Sugar & Alcohol Addiction: Why Do Alcoholics Crave Sugar? Learn More

If an alcoholic gives in to their sugar cravings, it can lead to a relapse. The sugar high from eating sweets can be similar to the feeling that alcohol gives, and this can be dangerous for someone in recovery. Like most drugs and alcohol, but at a lower level, the brain produces large amounts of dopamine when you consume sugar. Foods high in sugar cause our brains to feel more pleasure than other more nutritious foods.

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. When you don’t get enough sleep, you can end up feeling lethargic and less motivated to fight your addiction. As a result, you’re more likely to reach for high-sugar foods for a quick energy fix. It’s natural to assume that you crave sugar after quitting alcohol because your body has become acclimated to the high sugar content found in most alcoholic beverages. Fortunately, understanding why you’re craving sweets after quitting alcohol and finding ways to avoid sugar can help you maintain a healthy recovery.

Sugar Cravings After Quitting Alcohol Starts in the Brain

“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. “Like a game why do alcoholics crave sugar of whac-a-mole, it might feel like no matter what you do, your vices still keep popping up.” “I’m very into sweets. They say when you stop drinking, that you go sweets crazy,” she continued.

Getting a good night’s sleep is critical for almost every aspect of your life, and your recovery. Although fruits are sweet due to a natural sugar called fructose, they also contain fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The fiber in fruit helps slow digestion, which keeps you full for longer and slows down how quickly the natural sugars enter your bloodstream.

Why You Crave Sweets When You Stop Drinking

Poor diet and malnutrition, two common traits among long-term addicts, can also affect blood sugar. Many heavy drinkers are hypoglycemic or have low blood sugar, which can cause sugar cravings. This becomes a more serious concern when alcohol is taken out of the picture. Food, especially high-sugar https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/what-to-do-if-you-cant-sleep-without-alcohol/ foods, should not be a substitute for alcohol. Those who are not cautious may transfer their alcohol addiction to a sugar addiction or food addiction. As such, focusing on restoring physical health through proper nutrition should be a fundamental component of one’s alcohol recovery treatment plan.

• However, while sugar can help with energy levels in the short-term, it can also contribute to problems in the long-term.
• This can leave drug users experiencing a variety of uncomfortable feelings, symptoms, and behaviors that do not just go away because the drug use has ceased.

” Now that you’ve made the brave decision to quit drinking, you’re being plagued by sugar cravings. Our drug rehab in Philadelphia looks into why people get sugar cravings after quitting alcohol. As a result of regular alcohol drinkers becoming tolerant to sugar from their alcohol intake,  it is not uncommon for individuals in recovery from alcohol abuse to experience cravings for sugar. Part of the cravings that individuals new to abstinence from alcohol face are actually sugar cravings, not alcohol cravings. Giving in to sugar cravings during recovery from alcohol is commonplace.

Sugar Serves as a Transfer Addiction

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. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.

Why does it often seem like people recovering from alcohol addiction suddenly develop a massive sweet tooth? There are a number of reasons why this phenomenon is such a common occurrence. 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.