Food cravings affect many people. In fact, up to 97% of women and 68% of men report some form of food cravings, include cravings for sugar.

A food craving is an intense desire to consume a specific food. Also called selective hunger, a food craving is different from normal hunger. Hunger is controlled by the stomach, but cravings are controlled by the brain.

Sugar cravings can produce a strong desire to eat sweets, and those with sugar cravings can find that they cannot control themselves around sweet foods.

Helen West, RD in HealthLine writes about foods that can fight sugar cravings. Here are four of the best low carb choices.

1. Berries

Berries are an excellent, nutritious choice for stopping sugar cravings.

They taste sweet, but their high fiber content means they are actually quite low in sugar.

This could make them a great choice if you think your sugar cravings are linked to habit, rather than hunger. For example, you might crave sweet foods while you’re watching TV.

Additionally, berries are rich in plant compounds and have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

This means they may help reduce risk factors for chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.

2. Dark Chocolate

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Chocolate is one of the most commonly reported foods people eat when they crave sweets. This is especially true for women.

However, if you find yourself craving chocolate, you can make a healthier choice by choosing dark chocolate.

Dark chocolate is chocolate that contains more than 70% cocoa. It also contains healthy plant compounds known as polyphenols.

Some studies have shown that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of these polyphenols may help improve markers of heart health.

However, like regular chocolate, dark chocolate contains sugar and fat, so it’s best to limit yourself to a couple of squares to satisfy your craving.

3. Yogurt

Yogurt is a healthy snack that’s high in protein and rich in calcium.

Additionally, some studies have suggested that yogurt could be a good snack to help regulate your appetite and control your cravings.

In fact, one study found that healthy-weight women who had high-protein Greek yogurt for an afternoon snack were less hungry and ate less later in the day, compared to those who had a lower-protein snack or no snack at all.

The healthiest choice for yogurt is one that contains live cultures and is free of added sugar.

4. Meat, Poultry and Fish

Including a source of protein like meat, poultry or fish in your meals may help prevent sugar cravings.

In fact, if you are trying to lose weight, eating adequate amounts of protein may be very important for managing your food intake, cravings and weight.

In one study, when participants followed a weight loss diet that derived 25% of its calories from protein, their food cravings were reduced by 60% and their desire for late-night snacking was cut in half.

So if you’re on a diet and experiencing lots of sugar cravings, make sure you’re including a source of protein like meat, poultry or fish in your meals.

If you’re vegetarian, don’t worry — plant-based sources of protein may have the same effect.

For more foods that help stop sugar cravings, see Healthline.

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