{"id":18153,"date":"2020-03-03T21:35:13","date_gmt":"2020-03-03T21:35:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/?p=18153"},"modified":"2020-07-10T22:40:55","modified_gmt":"2020-07-10T22:40:55","slug":"how-to-beat-sugar-cravings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/","title":{"rendered":"An RD Explains How to Finally Beat Sugar Cravings"},"content":{"rendered":"<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/author\/gaby-vaca-flores\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gaby Vaca-Flores, RDN<\/a>, breaks down the three parts of your brain that contribute to your &#8220;need&#8221; to eat sugar. <\/em><em>Plus: Learn how to beat sugar cravings with four dietitian-approved healthy lifestyle hacks.<\/em>\r\n\r\nPicture this: It\u2019s the middle of the day and the chocolate bar in the vending machine is calling your name. We\u2019ve all been there! Sugar cravings are incredibly common, and giving in to them is one of the easiest ways to compromise an otherwise healthy lifestyle.\r\n\r\nWhile it may feel impossible at times to beat sugar cravings, there are some tried-and-true hacks that can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/supplement-to-reduce-cravings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">help ease your sweet tooth<\/a>. But first, let\u2019s start by understanding how sugar cravings connect to the source of all willpower: the brain.\r\n<h2>Sugar and the Brain<\/h2>\r\nThere are three main parts of the brain that play important roles in how we respond to sugar cravings: the hippocampus, the caudate nucleus, and the insula.\r\n<h3>Hippocampus<\/h3>\r\nThe hippocampus controls short- and long-term memory, motivation, and emotion\u2014all of which are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6292781\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">reinforcing factors<\/a> in reward-motivated behavior. So how does this all translate to sugar cravings? The hippocampus helps you remember how good sugar makes you feel, and the strength of this memory can drive you to continue to seek pleasure with continuous consumption.\r\n<h3>Caudate Nucleus<\/h3>\r\nOn the other hand, we have the caudate nucleus. This part of the brain also plays a role in the reward circuit, but its main responsibility is to help us <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-break-bad-habits\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">form and sustain habits<\/a>. If you experience sugar cravings at the same time each day\u2014or even each time you enter a movie theatre, for example\u2014the caudate nucleus helps form this type of conditioned response.\r\n<h3>Insula<\/h3>\r\nThe insula contributes to cravings by creating emotional responses to sensory experiences. Think about the feeling you might get when you see an ice cream commercial on a hot summer day. The joy and longing associated with such a scenario often indicates that the insula is activated.\r\n<h2>How to Beat Sugar Cravings<\/h2>\r\nBy now, it may feel like we&#8217;re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/what-your-food-cravings-mean\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">programmed to yearn<\/a> for sweets based on our brain\u2019s mechanisms. So does this mean that reducing cravings is a hopeless endeavor? Absolutely not! Among other lifestyle efforts, balancing our daily nutrition habits can play an even bigger role in helping us <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/no-sugar-challenge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">take back control<\/a>.\r\n\r\nThe next time you\u2019re thinking of reaching for something sweet, refer to this go-to guide to beat sugar cravings:\r\n<h3>1. Eat a well-balanced diet<\/h3>\r\nFrequently giving in to sugar cravings can have negative health consequences. Excess sugar can lead to eating too many calories and thus obesity, a major risk factor for most chronic diseases. One of the best ways to reduce sugar cravings is to eat a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/healthy-plate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">varied diet<\/a> packed with complex carbohydrates, lean <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/why-do-we-need-protein\/\">protein<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/healthy-fats-list\/\">healthy fats<\/a>, and unlimited greens. Following a nutritionally balanced lifestyle not only leaves plenty of room for the occasional sweet treat, but it can also help lower risks related to high-sugar diets.\r\n\r\nEating a balanced diet doesn\u2019t have to be bland, either. In many cases, you can find healthy swaps for your favorite sweets. Trying new recipes\u2014such as these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/sweet-treat-no-bake-vegan-brownie-recipe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">no-bake vegan brownies<\/a>\u2014can help make reducing sugar cravings so much easier!