6 healthy alternatives you can munch on instead of sweets

No matter how hard we try, the craving for sweet or salty treats is sometimes simply uncontrollable. But as we all know, these treats are usually not very healthy. So how do you fight off the cravings and at the same time not disrupt your healthy lifestyle? That's exactly what we're going to answer within our article.

Fruits in any form

Fruit is the healthiest source of simple sugars. In addition, it contains a large amount of minerals, fiber and other trace elements that not only help against sweet cravings, but also have a positive effect on our overall health.

In addition, unlike various sweets, it contains only a minimal amount of calories. It is ideal to consume fruit in its fresh form, but you don't have to avoid dried or frozen fruit either. With dried fruit, be careful of the amount you take in, as it usually contains more sugar and therefore more calories. Frozen fruit, on the other hand, can retain about the same nutritional properties as fresh fruit.

Dark chocolate

It is well known that dark chocolate is a very powerful antioxidant. At the same time, it can also stimulate cardiovascular activityand is very effective in warding off sweet cravings. The more cocoa in chocolate, the better its effects. We recommend starting with chocolates from 70% cocoa and above, as those with lower cocoa content also contain a relatively high amount of sugar.

If you don't like dark chocolate, you can try melting it and dipping all sorts of fruits or nuts in it. However, don't overdo it and always check the amount of sugar in the chocolate first.

Nuts

If you don't have a sweet tooth but still can't get rid of the urge to eat nutsYou can try different types of nuts. As you'll already know if you've read our article on the best nuts, nutsnuts have a whole host of health benefits and are a tasty substitute for, for example, crisps or salty bars.

One of the best types of nuts are almonds, which, in addition to being a great taste, they can also reduce LDL cholesterol and subcutaneous fat. Try roasting them or salting them with a good quality salt to enhance the flavour.

Homemade ice cream

Who doesn't love ice cream? The creamy treat in its various forms has certainly been enjoyed by most of us since childhood. However, the problem with ice cream at the ice cream stand is that it usually contains a lot of sugars and otheradditives that can do more harm than good in our bodies.

But if you can't afford it, at least in the summer months, you can easily make it at home. All you need is a blender, the fruit of your choice and a liquid to make it creamy. We recommend coconut milk, for example, or you can also tryvanilla or chocolate protein drink for a protein-packed ice cream.

Protein bars

Protein bars can be a very tasty and nutritionally packed snack that will perfectly satisfy your sweet tooth. However, you need to pay close attention to what's in the bar and whether it contains too much sugar. You can choose, for example, according to our ranking of the best protein bars, where we have selected the best bars for you.

Vegetable chips

Here, we go for a bit of thin ice when chasing away the salty cravings. Vegetable chips, like potato chips, contain a lot of fat, salt and other harmful substances. Avoid the ones from the supermarket. If you fancy chips, try baking them yourself at home, using courgettes, celery or carrots, for example. You can lightly drizzle them with good quality oil, add a little salt or use seasonings without salt at all.

How do you develop a sweet tooth?

Finally, let's briefly review what causes sweet cravings in the first place and how they can be prevented. Whenever we have a craving for something, our body is essentially telling us that we are lacking something. In the case of sweet cravings, it is often a lack of carbohydrates.

Carbohydrate deficiency can result from several different causes. Among these we can include:

• Long-term calorie deficit
• improper dietary composition
• complex carbohydrate deficiency

However, it is not just a matter of poor diet composition. Stress, fatigue, or even extreme overeating are also common causes of sweet cravings.intake of simple carbohydrates, which can even cause addiction-like conditions in the body. The best way to prevent sweet cravings is to eat a balanced diet and get enough sleep.and active stress reduction, for example through sufficient vitamin D intake.

But of course, this does not work 100% and you can be sure that at least on a diet you will be overwhelmed by sweet cravings. So let's take a look at how to fight it off effectively with healthy alternatives.

Don't be afraid to snack

When you do get a sweet or salty craving, keep in mind that it is a completely normal condition and can never be completely avoided. You don't have to punish yourself for it or deny yourself a treat now and then. But before you reach for a packet of crisps or a bar of chocolate, try one of our tips first.