Many of us recognize the cravings for chocolate or cookies between meals. Those intense cravings for sugar say more about our health than you might think and can lead to serious health problems.
Sugar cravings
Having the occasional craving for ice cream or treating yourself to dessert at a dinner party is perfectly normal. But if you often have an insatiable craving for sweets, it is less innocent.
Research has shown that sugar is hugely addictive; it is as addictive as some types of drugs and even has similar effects on our brain. Moreover, eating too much sugar can lead to a host of health problems, such as type 2 diabetes or heart disease. So it’s high time to see what you can do about this unhealthy addiction.
Deficiencies
Did you know that there are different types of sugar cravings? Maybe you recognize that intense craving for chocolate, for example. Such an insatiable craving for this particular food may have a different meaning than cravings for sweet fruit or other sweet foods.
An insatiable craving for sugar may be caused by deficiencies of important minerals. For example, you might have a magnesium deficiency when you really can’t stop thinking about a bar of chocolate. If you crave sweet fruit, then it could be that your body is trying to tell you it needs extra vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. However, too little research has been done to determine whether cravings for fruit always mean a deficiency.
Blood sugar
When sugar cravings suddenly rear their head, it may indicate fluctuations in your blood sugar levels. Eating sugary foods causes spikes in your blood sugar. When your blood sugar then drops, your body may ask for more fuel – in the form of sugar – to keep your blood sugar stable. Thus, the cravings keep coming back and your body continuously asking for more sugar.
Lifestyle
By now we know that sugar cravings and your diet are closely linked, but there are other factors that play a role in sugar cravings. ingrained habits can train your brain and body to crave sugar. For example, if you kept taking a fancy cookie with your cup of tea during your vacation, you have taught yourself that these two things belong together, and you will find that your body starts asking for it at those times.
Stress and lack of sleep can increase cravings for sweets. When you are stressed, cortisol levels in your body rise, causing you to look for a quick energy boost to keep both your mind and body on track. Sleep deprivation also has a similar effect: you then crave something sweet to give your tired body a boost.
Mastering sugar cravings
Now that we understand how sugar cravings occur, it’s time to master them. Keeping your blood sugar in balance is a good start. To get this done, it is important to eat plenty of protein and high-fiber foods, such as beans and legumes. These foods give you fuel without fluctuating blood sugar levels.
“Before you give in to your cravings, it’s a good idea to drink a big glass of water,” holistic nutritionist Elissa Goodman advises Byrdie. “We often confuse our body’s signals for thirst with hunger. By drinking water first, you may be giving your body exactly what it needs and relieving the craving.”
If your sugar cravings are accompanied by dizziness, it may indicate a deeper problem. It is then wise to consult a doctor to have any other problems or nutrient deficiencies examined.