Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Latest Research on How to Stop Craving Sugar




At some point, almost everyone will have a craving for sugar. It can be hard to resist the urge to indulge in the delicious sweetness of a cookie or slice of cake. Recently, research regarding a special spice extract has provided some exciting new insights into why people seem unable to fend off their urges for sweet treats. Even better, the new findings may also be able to provide a way for people to stop craving sugar completely.

The spice saffron, or Crocus sativus, is at the center of the study, and it appears that it is able to get to the bottom of a sugar craving so that it can stop it from the very beginning. From what the researchers have been able to determine, it works by stopping the feedback cycle as it regulates the pathways in the brain. Basically, every time a person begins to feel negative emotions, such as stress or depression, hormones can become imbalanced in the brain. Then, when a person eats their favorite foods, chemicals in the brain are released to stimulate the feeling of a reward.




As the hormones cycle from imbalanced to full, a person can become locked in this cycle over time. In fact, further research has shown that the stronger this cycle is in a person, then the more likely they are to overeat and become obese. This feedback cycle of feeling a reward every time a person eats and then falling into a craving is very similar to the cycle that is associated with drug addiction.

Saffron extract helps to stop this cycle so well that a study reported in Nutrition Research claims that when study subjects took the extract they experienced a 55 percent reduction in their snacking between meals. The people in the study also reported that they experienced more fullness between meals as well as more energy. Their reduced intake of food actually began to help them to feel more healthy and alert.

The reason behind the success of saffron appears to be that it helps to increase serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a hormone that is produced by the nervous system and helps to regulate moods, learning and sleep. When a person’s serotonin levels are reduced, they may become hungrier, anxious and experience headaches. By stimulating serotonin, saffron can help a person to avoid these symptoms of low hormonal levels.

During the study, only the participants who took saffron extract experienced positive benefits. Participants who took a placebo did not experience any of the benefits. Additionally, the women who took saffron extract lost a small amount of weight during the course of the study. Saffron has been used throughout history for its ability to help treat a variety of health conditions such as pain, high blood pressure and depression. Now, with the latest research, it seems as though appetite reduction and craving suppression can be added to saffron’s long list of health benefits. There are many treatment centers available to help fight 


As the hormones cycle from imbalanced to full, a person can become locked in this cycle over time. In fact, further research has shown that the stronger this cycle is in a person, then the more likely they are to overeat and become obese. This feedback cycle of feeling a reward every time a person eats and then falling into a craving is very similar to the cycle that is associated with drug addiction.


Saffron extract helps to stop this cycle so well that a study reported in Nutrition Research claims that when study subjects took the extract they experienced a 55 percent reduction in their snacking between meals. The people in the study also reported that they experienced more fullness between meals as well as more energy. Their reduced intake of food actually began to help them to feel more healthy and alert.


The reason behind the success of saffron appears to be that it helps to increase serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a hormone that is produced by the nervous system and helps to regulate moods, learning and sleep. When a person’s serotonin levels are reduced, they may become hungrier, anxious and experience headaches. By stimulating serotonin, saffron can help a person to avoid these symptoms of low hormonal levels.


During the study, only the participants who took saffron extract experienced positive benefits. Participants who took a placebo did not experience any of the benefits. Additionally, the women who took saffron extract lost a small amount of weight during the course of the study. Saffron has been used throughout history for its ability to help treat a variety of health conditions such as pain, high blood pressure and depression. Now, with the latest research, it seems as though appetite reduction and craving suppression can be added to saffron’s long list of health benefits. There are many treatment centers available to help fight sugar addiction and cravings for those looking for help.

By guest writer: Paige Taylor

Paige Taylor works closely with Treatment Centers to help raise awareness of the dangers of addiction. She has helped many Americans battle addiction and strives to provide treatment options for those in need.