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I’ve had a lifetime love affair with sugar. To be honest, it’s more like an illicit affair. As a child, I would sneak hands full of Oreos into my room, eating chocolate wafers while watching “Gilligan’s Island.” Saving the best for last, I’d treasure the centers, large masses of lard and sugar rolled into a ball that I could savor all the way to “That Girl.” 

That I’m not a diabetic is a pure testament to genetics. But nature will always find a way. Instead, I’ve battled a lifetime challenge with yeast.

You see, sugar feeds the yeast, which craves sugar, and a vicious cycle begins, continues and often escalates. As a teen, I got my intense love-hate relationship with sugar temporarily under control by drinking large volumes of TaB and indulging in anorexic tendencies. Not the healthiest approach.

After college, the trade-off between the chemicals and sugar eventually shifted. For greater health reasons, I would no longer ingest the artificial ingredients. So what was a sucrose-lover to do?

I tried to just give it up completely – and I mean completely. For months, I ate no flour, condiments or fruit. But hunger got the better of me, and slowly I returned, until suddenly, it once again got me in its clutches. I’ve actually gone through this cycle a few times. Honestly, it’s almost like being in an abusive relationship. A glutton for punishment, I return, knowing full well I’d be better off without it.

In my moments of strength, I’ve learned to find good substitutes. But the most effective intervention, by far, has been to go to the source and address the cravings.

How do you effectively limit sugar cravings? Well, here’s what I know:

1.      The later in the day that I postpone eating any added sugars, the better. Once I eat something, game over. The cravings start, and they stay with me all day.

2.      There are several supplements that are quite effective at curbing sugar cravings (and I’ve tried a lot of them!). If you’re interested, check with your doctor, and then ask at your local health food store to see what they recommend. Be sure to take them with food in your stomach, unless otherwise advised. Following are the ones I have found to work best for me:

a.       Oil of Oregano. You can get it in capsule or liquid. Beware, the liquid is quite sharp, but a drop on the tongue can curb the cravings AND open up your sinuses. I’m not joking – for some of us, it’s a nice bonus. With the liquid, be prepared to smell like a kitchen in Little Italy.

b.      Grapefruit Seed Extract. This comes in tablets as well as liquid. The liquid must be diluted. I find it hard to manage, so I stick with the tablets.

3.      Other yeast-fighting substances that people take include: probiotics, garlic, apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, and bergamot oil.

4.      Other yeast-fighting techniques that people use include: avoiding white foods and alcohol, drinking more water, and reducing stress.

5.      A more immediate “fix” to be taken at the moment that you want something sweet is “CinnamonForce” (I use New Chapters brand). It advertises that it helps maintain blood sugar already in a normal range,  if taken as directed. I use it at that moment when I feel weak, when I am at risk of making a bad choice. When I pop the capsule open with my teeth, a sharp burst of cinnamon captures my attention, and somehow satisfies my desire for sugar – temporarily. It’s not a long fix, but does the trick just long enough to re-direct me from the cookie jar until I find something more constructive to do.

We live in a world in which sugar sells, second only to sex. It’s hard to avoid even when you’re not trying to eat something sweet. As long as the food industry continues to “supplement” our food supply with unnecessary corn syrups and added sweeteners, there is going to be a need to curb the cravings. For me, that means I’ll keep eating quinoa pasta with homemade red sauce. No need to add oregano –  my breath will provide the seasoning.

Elaine Taylor-Klaus is a Life, Leadership and Parenting Coach and the founder of Touchstone Coaching and ImpactADHD™. She is a regular ShareWIK.com columnist.

Read more articles by Elaine Taylor-Klaus here.

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