Carbohydrates are essential to the human body. They fuel the brain, the muscles, and every other organ in the human body. However, the addition of processed carbohydrates to nearly every food we consume has created what could be classified as a global addiction. 

In order to counteract your body’s cravings and to be successful in Cutting Carbs, there are two things that are important to remember. 

Trick Your Stomach and Brain into Cutting Carb Cravings

There are a few easy ways to trick your stomach and brain and help cut excessive Carbs from your diet:

• Drink more water. The brain will often confuse thirst with hunger, leading you to believe you are hungry for carbs when in reality, your body is craving water.

• Eat more fiber. Foods with plenty of fiber will remain in your system longer, which will lead to you feeling more full for much longer. 

• Eat every three hours. This will stabilize your blood sugar labels and prevent powerful cravings associated with drops in blood sugar. You should also eat your first meal within thirty minutes of waking up.

• Eat more dietary fats. There is a valve between the stomach and the small intestine called the pyloric valve. Food must travel through this valve when leaving the stomach. Dietary fats cause the pyloric valve to close, which means food will be held in the stomach longer, causing a much fuller feeling for longer! 
• 7-10 grams of dietary fats per day is sufficient. It is also important to remember there are still calories associated with dietary fats, but when not overused, they can prevent the intake of hundreds or thousands of calories later!

Take a Break and Carb Cycle!

The reason the majority of diets fail is because completely and suddenly depriving yourself of certain foods is not sustainable for a long period of time. If you suddenly stop eating pizza altogether, eventually pizza is all you will be able to think about. While cutting carbs out completely, or cutting down to the bare minimum might help you lose more weight faster, it may be difficult to maintain and put you in danger of gaining the weight back. 

This is why many people have found the carb cycling method to be helpful, more satisfying, and easier to sustain. When carb cycling, you only cut carbs every other day. On these days, you eat approximately five low-carb, calorie-controlled meals: one meal 30 minutes after waking up, and then one meal every three hours after that. Only cutting carbs out of half your diet is far more sustainable than cutting carbs completely!

On days in between, commonly referred to as ‘cheat’ days, you eat five meals rich in carbohydrates, though still calorie-controlled, and still eating a meal every three hours. It is also important to include one meal that you’ve been craving, whether it be pizza or ice cream, so long it remains under 350 calories. With this method, it is easier to control your cravings; if you can’t have it today, you can have it tomorrow!

Healthy Relationship with Food

The most crucial element to cutting carbs is establishing a healthy relationship with food. It is vital that you keep yourself feeling full and satisfied, and most of all, give your body the fuel it needs to succeed!

The post How to Break the Carb Addiction appeared first on New England Fat Loss.