Why Do Alcoholics Crave Sugar? Sanctuary Foundation

This is called a transfer addiction when you replace one type of addiction with another. Alcohol’s effect is typically worse than that of sugar, though.

Scientists have discovered that children of alcoholic parentsmay be more likely to have a sweet tooth. You expected discomfort and intense cravings when you quit alcohol, but not this. This type of craving is new, and you can’t get it out of your head.

How do you stop craving sweets when drinking?

You can deal with your diet and fitness once you’re living life happily and confidently sober. Surprisingly, some scientists believe sugar to bemore addictivethan drugs, such as cocaine. While there is disagreement on whether sugar can create a physiological or neurochemical addiction, evidence points to at least a strong psychological addiction.

These include disruptions to your body’s blood sugar regulation, and mood swings due to a drop in serotonin. From brain chemistry to low blood sugar, we’ll explore the reasons you might get sugar cravings when you quit drinking, and what keeping a healthy balance looks like. Many people who struggle with alcohol addiction also suffer from low blood sugar levels, or hypoglycemia. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Normally, the liver stores glucose in the form of glycogen, which is then released into the bloodstream steadily throughout the day to keep your blood sugar levels balanced. But alcohol disrupts this process, leading to low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. When a person consumes a lot of alcohol, which is high in sugar, their blood sugar levels typically go up.

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Mixed drinks often contain large amounts of additional sugar, but the alcohol itself does not contribute to your sugar intake. However, all alcoholic beverages contain a significant number of calories and have little to no nutritional value.

• Although fruits are sweet due to a natural sugar called fructose, they also contain fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
• «Whenever you try to kick one health-disrupting habit, it’s natural to find yourself struggling with another,» Lisa Moskovitz, RD, CDN and the CEO of NY Nutrition Group, told Insider.
• The human body understands that in the absence of constant use of alcohol it has previously relied on, sugary foods can offer the same effect.
• As long as you’re not binging on sugar, a piece of candy or slice of cake every now and then is ok during recovery.
• That means that when you stop using alcohol, the brain needs something else that is going to make it feel the same way.

That means that when you stop using alcohol, the brain needs something else that is going to make it feel the same way. In a way, it can be because sugar also helps with the production of dopamine. As a result, the brain is trading one do alcoholics crave sugar type of stimulant for another. Simple sugars are digested quickly and lead to blood glucose spikes. To break this cycle, you need to eat balanced meals with protein and complex carbohydrates that will help keep glucose levels stable.

What are the Stats On Rehab and Recovery?

The results, however, don’t mean a child who likes ultra-sweetened foods will become an alcoholic. It’s just a link between sweet preference and family members with alcoholism.

Different substances can create various inclinations for sugar, and there is an underlying connection between addictive behaviors and sugar intake. But what does that have to do with sugar cravings after quitting drinking? Well, craving sugar after stopping alcohol is the result of a whole culmination of reasons. Eating sweets causes your brain to release dopamine – the reward-based chemical that makes you feel good. When you quit alcohol, your body knows it can reach a similar state with sugar.

Sugar Cravings Are Temporary

When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol—a hormone known to intensify sugar cravings. Some heavy drinkers may also experience “cross-tolerance” between alcohol and sugar. Cross-tolerance means that someone who is dependent on one addictive substance may also have higher tolerance for another. This can make it easier to become dependent on that other substance—such as replacing alcohol with sugar. An unbalanced diet is a common trigger for sugar and alcohol cravings in recovery. Either way, the link between sweets and alcohol would make sense, as both activate many of the same reward circuits in the brain, the researchers say. And since sugar can be a mood booster, depressed kids may be drawn to it to help them feel better.

• This is partially a result of alcohol’s effects on the pancreas, which is primarily responsible for blood sugar levels.
• The brain uses it as a reward system to reinforce certain behaviors.
• Best of all, the whole thing can be done from an app on your smartphone.
• In turn, your blood sugar levels spike, causing a proportionate insulin response to bring your blood sugar levels down to normal.
• Help keep you full, which can curb drug or alcohol cravings.

Brittany has been working in behavioral health since 2012 and is the Assistant Clinical Director at our facility. She is an LCSW and holds a master’s degree in social work. She has great experience with chemical dependency and co-occurring mental health diagnoses as well as various therapeutic techniques.