The solution to food addictions might be to simply ignore them and focus on the positives instead. Toni Jordan explains.

Jo is in her mid-30s—she's a mother of two, takes pilates classes every week and cooks healthy meals for her family. Jo has one weakness: sugar.

"I can't seem to help it," she says. "I have a stash of lollies in my desk at work and I can't seem to watch TV at night without a bowl of ice cream. A chocolate bar while I'm standing in line at the supermarket or filling up the car at the petrol station. I just can't resist."

When you're trying hard to follow a healthy lifestyle, it's easy to focus on your weaknesses. But concentrating on your own personal dietary blind-spot can actually give addictive foods more power over you, not less. Instead, try focusing on positive foods to help fight unhealthy cravings.

Sugar addiction

Sugar addiction can be caused by hormonal changes, psychological reasons or just plain boredom. But if you're like Jo, you can fight sugar cravings by making positive changes to your diet. Make sure each meal contains protein. Lean meat, fish, tofu, eggs and legumes are good sources.

Another healthy way to boost protein in your diet is by using nut spreads. These are delicious, versatile pastes made from 100% lightly roasted nuts, like cashews, almonds and pistachios. Research shows that nuts have a high satiety value—this means that a relatively small amount will make you feel ‘full'. Nut spreads can be eaten on wholemeal biscuits or bread, or stirred through vegetarian curries or casseroles.

Junk food cravings

If your weakness is junk foods, it's likely you're craving fat. This is understandable from your body's point of view; after all, fat contains flavour. To combat this, make sure your diet contains enough good fats—you may actually need more fat in your diet, rather than less. Meals that contain good fats stay in the stomach for longer and are released into the intestine slower. This slows down the digestion process, slows down the rate at which sugar from the meal is absorbed into the blood stream, and helps you feel 'full' for longer.

Good fats include omega-3 fatty acids like fish oil and flaxseed oil. Both these oils are available in supplement form, in capsules and liquid. To maximize absorption, take with meals.

Alcohol Habit

There may be good research to show health benefits from one or two glasses of red wine, but craving alcohol is always unhealthy—for your nutritional status and your life. Addiction to alcohol or any other drug requires a wholistic treatment regime designed by experienced professionals. If your alcohol problem is minor, or you'd just like to increase your number of alcohol-free days, helping your body detoxify efficiently is a good place to start. Try including a vegetable juice or green powder boost in your diet every day. Green powders, like chlorella, spirulina, wheatgrass or barleygrass, are a juice bar alternative that's easy to make at home—just mix in water or a smoothie.

So you can improve your diet, just by focusing on the positives. Now for the rest of your life.

Toni Jordan AACNEM B.Sc. Dip A. is a Melbourne-based freelance and corporate writer, trainer and consultant to the health food industry.