\r\n\r\n<img data-dominant-color=\"c4beaf\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #c4beaf;\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-18180 aligncenter not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Healthy-Snacks-to-Beat-Sugar-Cravings-The-Wellnest-by-HUM-Nutrition.jpg\" alt=\"Two people reaching for healthy snacks, like kiwi and energy balls, to beat sugar cravings\" width=\"770\" height=\"514\" \/>\r\n<h3>2. Snack smarter<\/h3>\r\nConsider snacks as your second line of defense against a sweet tooth. Even with a balanced diet, it\u2019s common to still want a tasty treat between meals. The trick is to have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/healthy-snacks-weight-loss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">healthy snacks<\/a> ready to go to prevent reaching for unhealthy alternatives.\r\n\r\nAlso, pay special mind to snacks that are advertised as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/best-and-worst-sweeteners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">sugar-free or artificially sweetened<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2892765\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Research<\/a> suggests that our brains respond the same way to artificial <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/best-and-worst-sweeteners\/\">sweeteners<\/a> as they do regular sugar, meaning they can <em>support<\/em> cravings rather than <em>fight<\/em> them.\r\n\r\nInstead, steer clear of processed foods and try snacking on whole foods that are naturally sweet in flavor, such as berries and dark chocolate. Also, adding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/protein\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">high-protein snacks<\/a> can also help keep you satisfied between meals. A cup of yogurt sweetened with blueberries, a few dates, a hard-boiled egg, or a handful of trail mix are all quick and nutritious snack options.\r\n<h3>3. Keep Sugary Foods Out of Reach<\/h3>\r\nRemember: The brain is conditioned to give in to cravings. One of the best ways to recondition the mind to no longer want sugar is to make it harder to feel rewarded by it. In other words, if you really want that sweet treat, you&#8217;d have to work for it.\r\n\r\nBut how? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/29248689\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Research<\/a> shows that we&#8217;re more susceptible to giving in to cravings and overeating when unhealthy foods are easily accessible. So set yourself up for success by keeping sugary treats <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/clean-out-your-pantry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">out of the pantry<\/a> and off your grocery list. You might find that the inconvenience spurred by lack of availability may be enough to make you forget about your sugar craving. This strategy can also help you stick to your balanced diet and healthy snacks.\r\n<h3>4. Take Control of the 3 S&#8217;s<\/h3>\r\n<em>Stress. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/mighty-night\/\">Sleep<\/a>. Sweat.<\/em> These three lifestyle factors can either heighten sugar cravings or help take the edge off.\r\n<h4>Stress<\/h4>\r\nAccording to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6186388\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2018 study<\/a>, people who experience elevated stress levels are more motivated to engage in reward-seeking behavior. You can practice de-stressing activities such as spending time outdoors, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/best-meditation-apps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">meditating<\/a>, and reading to help ease the frequency of and your response to sugar cravings. Additionally, keeping a food journal to record your thoughts and events throughout the day may also help identify stressors that trigger your cravings.\r\n<h4>Sleep<\/h4>\r\nGetting enough sleep is easier said than done. But <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/255695246_The_impact_of_sleep_deprivation_on_the_human_brain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">research<\/a> suggests that sleep deprivation can cause disruptions in our brain profiles, which can then lead to craving higher-calorie foods. Sleeping less than your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/sleep\/about_sleep\/how_much_sleep.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">daily recommended hours<\/a> can also pave the way for low energy levels, making it difficult to manage stress and plan for balanced meals. Establishing a consistent, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/bedtime-latte-recipes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">relaxing bedtime routine<\/a> is one of the best ways to start getting more restful sleep and effectively beat sugar cravings.\r\n<h4>Sweat<\/h4>\r\nExercise your willpower! There are countless <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/beauty-benefits-of-working-out\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">benefits of working out<\/a>, one of them being that regular physical activity can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/28797701\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">help strengthen your resistance to cravings<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6411047\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Another study<\/a> shows that a five-minute walk per hour can significantly reduce the onset of food cravings between meals. Simply put, there&#8217;s no reason to not get moving.