“Is there a cure for sugar cravings?”

Interesting question. The first thing that needs to happen is to check to see if there is a physical problem which is causing the cravings. Perhaps her blood sugar drops too low at night. I would suggest she eats a small, healthy protein rich snack before the cravings start to see if this is a contributor. Also, if you have any way to check her blood sugar when the craving hits, that would be helpful, too. Does she binge when the craving hits or is she able to just take a bite and stop? If she just takes a bite and stops, this really isn't a problem.

Having said that, many cravings are caused by the brain wanting a reward. Some people find relief by taking a hot shower or bath. Others by simply drinking a glass of water. Also, exercising can relieve cravings by releasing the feel-good hormones called endorphins. Also, she needs to see if she has any triggers that make her crave sugary treats more. Does she crave them more when she is stressed? Angry? Tired? Since it is at night time, fatigue may be a trigger for her, in which case getting a bit more sleep may help.

I would also suggest you have her remove any and all sugary snacks from the house to take away the temptation. If these suggestions don't help, have her contact her physician. Good luck!

How old is your daughter? Child? Teen? Adult? If younger than a teen YOU=E2=80=99RE in charge and need to be the parent in the house. If over age 11, you might work with your daughter to find HEALTHY treats she likes, like fruit. Fill up the house with healthy food. Cook together to create luscious, healthy treats.

There are other possibilities. Occasionally craving sweets can be due to a medication, so you might review the prescriptions she=E2=80=99s taking. Rarely, an illness like diabetes can cause sweet craving. There are no medications that help sweet craving, so usually this is a parenting/lifestyle issue.