Simple sugars or simple carbohydrates, as they are sometimes called, are sugars which come from foods such as cookies, cakes, pies, candies, chips, sodas and similar foods. This type of sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream at a much faster rate than other types of sugars. And although they provide quick energy, they provide us with very little nutritional benefit.

Starches, on the other hand, are known as complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates take much longer to digest and offer a more balanced form of energy than simple carbohydrates or simple sugars.

Carbohydrates are converted by the body into glucose for energy or are stored as glycogen as a back-up fuel reserve. When there is enough glycogen in the muscles and liver, insulin, which is secreted by the body when there is too much sugar in the blood, turns the excess glycogen to fat. It is only when the energy from the blood and liver is used up that the body begins to burn the fat reserves it has stored away.

Often, when we get hungry, the tendency is to reach for a bag of chips or a bar of chocolate to satisfy our craving. However, snacks such as these cause an insulin level to rise which makes the body store fat. Additionally, because these foods are absorbed so quickly by the body, your blood sugar level is lower than it was before you ate. Thus, your body thinks it has run out of fuel again and you begin to crave more carbohydrates or sugar. The problem, here, however, is that your insulin level is still high and your body begins to store fat instead of burn it. It is a vicious cycle; one that repeats itself over and over again.

The best way, therefore, to control your sugar cravings is to avoid simple sugars and simple carbohydrates. If you are on a diet, some examples of complex carbohydrates that you will want to consider including in your diet are fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, brown rice, oats, barley, legumes and nuts, just to name a few. These foods not only provide you with much needed energy when you are on a diet, but they also provide an abundance of fiber, vitamins and minerals. Moreover, when trying to lose weight you will want to avoid such foods as potatoes, pasta, white bread and white rice because these foods have the same effect on the body as simple sugars.

Additionally, if you often suffer from sugar cravings it is best to eat three balanced, nutritious meals a day, as this will make you less likely to snack or binge on undesirable foods. Furthermore, if you feel like snacking, try eating fruit instead of sweets. The natural sugars in fruit will give you the energy boost you might need when you are on a diet; however, they do not contain any fat.

Lastly, to control your sugar cravings, you will want to make sure to include some form of exercise in your daily routine as exercise also helps to balance your insulin level which signals your body to burn fat.