Eating sugar doesn't curb your appetite for more sugar. It only increases it. That's why so many people find it difficult to eliminate sugar from their diets. When sugar is absorbed into the blood system, it raises blood sugar levels, causing the pancreas to release insulin. The insulin will remain in the system for several hours, lowering the blood sugar levels and causing further sugar cravings. It's a never-ending circle, an addiction that needs to be curbed like any other addiction.
Sugar puts stress on the pancreas, and causes a build-up of fat. It may also be responsible for diabetes and hypoglycemia. Sugar is sweet, but it's also deadly.
Some sugar cravings exist because the body is missing some minerals like zinc, magnesium, and chromium. Chromium regulates the insulin levels secreted by the pancreas. Ideally, choose foods rich in those minerals and it will help keep sugar cravings at bay.
When you stop eating sugar, your cravings will subside as your body adjusts to healthier eating. Consider replacing those sweet treats with healthy snacks like sticks of raw vegetables, yogurt, or sugar-free whole grain cereals.
Take control of what foods go onto your grocery list. If there are no sugary treats in the house, then you can't consume them.
Avoid the sugar craving by not allowing yourself to become hungry or peckish. Eat a nutritious breakfast to begin your day. Fill your meals with complex carbohydrates and you'll lose the craving for snacking, especially sugary snacks. In time, a good healthy diet will lessen the craving for sugar and you won't feel deprived.
Read labels carefully, and avoid prepackaged foods. So many prepackaged foods use sugar as a preservative. Even jars of spaghetti sauce have sugar. Most cooks wouldn't add sugar to their home-made spaghetti sauce, and true home-made sauce is so much better than sauce in a jar. This may be difficult for many people, but try to make at least some of your meals from scratch using fresh ingredients.
If you need instant relief, chew a piece of sugarless gum, drink a glass of water, brush your teeth, go for a walk, practice deep breathing exercises, or just do something that will take your mind off the craving.
Eliminating sugar isn't that difficult, although the effects of complete withdrawal will vary from person to person. After a week or two, you will begin to feel like you have cleansed your body of toxins and the cravings will have subsided. The urge to "sugar up" will become a thing of the past.