\n<div  class=\"products-block -mx-4 md:mx-0 my-10\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/product\/62\/counter-cravings\" class=\"text-xs text-dark hover:!text-dark flex items-center border border-light rounded p-4 group !no-underline mb-4 relative pb-16 sm:pb-4\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"shrink-0 mr-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.humnutrition.com\/assets\/3330c8c0-7ede-11f0-a0ef-c10dbf4f15a4.png\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" class=\"object-cover transition-opacity group-hover:opacity-80 !mb-0\" alt=\"Counter Cravings\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grow pr-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mb-2 flex flex-col sm:flex-row sm:items-center divide-x-0 sm:divide-x divide-light text-sm\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"pt-1 pr-2 flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"flex mr-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"mr-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"16\"><path d=\"m11.532 4.697 4.353.663c.36.053.664.316.828.64.066.397 0 .791-.288 1.06l-3.157 3.193.745 4.581a1.01 1.01 0 0 1-.39.978c-.3.188-.698.25-1.022.072l-3.888-2.14-3.889 2.14c-.327.178-.724.116-1.024-.072a1.008 1.008 0 0 1-.388-.978l.745-4.581L1 7.06C.713 6.79.646 6.397.713 6c.162-.324.464-.587.827-.64l4.35-.663L7.842.563c.16-.344.5-.563.87-.563.372 0 .711.219.872.563z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"mr-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"16\"><path d=\"m11.532 4.697 4.353.663c.36.053.664.316.828.64.066.397 0 .791-.288 1.06l-3.157 3.193.745 4.581a1.01 1.01 0 0 1-.39.978c-.3.188-.698.25-1.022.072l-3.888-2.14-3.889 2.14c-.327.178-.724.116-1.024-.072a1.008 1.008 0 0 1-.388-.978l.745-4.581L1 7.06C.713 6.79.646 6.397.713 6c.162-.324.464-.587.827-.64l4.35-.663L7.842.563c.16-.344.5-.563.87-.563.372 0 .711.219.872.563z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"mr-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"16\"><path d=\"m11.532 4.697 4.353.663c.36.053.664.316.828.64.066.397 0 .791-.288 1.06l-3.157 3.193.745 4.581a1.01 1.01 0 0 1-.39.978c-.3.188-.698.25-1.022.072l-3.888-2.14-3.889 2.14c-.327.178-.724.116-1.024-.072a1.008 1.008 0 0 1-.388-.978l.745-4.581L1 7.06C.713 6.79.646 6.397.713 6c.162-.324.464-.587.827-.64l4.35-.663L7.842.563c.16-.344.5-.563.87-.563.372 0 .711.219.872.563z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"mr-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"16\"><path d=\"m11.532 4.697 4.353.663c.36.053.664.316.828.64.066.397 0 .791-.288 1.06l-3.157 3.193.745 4.581a1.01 1.01 0 0 1-.39.978c-.3.188-.698.25-1.022.072l-3.888-2.14-3.889 2.14c-.327.178-.724.116-1.024-.072a1.008 1.008 0 0 1-.388-.978l.745-4.581L1 7.06C.713 6.79.646 6.397.713 6c.162-.324.464-.587.827-.64l4.35-.663L7.842.563c.16-.344.5-.563.87-.563.372 0 .711.219.872.563z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"mr-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"16\"><path d=\"m8.713 3 1.54 3.61 3.46.58L11.207 10l.588 4-3.082-1.878zm4.555 7.253 3.157-3.193c.288-.269.354-.663.288-1.06-.164-.324-.467-.587-.828-.64l-4.353-.663L9.584.562A.965.965 0 0 0 8.713 0a.965.965 0 0 0-.871.562L5.89 4.697l-4.35.663c-.363.053-.665.316-.827.64-.067.397 0 .791.287 1.06l3.157 3.193-.745 4.581a1.01 1.01 0 0 0 .388.978c.3.188.697.25 1.024.072l3.889-2.14 3.888 2.14c.324.178.721.116 1.021-.072a1.01 1.01 0 0 0 .391-.978z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t4.2\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"pt-1 sm:pl-2 text-medium\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t408 Reviews\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"text-base font-semibold mb-1 group-hover:text-primary\">Counter Cravings<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mb-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\thelps reduce cravings + boost metabolism\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"absolute bottom-4 left-4 right-4 sm:bottom-0 sm:left-0 sm:right-0 sm:relative inline-flex justify-center bg-primary group-hover:bg-primary-light text-white rounded py-3 px-12 leading-none text-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"pr-1.5 border-r border-primary-lightest\">$50<\/span><span class=\"pl-1.5\">SHOP NOW<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"self-start\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gaby Vaca-Flores, RDN, breaks down the three parts of your brain that contribute to your &#8220;need&#8221; to eat sugar. Plus: Learn how to beat sugar cravings with four dietitian-approved healthy lifestyle hacks. Picture this: It\u2019s the middle of the day and the chocolate bar in the vending machine is calling your name. We\u2019ve all been [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":18166,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_toc_level":"h2","_toc_min":2,"footnotes":""},"categories":[819,823],"tags":[9416,863,628,756,178,327],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-18153","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food","category-healthy-eating","tag-cravings","tag-healthy-habits","tag-protein","tag-snacks","tag-stress","tag-sugar"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.2 (Yoast SEO v24.