Ah, the sugar monster! Do you know the one?

That relentless little voice screeching for a mid-morning muffin, the 3pm brownie break, and of course the midnight romp to the freezer for a tub of ice cream (party for one!).

Don’t get us wrong- Life is full of simple pleasures, and these should be enjoyed in moderation, but when sugar cravings get out of control, it can be to the detriment of our health and descend into a self-potentiating vicious cycle.

The causes of sugar cravings can vary, and it may come as a surprise (and a relief!) that it isn’t just about willpower. There are foundations we can lay to avoid the internal struggle.

Foods high in refined sugar as well as our old friend the cheeky carb can take us on a roller coaster ride of energy highs and lows (we’ve all experienced the sugar high followed by the crash- what goes up, must come down, right?)

Balanced Blood Sugar: It’s Kind of A Big Deal

Ok, so some of us may have heard about the woes of blippy-blood sugar control- but it’s more prevalent than many of us may think. In fact, it’s not uncommon to suffer from blood sugar highs and lows on the daily without even knowing!

Nutrient deficiencies, sugary or high-carb snacks and meals, hormone fluctuations, chronic stress, poor-quality sleep, and—of course—gut dysbiosis are all common drivers of blood sugar imbalance. These imbalances can significantly contribute to those all-too-familiar sugar cravings that sneak up on us throughout the day.

But here’s the reality: most of us aren’t just dealing with one of these factors—we’re often juggling several at once. Under these compounded conditions, the body has to work overtime just to maintain a delicate balance. It’s constantly trying to shuttle excess sugar into cells to be used for energy while ensuring there’s still enough glucose circulating in the bloodstream to keep us functioning. When that balance tips too far in one direction, fatigue sets in, and the body sends out a signal: cue the sugar craving.

What usually happens next? We reach for the chocolate bar, biscuit, or sweet snack, feel a temporary sense of relief—or even a little energy rush—and then, inevitably, comes the crash. Blood sugar levels drop, and the cycle repeats itself, leaving us tired, irritable, and still craving more.

The good news? You can reduce sugar cravings and balance blood sugar naturally by addressing the root causes. Focus on nourishing your body with the right nutrients, prioritising quality sleep, managing stress, and restoring gut health. Products that support energy levels and buy gut health supplements can play a helpful role in breaking this cycle. When your body is balanced and supported, those sugar cravings start to lose their grip—and you regain control of your energy, mood, and overall well-being.

On top of this- satisfying a sugar craving also elicits a huge dopamine (our reward and pleasure hormone) rush. After eating something super sweet, something natural like a blueberry doesn’t taste as good as it used to and doesn’t have the same buzz for our reward centre.

Are Imbalanced Gut Bugs Hijacking your Cravings?

Blood sugar levels and gut bugs can’t possibly be related, right?! They don’t even touch!
Au contraire.

Sugar can throw out our gut-bug balance, and result in overgrowths of the wrong kinds of bacteria which can make us feel fatigued, negatively alter our blood sugar control, but also – get this – actually ask us to eat more sugar to feed them and keep them happy! #mindblown

We can think of sweets as fuel and the opportunistic bugs (like candida) as the fire; It’s easy to imagine how quickly a small overgrowth of bugs with a sweet-tooth can snowball into a dysbiotic, sugar-fiending tummy beast.

So what now?

The Gut Co has you covered.

5 Tips to Banish the Sugar Monster

1. Coffee After

PSA! Coffee (and caffeine in general) is not breakfast- in fact, coffee on an empty tummy is almost guaranteed to elicit the release of stress hormones which cause sugar cravings.

2. Eat Regular, Balanced Meals

Skipping meals sets us up for crashes and sugar cravings. But hold up- how do we ‘balance’ a meal? Carbs are lonely without their besties, fibre, fat & protein. Together, they slow the release of sugar into the blood for stable all-day energy and fewer sweet cravings. For extra brownie points (probably black-bean brownies), choose carbohydrates with a low glycaemic index (GI)

3. The Power of Sleep

Even one mediocre night of sleep can dysregulate hunger signals and set us up for sugar munchies the next day. Make sleep sacred, prioritise your 8 hours and make sure they’re good quality!

4. Manage Stress

There’s a reason it’s called stress eating. The rush of feel-good neurotransmitters and endorphins released from indulging in something sugary or high carb can make us feel that were mitigating an otherwise rubbish situation. Movement, meaningful connection, and creative pursuits can have a similar effect without the crash.

5. The nutrients that curb cravings

Take zinc and glutamine. Zinc helps the body metabolise insulin and glucose and a zinc deficiency can cause sugar cravings. Glutamine is an amino acid that balances blood sugar, which can help reduce and/or stop cravings all together. REPAIR contains both zinc and glutamine in adequate dosages formulated to help with sugar cravings

6. Balance Your Bacteria!

Supporting a healthy microbiome through the addition of probiotics like candida-fighting Sacchromyces bouladii (or SB-known for its power to suppress bad bacteria and support the good), and prebiotic fibre such as Partially Hydrolysed Guar Gum (PHGG) can help to foster a healthy, thriving microbiome. FEED by The Gut Co. features a symbiotic combination of SB, Bacillus coagulans, as well as FODMAP-friendly prebiotic fibre including PHGG and Acacia Fibre to nourish your good guys daily.

 

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