Do you experience sugar cravings after a healthy meal? Here’s how to tackle it

A craving for sugar after a hearty meal could sabotage all your efforts at losing weight. But, why do you feel like having an ice cream, chocolate, ‘ladoo’ or any other dessert after regular food? Noted nutrition expert Neha Ranglani has shared an Instagram post on this matter. “We can experience sugar cravings when there is insufficient food intake during daytime. On such occasions, a hormone related to hunger named ghrelin acts and we feel like having a sweet. Reasons for such cravings could be physical or psychological,” says Neha.

“For instance, the body itself could send a message asking for sweet dishes as digestion is difficult after a meal. The energy required for the digestive process and absorption of food could be derived from the sweet item,” the expert explains. Another reason for sweet cravings could be a regular intake of a dessert after a meal as a habit, she adds. Yet another trigger for sugar cravings is an imbalance in the daily intake of micronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fat, and fibre. Moreover, whenever stringent restrictions are placed on eating sweet dishes, there could be cravings for sugar. Stress and inadequate sleep also could lead to the issue.

Remedies
First of all, realize the cause of your sugar cravings. Give yourself the necessary rest and sleep. Drink sufficient quantities of water every day.

The expert says that relishing a dessert after a meal is not always a bad habit. However, if you feel sleepy afterward, it should be stopped. You can divert your mind from sleep cravings by taking a walk outdoors, listening to music, or engaging in some other activity.

On the other hand, if you feel energetic after tasting sweets, choose healthy options such as small amounts of dark chocolate, bliss balls, nuts, or peanut candy.

Prefer lavender tea to sweets
An alternative to sweets is lavender tea, which offers much relief for people suffering from mental stress or headaches. Lavender tea is considered healthy by experts. However, if you have tea or coffee regularly, you may have to adjust to the taste of lavender tea. Seek the advice of a health professional or nutritionist before tasking this variety of tea. A herbal item, this special tea is made by drying the buds of lavender plants. However, you have to ensure that the lavender plants are cultivated in an organic manner, without applying pesticides or weedicides.

Preparation
Lavender tea bags are available in the market and online stores
Boil water and dip the tea bags in it for 10 minutes before drinking