Action Steps:

1. Work More Cinnamon Into Your Diet

Regular ground cinnamon is a God-send for controlling appetite and food cravings. A teaspoon or two of cinnamon per day will help your body process carbohydrates into energy, keeping you feeling more energized and satiated by your meals. Besides, cinnamon is a wonderful way to spice up stir fry’s, meats, hot cereals made from intact whole grains, and yogurt. Buy plain 2% or full fat organic yogurt (never non-fat, which is a metabolically imbalanced food, and will end up making you store more fat) and add cinnamon, vanilla, and stevia, which is an herbal sweetener with no calories.

2. Supplement with Chromium and/or Biotin

In addition to cinnamon, the supplements chromium and biotin (which are widely used and available at any health food store) also help your body process food into energy. They do this by helping insulin move blood sugar into your cells. This translates into a more stable appetite and more consistent energy levels. If changing the way you eat according to our principles doesn’t fully do the trick, give these guys a try.

3. Hydrate, Especially with Hot Beverages.

Your body can confuse thirst for hunger. As strange as it may seem, a lot of the time when you’re feeling hungry, you’re actually dehydrated. At these times, drinking half a liter of quality water (Fiji, Voss, and Smart Water are good. Alternatively, filter your own water and add a tiny pinch of sea salt - not enough to taste - to supply electrolytes) will usually significantly reduce your appetite, whereas eating a moderate amount of food may have no effect (or, paradoxically, make you feel more hungry) since, at base, your body is craving water and not food. Hot beverages are especially effective at curbing appetite. Herbal teas and decaf green tea are the best bet.