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>An RD Explains How to Finally Beat Sugar Cravings | HUM Nutrition Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A dietitian explains the reward and habit-forming centers of your brain on sugar. Plus: how to beat sugar cravings in four easy steps.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"An RD Explains How to Finally Beat Sugar Cravings\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A dietitian explains the reward and habit-forming centers of your brain on sugar. Plus: how to beat sugar cravings in four easy steps.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"HUM Nutrition Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/humnutrition\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-03-03T21:35:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2020-07-10T22:40:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/How-to-Beat-Sugar-Cravings-The-Wellnest-by-HUM-Nutrition.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1440\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"670\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Gaby Vaca-Flores\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@HUMnutrition\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@HUMnutrition\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Gaby Vaca-Flores\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Gaby Vaca-Flores\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8534385d66a40dfe755b3f64c2c2ee19\"},\"headline\":\"An RD Explains How to Finally Beat Sugar Cravings\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-03-03T21:35:13+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-07-10T22:40:55+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/\"},\"wordCount\":1050,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/How-to-Beat-Sugar-Cravings-The-Wellnest-by-HUM-Nutrition-jpg.webp\",\"keywords\":[\"Cravings\",\"Healthy Habits\",\"protein\",\"snacks\",\"Stress\",\"Sugar\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Food\",\"Healthy Eating\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/\",\"name\":\"An RD Explains How to Finally Beat Sugar Cravings | HUM Nutrition Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/How-to-Beat-Sugar-Cravings-The-Wellnest-by-HUM-Nutrition-jpg.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-03-03T21:35:13+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-07-10T22:40:55+00:00\",\"description\":\"A dietitian explains the reward and habit-forming centers of your brain on sugar. Plus: how to beat sugar cravings in four easy steps.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/How-to-Beat-Sugar-Cravings-The-Wellnest-by-HUM-Nutrition-jpg.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/How-to-Beat-Sugar-Cravings-The-Wellnest-by-HUM-Nutrition-jpg.webp\",\"width\":1440,\"height\":670,\"caption\":\"Woman giving into her sugar craving by biting into chocolate bar covered in berries\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"An RD Explains How to Finally Beat Sugar Cravings\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"HUM Nutrition Blog\",\"description\":\"The Wellnest | Beauty From The Inside Out\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"HUM Nutrition\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/favicon.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/favicon.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"HUM Nutrition\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/humnutrition\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/HUMnutrition\",\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/humnutrition\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/hum-nutrition-inc\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/humnutrition\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCcwy4Ev5RlWtTFiN0wLa1ng\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8534385d66a40dfe755b3f64c2c2ee19\",\"name\":\"Gaby Vaca-Flores\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/0c1dcfcf11fea6106098be155dac4254\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/cropped-cropped-1-96x96.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/cropped-cropped-1-96x96.png\",\"caption\":\"Gaby Vaca-Flores\"},\"description\":\"Gaby Vaca-Flores, RDN, is the Sr. Education &amp; Scientific Affairs Manager at HUM, where she develops science-backed content and helps shape science strategy and product innovation. She has expertise in translating complex nutrition research into accessible guidance and educational resources. Gaby holds her Registered Dietitian credential, as well as her B.S. in Nutritional Science and a Master\u2019s in Communication Management from the University of Southern California.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/glowandgreens.com\/\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/glowandgreens\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/author\/gaby-vaca-flores\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"An RD Explains How to Finally Beat Sugar Cravings | HUM Nutrition Blog","description":"A dietitian explains the reward and habit-forming centers of your brain on sugar. Plus: how to beat sugar cravings in four easy steps.