It usually hits you in the afternoon, or maybe right before you’re heading to bed. But even though most people know they don’t need the sugar, you can’t help but crave it.

Despite the fact that sugary sweets aren’t illegal and you won’t be pulled over for driving under the influence of a doughnut, the majority of Americans are suffering from a sugar addiction.

In fact, research shows that nearly 1/4 of Americans’ daily caloric intake comes from sweets like “baked goods, desserts, soda and fruit juices,” according to Women’s Health.

Because sugary foods usually give you way more calories than they do nutrients, here are a few ways to quit indulging in those sweets so that you can lose weight, feel better and even live longer.

Read Labels

You might be surprised to find out that grocery items like tomato sauce and peanut butter can be surprisingly high in sugar, or more specifically, high fructose corn syrup.

This is because high fructose corn syrup delivers much more sweetness per volume than any other sugar, and it’s the cheapest thing there is.

So when you’re roaming the grocery store, read some of the labels for competing products to see if they contain quite as high of sugar content as some of the most popular brands.

If you’re having trouble letting go of your favorites, remember that a 2005 study showed that sugar stimulates receptors to activate the same pathways that are stimulated directly by drugs such as heroin or morphine.

Unless you want to feed your addiction anymore, go for the lower sugar alternatives.

Use a Supplement

Although there are many weight loss supplements that have gotten a bad reputation in the past few decades, research in the weight loss industry has made huge strides in the last few years.

Now, there are supplements that help work with your body, aiding you in your own dieting attempts.

For instance, Apidexin has been designed to work with your brain to stop cravings before they start, thus helping you reduce the amount of calories that you eat each day.

Make sure you choose a supplement that is safe and natural and you’ll be able to receive the assistance you need to lose more weight.

Go Cold Turkey

Just like so many other addictions, it is best to reduce your sugar intake drastically in order to see a big difference.

By cutting out foods that are barely anything more than sugar, your body will crave sugar less and it will regain its insulin sensitivity; essentially extracting your sweet tooth.

Although you don’t have to eliminate sweets entirely, it is much more efficient to think of them as a rare treat, rather than an everyday thing.