#9: How is sugar impacting your cravings?

#9: How is sugar impacting your cravings?

By now we’ve all heard of the ill effects of this one little molecule – the substance we love to hate.  But oh, how it reels us in, weaving its spell and turning us in to none other than Homer Simpson.  

This is the number one cravings inducer. Sugar begets more sugar. Feeling helpless over its power is one of the primary motivators for clients that begin our program. Even small amounts of sugar can create spikes in blood sugar, driving us to reach for the exact thing we need to avoid for balance. Can we say addiction?  

How can we break free and kick the cookies to the curb? Replacing one habit for another allows us to gracefully awaken rather than forcibly trying and failing, perpetuating a cycle of guilt. It has been said that it takes 21 days to break a habit. Conversely we believe that it takes 21 days to create a new habit.  Pursuing both concurrently gives us the best chance for success. Alkalize, eat lots of veggies, greens, and either lean or plant-based proteins and watch the cravings disappear.

Tomorrow’s Tip:
#10: How do processed foods impact cravings?


These tips are part of our "Solving the Cravings Riddle' series. Click the link to read the article in it's entirety and see previous tips.

#8: Are you eating regularly throughout your day to reduce cravings?

#8: Are you eating regularly throughout your day to reduce cravings?

Mother still knows best and her age-old advice of eating three meals per day still rings true. Eating the right foods for your unique constitution (see full article and previous tips) regularly throughout the day stabilizes blood sugar levels and is one of the best things you can do to minimize cravings.   

But what is “regular”? Is it just three meals a day? Does it include snacks? Many of our clients find that by eating smaller quantities of food, more frequently throughout their days, they are able to abolish cravings, especially when optimizing their carbohydrate-to-protein threshold along with this. 

Discovering the optimal sequencing and frequency for your unique constitution can take some experimenting. But a great place to begin is with breakfast, a mid-morning protein snack, lunch, mid-afternoon protein snack and dinner. Others begin here and after a bit more refining discover their perfect blood sugar balance occurs with smaller main meals along with micro snacks every 1 ½ hours.

Of course, we cannot mention blood sugar regulation without delving into its middle name – sugar. 

Tomorrow’s Tip
#9: How is sugar impacting your cravings?

These tips are part of our "Solving the Cravings Riddle' series. Click the link to read the article in it's entirety and see previous tips.

#7: Are you receiving the right type of breakfast to reduce cravings?

#7: Are you receiving the right type of breakfast to reduce cravings?

We all know how important breakfast is, but how often do we run out the door with a shake and a cup of coffee?  This sets us up for a day of inner warfare with our cravings voice, not to mention the impact on our energy and mood.

What makes a healthy breakfast?  For starters – whole, real food rather than a bar or pre-packed shake to which many of us have grown accustomed.  Depending upon your unique carbohydrate-to-protein threshold (see earlier tip posts) some fare better with more protein than others, so discovering the perfect breakfast for you can take some experimenting.

Quinoa, a gluten-free whole grain, is a great place to start.  It has an excellent protein composition and makes for a tasty breakfast.  Many of our clients discover that they feel their best with only 1 serving of grains each day.  Breakfast is an ideal time to eat grain, especially one that is higher in protein composition. Eating it early in the day allows us to sustain energy and reduce cravings all day long.  Try adding a smidge of olive oil with a pinch of Himalayan salt and ½ an avocado for a hearty, satiating start to the day.

#8: Are you eating regularly throughout the day?

These tips are part of our "Solving the Cravings Riddle' series. Click the link to read the article in it's entirety and see previous tips.

#6: Are you eating enough vegetables to reduce cravings?

Tip #6:  Are you eating enough vegetables to reduce cravings?

When Doritos and Pretzels haunt our thoughts, it’s often our bodies calling out for vegetables. The cycle of empty calories leaves our nutritional fuel tanks continually depleted - creating a vicious cycle in which we continually reach for more gasoline from the wrong pump. Running on empty and masked by junk, sugar and carbs, our true needs often go unmet. If we replace the empty calories with more nutrient dense foods such as vegetables, these cravings may vanish.

If vegetables cross your mind as often as your high school chemistry class, you may wish to start slowly by introducing a salad each day and working up to 2-3 servings of vegetables at each meal. For those who wish for a rapid cravings overhaul, diving right in with a food-based cleanse or RESET program can completely re-architect your palette, leaving you knocking people over on your way to the veggie tray.

Tip #7:  Are you eating the right breakfast to reduce cravings?

These tips are part of our "Solving the Cravings Riddle' series. Click the link to read the article in it's entirety and see previous tips.

#5: Are you alkalizing your system to reduce cravings?

#5: Are you alkalizing your system to reduce cravings?

Alkalizing foods nourish both the physical and emotional body, allowing us to recycle toxins on a real-time basis, rather than storing them away to wreak havoc one day. Alkalizing foods also shift the palette in warp-speed time, rearchitecting it away from an insatiable hankering for junk, towards a yearning for more wholesome foods.

