03 Sep Craving Sugar After Quitting Drinking? Here’s Why And How to Cope

Too much sugar negatively impacts your overall health and prevents your body from recovering. Exercise can help stabilize blood sugars, reduce stress and anxiety, and increase muscle mass and metabolism. A collection of studies suggest that regular exercise can increase the abstinence rate for substance use by 95 percent. Our primitive ancestors sought out sugary food because they are higher in calories, needed for survival. These days, we don’t have to hunt and gather for food, its much more accessible.

Potential Health Risks of Excessive Sugar Consumption

Research suggests that sugar addiction and alcoholism are closely intertwined. The consumption of sugar can trigger cravings for alcohol and vice versa, posing challenges for individuals in recovery. Sugar cravings may trigger a relapse or hinder recovery efforts, making it essential for recovering alcoholics to be aware of their sugar intake and seek professional help when needed [3]. Managing sugar cravings is an essential aspect of recovery from alcohol addiction. Recovering from alcohol addiction can be a challenging journey, and it’s not uncommon for individuals in recovery to experience intense cravings for sugar. Understanding the potential consequences of excessive sugar intake and learning strategies to manage these cravings are essential for a successful recovery.

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• Multivitamin and/or B vitamins can be helpful as well especially with heavy alcohol use.
• Alcoholics may experience changes in their taste receptors due to chronic alcohol consumption, making them more sensitive to sweet tastes.
• If you have a history of anorexia or bulimia, food journaling might be a trigger.
• One way to do this is to identify this loop and then build new routines to break the cycle.
• These fluctuations in blood sugars can cause cravings for sweets or other high carbohydrate foods.

Moderate drinking (one drink a day for women and up to two per day for men) may improve blood glucose management and insulin sensitivity, potentially leading to lower A1C levels. However, excessive drinking (more than three drinks daily) can result in higher blood glucose and A1C levels [6]. Moreover, sugar has been found to affect neurotransmitters do alcoholics crave sugar in the brain, such as serotonin and endorphins, which are involved in mood regulation and the experience of pleasure. This can create a cycle where individuals seek sugar to temporarily boost their mood and alleviate withdrawal symptoms from alcohol. Endorphins, the body’s natural opioids, also play a role in sugar cravings.

• In truth, it’s not always such a bad thing to eat some extra sugar in recovery.
• If you feel like your sweet tooth is taking over your life, Czerwony advises that enlisting the support of your primary care doctor or a healthcare provider is an important step to take.
• Sharing experiences and struggles with others who understand can provide encouragement and helpful insights into managing sugar cravings in recovery.
• At that time the individual’s mindset can become, “when I was drinking I wasn’t eating all this food.”  The alcohol numbed their depression and quieted their negative thoughts about their self-image.

The Link Between Alcohol and Sugar Addiction

Proper nutrition and hydration are key components of managing sugar cravings in recovery. Addressing the root causes of sugar cravings through a well-balanced diet can help stabilize blood sugar levels and reduce the intensity of cravings. It is important to choose nutrient-dense foods that provide essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

How to Avoid Replacing Alcohol with Too Much Sugary Food

Many addiction professionals have developed a holistic treatment approach that focuses on mind-body connection, paying particular attention to food as part of the treatment process. When blood sugar levels drop, the body craves sugar to restore glucose levels and regain energy. This physiological response can contribute to the increased sugar cravings seen in individuals with alcohol use disorders. Furthermore, the brain’s association between sugar and the pleasurable effects of alcohol can contribute to increased cravings for sugary foods and drinks during recovery. The connection between sugar and alcohol lies in how consuming one substance can trigger cravings for the other.