So no, sugar cravings aren’t bad on their own, but they can lead to negative consequences, and other snacking options provide more benefits while recovering. In recovery, it is not uncommon for people to experience cravings for sugar. While there are many theories as to why this happens, one of the most commonly accepted is that sugar plays a role in alcoholism. Heavy drinkers also tend to have low blood sugar, which leads to sugar cravings, according to Silver Maple Recovery, an addiction research center in Ohio. Early in recovery, your body will need to readjust to the feeling of hunger.
Sugar can also act as a stimulant, which can lead to cravings. Also, alcohol abuse can disrupt the hormones involved in regulating appetite, leading to cravings for sugary foods. As you can see, the unique connection between alcohol and sugar cannot be underestimated.
Mental Health Disorders and Addiction Transfer
However, it can contribute to health problems such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol levels. Of particular concern for those in recovery is that a replacement addiction can hinder the process of getting and staying sober and potentially lead to a relapse. According to Czerwony, the key features of sugar addiction are volume, frequency and feelings.
However, while sugar can help with energy levels in the short-term, it can also contribute to problems in the long-term.
Eat beans, peas, lentils, pork, brown rice, and fortified foods like breakfast cereal.
Alcoholism is a complex condition that involves physical dependence on alcohol as well as psychological factors.
The craving for sugar is one of the common symptoms of alcoholism.
Sugar cravings like Pinyard’s are common when going alcohol free.
This may require you to plan out your meals so you’re not throwing something together last minute when you’re famished. The good news is, it is possible to get to a place where you don’t feel controlled by the sweets in your house. Typically, I see sugar cravings tapering down within a few weeks with the proper nutrition and hydration. Constant sugar consumption can inhibit dopamine transporters.
Maintaining A Proper Diet During and After Rehab
Sugar cravings like Pinyard’s are common when going alcohol free. But the urge typically fades, and there are strategies to handle it in the meantime. You may have a strong urge to eat sweets because they set off dopamine, the same chemical messenger triggered by some drugs. Your brain needs carbs to make the chemical messenger serotonin. That’s what evens out your moods, helps you sleep better, and soothes the urge for alcohol.
These fluctuations in blood sugars can cause cravings for sweets or other high carbohydrate foods. Many people in recovery report having a craving for sweets during their first phase, and often, over the course of their lives. Could it be true that sweets can actually curb the craving for alcohol? Within moderation, and within reason, it seems the intake of sugar and high-carbohydrate sugar foods such as fruits, can help to curb cravings.
This Is Why Artificial Sweeteners Are Bad for You
I see many people quit the booze, but then pick up another addition- sugar, cigarettes, caffeine, social media, sex, shopping, gambling, codependent relationships. We may find relief in these other behaviors because they are triggering the same reward center of the brain. When someone quits drinking alcohol (chronic use), the body will search for dopamine in other ways. If a newly sober https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/why-do-alcoholics-crave-sugar-in-recovery/ person feels their eating habits aren’t supporting their recovery or mood- it’s time to take a look at these habits. Many people believe that the body craving sugar after addiction is simply a natural response to the sugar content in alcohol, but there’s more to the story. They start with the brain and, in the case of a recovering addict, can be a sign of addictive behaviors.
This is what most of my clients believe to be true if they are having sugar cravings. And honestly you get a minimal amount of carbs from something like vodka or tequila. Sugar is similar to alcohol in the sense that https://ecosoberhouse.com/ it can become addictive if consumed too often. Think back to why your brain and body became addicted to alcohol. Whenever you would drink, the alcohol would release a rush of dopamine that would make you feel good.
Recovering alcoholics often crave sugar due to the low blood sugar caused by alcohol. Drinking alcohol depletes the body’s stored glucose, leading to low blood sugar. To compensate, recovering alcoholics crave sugar to increase their glucose levels.
It does, however, suggest a connection that may be important for those trying to stay sober.
The strategy of using sugar to help drug cravings should be used temporarily and in moderation.
At Southeast Addiction Rehab in Tennessee, we can teach you these strategies.
If you or someone you know needs rehabilitation for alcoholism, a treatment facility like Steps to Recovery should be the first place you call.
Eating nourishing food consistently throughout the day prevents you from getting too hungry, which enables you to make better food choices. This is actually unfortunately common, even more so for AUD. NIDA finds that 37.9% of adults with SUDs also have mental illnesses, and that 18.2% of adults with a mental illness also have an SUD. Within this context, it should now be easy to see how the two are related. However, let us briefly break the connection down into individual parts. The animal model’s limitations do come into effect here, of course.
Ways To Manage Sugar Cravings In Recovery
But by understanding the cause, you’ll be better equipped to handle it and move forward. When someone is an alcoholic, their body can become depleted of important nutrients, including minerals, vitamins and electrolytes. Eating sugar can help to replenish these nutrients and help to restore balance in the body. Sugar is also high in calories, which can be helpful for people who have lost weight due to their drinking.
Choose quality ingredients and create meals that are satisfying to you.
Some studies have even found a genetic link between people addicted to sugar and those who abuse alcohol.
Ultimately, with the right support and dedication, recovering alcoholics can overcome sugar cravings and lead a healthier and happier life.
The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider.
