If cookies call to you, you can't pass a bakery without buying a pastry, or dinner isn't complete without a little something sweet, you may characterize yourself as having a sweet tooth. But sometimes those sugar cravings can feel overwhelming if you think about treats all the time, or your cravings can feel out of control or insatiable to the point where you overeat sugar and feel sick. But registered dietitian nutritionist Jessica Jones, MS, RD, CDE and cofounder of Food Heaven explained to POPSUGAR that sugar cravings aren't necessarily a bad thing, and can actually give you insight into what your body may be needing or missing.
"Cravings have become such a demonized concept in our culture," Jones said. You're made to feel guilty for having cravings, or taught to "resist the temptation." You may think you're "good" for not indulging in your cravings, and think you're "bad" if you do (by the way, Jones recommends avoiding this black-and-white thinking around food). Or you may think you have a sugar addiction or that you "can't be trusted around sweets." Society makes us think we need to ward off temptations instead of exploring where those cravings may be coming from.
If you're having constant sugar cravings, Jones said to ask yourself these five questions:
While your sugar craving could be triggered by one of the above reasons, sugar cravings could also just be a craving, with no underlining potential issue going on. Jones said sugar cravings aren't inherently a negative thing; it's just that they're demonized in our culture.
So even after exploring your answers to these questions, Jones said it's 100 percent OK to indulge in your craving. It's often less stressful to just enjoy it and then move on instead of debating whether you should or not. Treats can be a part of an overall healthy diet because all foods can fitβ into our lifestyle. "Don't overthink it! Cravings are a part of life, and sometimes it's just fun to indulge," Jones said.