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Carb Syndrome Logo

Best Strategies for Reducing Sugar Cravings

We’ve all been there. Even after filling up with a delicious meal, we still must deal with obnoxious, strong cravings for sweet and starchy foods. When these cravings appear 24/7, you know something is amiss. I know exactly what you are dealing with—it’s called Carbohydrate Reversible Brain syndrome, or CARB syndrome. CARB syndrome is a form of brain dysfunction that is the result of long-term consumption of neurotoxic ultra-processed food. This can result in up to 22 brain dysfunction symptoms that overlap with many traditional brain disorders, creating massive diagnostic and therapeutic confusion.

The lead symptom of CARB syndrome is having strong and persistent cravings for sweet and starchy food. Humans evolved to have mild cravings for sweets after meals for various physiological reasons, but these cravings quickly disappear after consuming something sweet, such as fruit. When you have CARB syndrome, these strong cravings never disappear and push you to consume more of the very food that is frying your brain! The Food Industrial Complex adds sugar to virtually every form of processed food in an effort to push you to buy more of their food, and it’s working as intended. These cravings result from dysfunction and depletion of key monoamine neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.

If you are dealing with these strong sugar cravings, what should you do? I have the inexpensive, safe answers.

  1. Consume a healthy, whole-food diet with minimal or no ultra-processed food. The MIND diet is a good choice.
  2. Try intermittent fasting, restricting food intake to an 8–10-hour window each day.
  3. Exercise regularly, including both aerobic exercise and strength training.
  4. Take a neurotransmitter precursor, such as CARB-22, to maintain optimal levels of these essential chemicals. Start with one or two capsules twice daily on an empty stomach and titrate up to four capsules twice daily based on your symptoms. If any cravings persist, add more L-glutamine, a safe and inexpensive supplement.
  5. I recommend consuming products containing the artificial sweetener Allulose, which acts like a weak GLP-1 agonist. My daughter simply loves the Hormbles Chormbles protein candy bars!
  6. To reduce inflammation in your body and brain, take a high-quality omega-3 supplement to get your AA/EPA ratio between 1 and 3. I take OmegaRx from Barry Sears of Zone Diet fame.
  7. Consider taking a general brain supplement. Three of my favorites are Cognitex , Mind Lab Pro, and IgniCOGNITION.

If you follow this approach, your sugar cravings will once again be your friend rather than your enemy, it will be much easier to maintain a healthy weight, and you will experience optimal brain function. What could be better than that?

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I still crave sugar right after finishing a full meal?

If you have CARB syndrome, your glucose levels will spike and then crash after eating processed food. The crash causes your brain to crave sweets in an attempt to restore normal glucose levels, but this leads to a vicious cycle. Consuming protein and fat before you eat carbohydrates can also help reduce these cravings.

How is CARB syndrome different from just having a sweet tooth?
Desiring something sweet after a healthy meal is normal, but this desire quickly dissipates after eating something like fruit. Cravings for sweets with CARB syndrome are much stronger and don’t go away when you consume something sweet. You need to treat your underlying CARB syndrome using the techniques listed above.
Will changing my diet alone stop the cravings?
Eventually, it will, but to change your diet, you first need to effectively suppress these cravings by following the above plan.
Does intermittent fasting really help with cravings?
When you do eat, if you stick to whole foods, intermittent fasting can be helpful.
What is CARB-22 and how do I take it?
CARB-22 helps restore brain neurotransmitters that are depleted by consuming ultra-processed food. Start with two capsules twice daily on an empty stomach, and slowly increase up to four capsules twice daily based on your cravings and hunger level. If you are taking an SSRI-type medication, reduce these doses by 50%.
How long before I notice fewer cravings?
With CARB-22, you should notice a reduction in cravings very quickly, especially if you combine it with a whole foods diet.
Is this approach safe?
This approach is not only safe, but it also has a tremendously positive effect on your metabolic health and brain function.