By Dr. Beverly Yates, Founder PCOS Weight Loss

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In this PCOS Weight discussion, you’ll discover what causes sugar cravings and how you can reduce those cravings and break the sugar cycle.

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Sugar cravings make it difficult to lose weight; especially for women with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). Eating sugar causes a rise in blood sugar which produces extra energy. However, the body stores the energy it doesn’t need as fat. This cycle is hard to break, which is why understanding the cycle is essential to losing weight.

PCOS and Cravings for Sugary Foods

Women and girls with PCOS often have food cravings, especially for sugar. These cravings may be strongest in the late afternoon and evening. Once a person weighs more than she should, the body wants more and more sugar. In essence, sugar wants more sugar and extra body fat wants to make more body fat.

Once you hit 20 or more pounds overweight, your body’s biochemistry shifts. Believe it or not, the extra fat starts to produce unfriendly chemicals that are toxic. These chemicals feed a cycle that drives food cravings, usually for sweets.

Stress and Its Effect on PCOS Weight Loss

Like high blood pressure, stress is a silent factor in body changes. Stress can sabotage the best-laid plans for weight loss. If a woman or girl with PCOS is feeling particularly stressed out, she is far more likely to have severe sugar cravings.

The changes in the body during stress are the culprit. Sugar is a fast source of energy and helps to immediately soothe and calm feelings of stress. Naturally, if you’re feeling stressed, your body craves sugar. It’s as if your body thinks you are running away from a bear or tiger and needs fuel now. The sugar you eat gives your blood sugar a fast rocket ride up; afterward comes the sugar crash, leaving you tired, crabby and bloated.

This cycle has nothing to do with willpower or emotional strength. It is just how the body works.

Sweet Drinks and PCOS Weight Loss

Fruit juice seems healthy, but even freshly-squeezed juice spikes blood sugar, in part because the juice has been separated from the fruit’s fiber. Instead, focus on eating fruits in their natural state, especially those with a low glycemic index (GI index). Blood-sugar-friendly fruits include the berry family, especially blueberries and strawberries, which are rich in fiber and nutrients, including antioxidants that slow aging and boost metabolism.

Surprisingly, artificial sweeteners are more of a problem than a solution. When you use artificial sweeteners, the body senses sweetness and expects calories to follow. Since those artificially sweetened foods don’t contain such calories, the brain sends out signals to the body to eat more food in order to get the expected calories. This causes people to eat more than they otherwise would and, ironically, causes them to want even more sugar.

How to Reduce Cravings

If you’re stuck in a cycle of sugar cravings, you are not trapped. Herbal supplements, along with knowledge about nutrition, diet choices and good sleep habits, can boost your chances for success.

Look at labels, specifically for the carbohydrate content. Try to keep total carbs low so you don’t spike your blood sugar. Keep your meals at 25 to 30 grams of carbs or lower (including the “sugars” labeled as carbohydrates). Keep beverages and snacks at 10 grams of carbs or lower.

In addition, eat plenty of fiber and non-starchy vegetables, like kale, chard or spinach, with foods that contain more than 5 grams of carbohydrates. This will help avoid spikes in blood sugar.

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PDF Summary

Dr. Beverly Yates is an expert on weight loss and women’s health including PCOS Weight loss. She has over two decades of clinical experience, and she uses her problem solving skills to help other women solve their weight loss problems. For more FREE PCOS Weight Loss Tips and Secrets, and to buy the Ultimate PCOS Weight Loss Herbs and Supplements Guide, check out http://www.PCOSWeightLossTips.com.

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