Women on the brink of menopause and post-menopause might tend to have more sugar cravings and weight gain that the others. So how does one stop the sugar cravings after menopause? Menopausal women go through a lot of hormonal changes in the body and also there may be life style changes associated with it.

One of the key factors is the sedentary lifestyle and change in eating habits that might exacerbate the problems associated with weight gain and hormonal imbalances. More mood swings, leading to depression or cravings on account of this might trigger sugar cravings.

Mayoclinic says women in their 50’s need to reduce their daily caloric intake by 200 calories to maintain a healthy weight since they may be susceptible for weight gains post-menopause. The recommendations for BMI or body mass index also should be less than 25 with a waist of 35 inches.

A few suggestions to stop sugar cravings after menopause:

1. Increase in water intake: One cannot stress enough the importance of water intake in our body. 64 oz of water per day is recommended; 6-8 glasses of water. 60% of bodily functions require water and it would be worthwhile to keep one hydrated. Having a glass of water before meals and after meals is good to keep the sugar craving down. When you feel the sugar craving attack, reach out for water instead.
2. Avoid sugary drinks: It is best to avoid soda pops and sugared juices to the minimum or nil. An occasional once a week splurge is good but keeping them out of the diet is best. The body gets used to the sugar you put in and will kick-in an auto sugar craving. This in turn will upset the insulin production and usage balance in the body. The glucose metabolism is thrown of whack and sugar cravings get set mentally too. It is a feedback mechanism and best avoided.
3. Regular exercise: Exercise at least 30 minutes a week. Doing household chores like cleaning, vacuuming, gardening are also exercise and can be increased. Brisk exercises like kick-boxing, aerobics, jogging are good for lowering risk of cardiac ailments and onset of diabetes associated with weight gain. Regular exercise also decreases the sugar cravings in the body. When you have a craving just go for a walk.
4. Increase healthy food intake: Avoid greasy, high fat foods and red meat. Substitute your diet with rich vegetables and fruits. Have more fatty fish to increase omega-3 fatty acids in the body. Oily fish like salmon or herring is better. Avoid red meat and other fatty, high calorie food. Increase whole grains in the diet. Avoid processed food which are unhealthy and have empty calories.
5. Fat free products: It might be good to go for the fat free milk, yoghurt, ice-creams and desserts. The less sugar the body is exposed to the better in the long run. Sugar cravings can be minimized by choosing the right kind of foods.
6. Lastly, feeling good about oneself and indulging in hobbies one is passionate about might take one’s mind away from the sugar cravings. This will also decrease depression, mood swing, stress, isolation, irritability and other problems associated with menopausal hormonal changes.        

Sugar cravings after menopause can definitely be controlled by choosing the right life style and diet.

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