If you're planning on going on a sugar detox it can sometimes be difficult to overcome the moments when you get strong cravings for sugar. There are many reasons you might be hooked on sugar including the fact that it’s hidden in around 80% of packaged foods and happens to be highly addictive.

But something you may not realise is that being depleted in vital vitamins and minerals can actually make you want sugar even more?

Below are seven super supplements you should consider taking while you quit sugar to help alleviate the cravings, as well as helping you to sleep better and regulate your hormones.

If you decide to quit sugar using my 21 Day Sugar Detox Program, my recipes are specially formulated to include ingredients that will provide the vital vitamins an minerals, but if you are doing a detox under your own steam, I'd recommend the following supplements.

Magnesium

Magnesium is one of the most important minerals in our body as it affects over 300 different cell interactions with our bones, brain and muscles.

Magnesium regulates glucose and insulin levels as well as the hormone dopamine, which makes us happy when we eat sugar. Did you know that your cravings for chocolate could actually be caused by magnesium deficiency?

Naturally occurring in wholegrains, nuts, spinach and grains, the recommended daily amount is 400mg, so taking a supplement whilst on a detox can keep your cravings in check. As an added benefit, magnesium can also help to give you a great nights sleep, which is perfect during your sugar detox.

Benefits of Magnesium

• Regulates glucose and insulin levels.

• Reduces chocolate cravings

• Alleviates muscle cramps

• Reduces anxiety

• Helps with constipation

• Lowers high blood pressure

L-Glutamine

L-Glutamine is an amino acid that is converted into a neurotransmitter which helps you curb sugar cravings. It is created in our own bodies, but if you are under stress it can become depleted.

Try taking 500mg three times a day and an extra dose when you get a strong desire for something sweet. Try a quarter of a teaspoon, or open a 500mg capsule under the tongue whenever you get a craving and it should stop it in it’s tracks!

Benefits of L-Glutamine

• Reduces sugar cravings

• Lowers anxiety

• Increases brain health

• Promotes muscle growth

Vitamin D

If this vitamin gets depleted it can actually cause you to feel hungry. It's the hormone that helps to turn off your appetite and if you don’t have enough Vitamin D, you may end up constantly feeling a need to eat. Your body gets this vitamin naturally from sunshine but in countries where there is less sunshine it’s best to take a supplement whilst doing a detox.

The reason this works could be down to our body naturally wanting to store more food and fat during the darker winter months. Foods that are rich in naturally occurring Vitamin D are eggs and fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel and tuna.

Benefits of Vitamin D

• Reduces Carb cravings

• Increased energy

• Prevents colds and viruses

• Regulates mood

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

These oils are found in fish such as salmon sardines and tuna as well as sunflower oil, flaxseeds, chia seeds and walnuts, and regulate normal brain function, controlling mood. They can also help reduce insulin resistance, meaning that your existing glucose gets used more efficiently, and thereby reducing cravings.

Benefits of Omega Fatty Acids

• Regulates mood

• Reduces depression

• Helps with hyperactivity and ADHD

• Increases memory

• Lowers chance of heart disease

Chromium

Taking this supplement whilst on a sugar detox will help to regulate your blood sugar levels. Chromium helps with glucose metabolism, which is basically how your body uses glucose as fuel, reducing cravings and so helping you to stay on the wagon.

Chromium has also been shown to increase lean body mass in some tests, so this stuff is a win win! This wonderful trace metal can be found in broccoli, beans, pork chops, turkey, hazelnuts an asparagus.

Benefits of Chromium

• Controls blood sugar levels

• Defends against colds

• Reduces cholesterol

• Keeps the brain healthy

Zinc

This is essential for the optimum utilization of glucose and insulin so any deficiency can be another cause of cravings for something sweet. It is found naturally in grass Fed Beef, Lamb, Chicken, Turkey, Eggs and Chickpeas.

Benefits of Zinc

• Defends against colds

• Increases immunity

• Balances hormones

• Good for liver health

Vitamin B

This can help with carbohydrate metabolism, meaning that your body will utilize the available carbs more efficiently. Your body may end up creating cravings because it is naturally trying to get B vitamins from ingesting carbohydrates. As all the different B Vitamins work in combination with each other it’s always best to use a B Complex supplement. Vitamin B6 can be found in Grass Fed Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Tuna, Avocado, Sunflower Seeds and Sesame Seeds.

Benefits of Vitamin B

• Improves mood

• Relieves PMS symptoms

• Increases brain function

• Reduces depression

• Increases muscle strength

• Improves memory

Going on a low or no sugar diet can sometimes mean you get strong cravings, and how you deal with these in the first few days can make or break your sugar detox. So if you decide to kick the sugar habit, try to include as many of these vitamins and minerals as possible, either using the ingredients where they naturally occur or in good quality supplements.

All of the meal plans included in my 21 Day Sugar Detox Program are specially put together to include as many of these vitamins and minerals to make quitting sugar as painless as possible.

Combined with daily video tutorials, guided meditation sessions and a full day by day breakdown of how to prepare and make it through a sugar detox, it really is the best way to break the cycle of sugar addiction and give yourself the freedom to make your own healthy food choices.

Why not transform your life with my 21 Day Sugar Detox Program.