takes too much willpower, and that, of course, may bring on migraine-triggering stress. While we all want to do everything we can to diminish the role migraines play in our lives, oppressive measures aren’t the answer. Allow yourself the luxury of indulging yourself – fit it into your plan sometime during the week. Just be sure to have just a little bit of the sweet flavor your body craves but without the sugar spikes that can, in turn, trigger migraine pain.
I’d love to know if you’ve noticed a connection between carbs/sugar and migraines in your life. What kind of sweets do you crave. Just hit reply and let me know.
P.S. Have you checked out my migraine book with LOTS of migraine-safe recipes and food ideas, not to many a ton of natural remedies? Check it out: “Conquering Migraines: Your Guide to a Life Without Pain.” Available on my Website and on Amazon. For more information or to purchase your copy >>CLICK HERE<<