What are alkalizing foods? Greens. The greener and leafier the better. Veggies, fruits and did we mention greens? Integrating 1-2 servings of nutrient dense greens such as collard greens, kale, Swiss chard, spinach, sorrel and mustard will tilt you into the alkaline zone. 

Green juices are especially alkalizing. Its nutrients, reduced to the most essential ingredients and free of the fibers to slow down absorption, are mainlined into your system.

Veggies are also alkaline and can make a big difference on daily cravings.

Tip #5:  Are you eating enough vegetables to reduce cravings?

These tips are part of our "Solving the Cravings Riddle' series. Click the link to read the article in it's entirety and see previous tips.

Contact LoveLife Method

Would you like to speak directly to a LoveLife Coach to learn more about our program options? You can schedule a complimentary 20 minute phone call by clicking on the button below and filling out a short form. We're looking forward to speaking with you about transforming your life through food!

All other inquiries please send an email to info@lovelifemethod.com.

Making sense of 'Health Food' Snack Labels

We all know that eating whole foods instead of prepackaged processed foods is our best bet for optimal health. But in the hectic pace of our daily lives with no Calgon to take us away, the reality is that we sometimes need a little pre-packaged assistance.  

It’s not surprising that our number one request at LoveLife is for healthy snacks or foods on-the-go. So, we are beginning to offer regular tips and education around varieties of food that are more minimally processed. And we are formulating our own "healthy snacks" rating system, summing it up so you don't have to.



What makes a healthy label and how do we make this determination?  At LoveLife, we are all about teaching our clients to be their own experts so let’s show a couple of labels side by side for comparison.

Sunshine Patties VS Boca Burgers

Organic, non-GMO and freshly ground with no additives – Sunshine Burgers lend a heavy dose of nutritional benefits without sacrificing taste. Laden with whole ground beans and seeds they are also high in protein and fiber. This is a label that would make a farmer proud. Their masterpieces are as close to farm-to-plate as you can get with packaged foods. 

Sunshine Burgers: HempFest Breakfast Patty 

Click on the picture of the label to expand.

• Notice the ingredients listed do not have the word “flour” after each of them.
• Each of these ingredients is whole and minimally processed
• Each ingredient is preceded by the word “organic”
• No preservatives
• No possible inflammatory ingredients such as soy, gluten, corn
• Whopping 8 g protein and 5 g fiber from whole food sources

VERSUS

Boca Burger: Original Vegan 10 oz

• First ingredient: Water. Why? Because everything is synthetic and must be reconstituted to make it edible.
• Second Ingredient: Soy protein Concentrate. NOT a whole food AND an inflammatory food. And GMO. We will write an article another time on soy’s lack of virtues.
• Additional Ingredients: Textured Soy Protein Concentrate, Hydrolyzed Soy and Corn Protein, Yeast Extract. Suffice it to say that this product is primarily a synthetic one, suited for space travel perhaps, it could feed the astronauts bellies but not their spirits.
• Preservatives and additives - Caramel Color, Didsodium Guanylate, Disodium Inosinate
• Inflammatory ingredients - Wheat, soy, corn

#4: How do carbs impact cravings?

#4: How do carbs impact cravings?

Like protein, we all function best with varying amounts, types and sequencing of carbohydrates. We call this carbohydrate threshold. Finding this information makes a big impact on craving levels. When we work with clients to help them uncover cravings, we explore the same questions for carbohydrates that we investigate for proteins.  (See tips 1, 2, and 3 regarding protein consumption).  

1. Are you receiving too much or too little of Carbohydrates for your constitution?  
2. Are you receiving the right type of Carbohydrates for you? 
3. Are you eating them at the right time of day?  

Many of our clients come to us addicted to carbs. Of course, we all know that if we are gorging on sugar or carbs throughout our days, we “should” stop. And yet, this can be one of the hardest cycles to break. However, most of our clients are surprised to discover that they are easily able to give up this addiction, because we are replacing it with the specific nutrients with which their bodies yearn. We nourish their systems while optimizing proteins and carbs. If you feel helpless to shift the carb addiction, try these other tips simultaneously and nourish your system.  Stay tuned on how to best do this.

#5: Are you alkalizing your system to reduce cravings? 

These tips are part of our "Solving the Cravings Riddle' series. Click the link to read the article in it's entirety and see previous tips.

Motown becomes GrowTown?

I went to the Whole Foods Do Something Reel Film Festival last night and saw the Urban Roots Film. Is it possible for Detroit to turn financial ruin into utopia? People becoming empowered to sustain themselves in the food chain, nourish their bellies and their spirits.  See this film and prepare to be inspired by what the beauty that is unfolding in the wake of the decay.

#3: Are you eating protein at the right times throughout the day?

#3. Are you eating protein at the right times throughout the day? 

Spacing protein, whether plant or animal based, throughout the day optimizes blood sugar and often thwarts cravings for carbs and sweets. Unless you are already consuming large quantities of protein all day, try increasing your protein at lunch and dinner and aim for a mid-morning and mid-afternoon protein snack. 

#4: How do carbs impact cravings?

These tips are part of our "Solving the Cravings Riddle' series. Click the link to read the article in it's entirety and see previous tips.