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"An RD Explains How to Finally Beat Sugar Cravings","og_description":"A dietitian explains the reward and habit-forming centers of your brain on sugar. Plus: how to beat sugar cravings in four easy steps.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/","og_site_name":"HUM Nutrition Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/facebook.com\/humnutrition","article_published_time":"2020-03-03T21:35:13+00:00","article_modified_time":"2020-07-10T22:40:55+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1440,"height":670,"url":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/How-to-Beat-Sugar-Cravings-The-Wellnest-by-HUM-Nutrition.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Gaby Vaca-Flores","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@HUMnutrition","twitter_site":"@HUMnutrition","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Gaby Vaca-Flores","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/"},"author":{"name":"Gaby Vaca-Flores","@id":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8534385d66a40dfe755b3f64c2c2ee19"},"headline":"An RD Explains How to Finally Beat Sugar Cravings","datePublished":"2020-03-03T21:35:13+00:00","dateModified":"2020-07-10T22:40:55+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/"},"wordCount":1050,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/How-to-Beat-Sugar-Cravings-The-Wellnest-by-HUM-Nutrition-jpg.webp","keywords":["Cravings","Healthy Habits","protein","snacks","Stress","Sugar"],"articleSection":["Food","Healthy Eating"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/","url":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/","name":"An RD Explains How to Finally Beat Sugar Cravings | HUM Nutrition Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/How-to-Beat-Sugar-Cravings-The-Wellnest-by-HUM-Nutrition-jpg.webp","datePublished":"2020-03-03T21:35:13+00:00","dateModified":"2020-07-10T22:40:55+00:00","description":"A dietitian explains the reward and habit-forming centers of your brain on sugar. Plus: how to beat sugar cravings in four easy steps.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/How-to-Beat-Sugar-Cravings-The-Wellnest-by-HUM-Nutrition-jpg.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/How-to-Beat-Sugar-Cravings-The-Wellnest-by-HUM-Nutrition-jpg.webp","width":1440,"height":670,"caption":"Woman giving into her sugar craving by biting into chocolate bar covered in berries"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/how-to-beat-sugar-cravings\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"An RD Explains How to Finally Beat Sugar Cravings"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/","name":"HUM Nutrition Blog","description":"The Wellnest | Beauty From The Inside Out","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"HUM Nutrition","url":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/favicon.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/favicon.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"HUM Nutrition"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/facebook.com\/humnutrition","https:\/\/x.com\/HUMnutrition","https:\/\/instagram.com\/humnutrition","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/hum-nutrition-inc","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/humnutrition\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCcwy4Ev5RlWtTFiN0wLa1ng"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8534385d66a40dfe755b3f64c2c2ee19","name":"Gaby Vaca-Flores","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/0c1dcfcf11fea6106098be155dac4254","url":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/cropped-cropped-1-96x96.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/cropped-cropped-1-96x96.png","caption":"Gaby Vaca-Flores"},"description":"Gaby Vaca-Flores, RDN, is the Sr. Education &amp; Scientific Affairs Manager at HUM, where she develops science-backed content and helps shape science strategy and product innovation. She has expertise in translating complex nutrition research into accessible guidance and educational resources. Gaby holds her Registered Dietitian credential, as well as her B.S. in Nutritional Science and a Master\u2019s in Communication Management from the University of Southern California.","sameAs":["https:\/\/glowandgreens.com\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/glowandgreens\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/author\/gaby-vaca-flores\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18153","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18153"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18153\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18166"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18153"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18153"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18153"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=18153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}