Why Do People Get Sugar Cravings After Quitting Drinking?

We know that it can be challenging going from craving one substance to another. But by understanding the cause, you’ll be better equipped to handle it and move forward. Feed your brain and calm your cravings with dark chocolate. Your classic pint of ice cream can contain upwards of 30 grams of added sugar per serving, which is more than the daily recommended amount of added sugar in just one bowl of ice cream! Instead of sending your blood sugar on a wild roller coaster, try making your own creamy treat. Opt for full-fat plain Greek yogurt, add a teaspoon of honey, and then toss in some cacao nibs and frozen dark cherries. However, the new thing I noticed this time around was that I started to crave sugar. While these are animal studies, these symptoms may be experienced by humans, along with behavioral changes, such as increased hostility, due to sugar withdrawals. Giving up sugar or significantly reducing your intake doesn’t have to be a bummer.

Instead of sugary boxed cereal, try plain yogurt topped with fresh berries. Be careful to not overdo it with fruit, though, because even natural sugar is still sugar, and can keep cravings alive. If you are in recovery for alcoholism or know someone who is, and sweets have become an unhealthy substitute for alcohol, it’s time to get help and make some serious changes. Effects of sugar addiction on your health and well-being can be far-reaching. In recovery, it’s important for your body to recover from the impact of a consistent lack of nutrients, and consuming large amounts of sugar isn’t going to do the trick.

Sugar Addiction & Alcohol Addiction: Similarities

In order to deal with your cravings, you really need to understand some key concepts of the recovery process. So, in order to solve the craving issues, you need to learn to let the emotions come, recognize changes as your body recovers, and begin to care for yourself. These days, there are plenty of mocktail recipes and nonalcoholic drinks meant to replicate your favorite boozy beverages. Drinking sparkling water with citrus or berries might also hit the spot. Try drinking them out of your favorite cocktail glass for a more similar experience. How to overcome sugar cravings, without turning back to alcohol. The year 2020 was one of the most challenging in modern history, one that took a toll on our mental and physical health.

The most optimal way is to stick to fruits and other natural sugars like honey, and to generally enjoy other sweets minimally. As mentioned above, it can be tricky to keep sugar out of your diet. To stay healthy and prevent an addiction relapse, you need to maintain a healthy diet where you only occasionally indulge in sugar. Sugar cravings are common in alcohol addiction recovery, but can lead to relapse. Sugar’s siren call in early sobriety can be hard to resist. Many people who’ve recently ditched the booze have never experienced sugar cravings, and then suddenly have powerful urges to eat anything sweet in sight.

Your Brain on Sugar (or Alcohol)

Both sugar and alcohol release large amounts of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that creates feelings of pleasure. In addition, alcohol has a substantial impact on blood sugar levels. Drinking alcohol creates a yo-yo effect with blood sugar, causing an initial spike followed by a dramatic crash. This is because alcohol inhibits your body’s response to insulin, the hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels.

• Whole-grain snacks handy for when you feel hunger coming on.
• This is a big part of how people become addicted to alcohol.
• Sugar and other replacement rewards are not enough to break the destructive cycle of a substance use disorder.
• Tomorrow I am joining a hot yoga studio, my son is leaving on vacation and I hope to be an even better person once he returns.

I wasn’t looking to get a healthy balance right from the start, just to find alcohol replacements. Eating sweet foods can reduce the intensity of these drug cravings by giving a short dopamine boost, which could be the difference between remaining in recovery or experiencing a relapse. A chocolate bar is far less harmful than returning to active addiction. High-calorie, high-sugar, low-nutrient foods are frequently a go-to in early recovery, and are frequently served at some rehabilitation centers and mutual-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous.

Sugar Addiction Is Not Safe

Our online classes and training programs allow you to learn from experts from anywhere in the world. It took a few days to come out of the fog, but my energy level and ability to focus have increased considerably. Sugar replacements to determine which one is right for you is well worth the effort. Before I made the switch, I was consuming so much table sugar that I had become sluggish and had trouble concentrating.

Taking care of yourself, learning life skills, and addressing underlying mental health issues can be effective ways to combat sugar addiction. Physiologically speaking, when we consume alcohol, the body converts it to sugar. This leads to a subsequent spike in blood sugar levels, so when we engage in Dry January our blood sugar levels will drop. Alcoholics often experience intense sugar cravings after overcoming addiction. Blatner suggests subbing more fruit, which is a natural source of sugar, into your diet. She recommends frozen bananas dipped in dark chocolate or «apple nachos» — sliced apple drizzled in nut butter and topped with unsweetened coconut and cocoa.

Silver Maple Recovery Can Help You on Your Sobriety Journey

If relenting to sugar cravings has kept you from drinking, then look at it as a lifesaver and forgive yourself. Although it may be a slow process, there’s a way out of sugar dependence and beating yourself up isn’t going to help you gain redemption. If alcoholics crave sugar nothing else, we want to point out that a little holiday indulgence doesn’t mean you’re ruined for healthy eating or a little exercise. Experts have found that people will use a few big meals as an excuse to not adhere to normal healthy behaviors.

Almost like a shadow, it seems to follow you throughout your day. It would be easy to give in, but you’ve seen all the recent news about the negative effects it can have. We’re talking about sugar cravings after giving up alcohol. Whole-grain snacks handy for when you feel hunger coming on. These snacks will provide protein, fiber, and necessary nutrients to keep your blood sugar levels stabilized until it’s time for a bigger meal. Smoothies are also a healthy and delicious between-meal filler. In essence, it is shown that sweets are a known side effect of quitting alcohol — but certainly not one of the worst ones. With moderation and attention to intake, a little sugar can be pleasurable and healthful if taken in the right amounts.

Chromium, a trace mineral, works wonders to balance blood sugar. You can find it in a supplement, often with other trace minerals that also help. Herbs such as gymnema, berberine, kudzu, and cinnamon can help. Simple sugars are digested quickly and lead to blood glucose spikes. Insulin removes glucose from the blood and sends it to the cells of the body, but this can lead to an abrupt “crash” that leaves you craving more sugar to get your body’s glucose levels back to where they were. To break this cycle, you need to eat balanced meals with protein and complex carbohydrates Sober Home that will help keep glucose levels stable. Of course, when you’re sleeping better, feeling better, waking up clear-headed and full of energy, it becomes much easier to stick to fitness and exercise commitments. When I was drinking, hangovers often got in the way of my workouts. Being sober has given me the freedom to choose what I put my energy into and has given me the resilience and strength of mind to stick to my goals. While replacement rewards are a viable strategy incorporated into most treatment methods, they do not address the root cause of addictive disorders.