Sugar and Dopamine: The Link Between Sweets and Addiction

If you’re prone to addictive behaviors, then you may be more likely to turn to other alternatives, such as sugar, to stay sober. It is common to crave sugary foods and drinks after quitting alcohol, but excessive sugar consumption can create a variety of health concerns. A particularly worrisome aspect of sugar addiction is binge eating.

When a person stops drinking alcohol, they begin to crave sugar more so for several reasons. First, alcohol has a high content of sugar in it, which is why your brain makes the assumption that any sugar product could create the same type of euphoric feeling that alcohol did. Some research indicates that methamphetamine use can reduce blood glucose levels³, driving people toward sugary foods or drinks. In addition, the appetite suppressing properties of stimulants make eating nutritious foods less likely. Some people in recovery use high sugar foods as a survival strategy to get sufficient calories when other foods are unpalatable. Why are sugar cravings so common in people recovering from a substance use disorder? 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.

Why Do Addicts Crave Sugar

Fortunately, understanding why you’re craving sweets and finding ways to avoid sugar can help you maintain a healthy recovery. The preference for sugary foods extends beyond effects specific to drug use. Sugar affects the brain like addictive drugs⁴, which makes sugar particularly tempting for people with a substance use disorder. These spikes and crashes make sugar cravings incredibly common in early recovery from alcohol use disorder.

I haven’t perfectly mastered them all, but it’s getting better, and that’s the most important thing. We’re trying to fill the hole that alcohol used to fill for us with other things. It’s like that late 90’s film,Fallen, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ starring Denzel Washington, where he fights a demon that keeps jumping from one body to the next. Essentially, sugar acts as a natural replacement, both physically and psychologically, for alcohol.

What Are Other Side Effects of Alcohol Withdrawal?

For someone in recovery, a sugar addiction is hard to avoid because sugar hides in unexpected places. It’s legal, accessible, inexpensive, and in the vast majority of foods that Americans like to eat. Even things that don’t taste particularly sweet can be very high in added sugar. For example, the following foods have as much sugar as a glazed donut even though they seem relatively healthy at first glance. Sugar and other replacement rewards are not enough to break the destructive cycle of a substance use disorder. If you wish to quit substance misuse, please consider professional addiction treatment services to receive a full range of interventions that can help ensure a successful recovery. Many alcoholic beverages have excessive amounts of sugar, especially when consuming mixed alcoholic drinks with various sodas, juices, liqueurs or other mixers that are loaded with sugar.

• This becomes a more serious concern when alcohol is taken out of the picture.
• Brittany has been working in behavioral health since 2012 and is the Assistant Clinical Director at our facility.
• This is similar to the way the brain reacts to the ingestion of substances like heroin and cocaine.
• Many heavy drinkers are hypoglycemic, or have low blood sugar, which can cause them to crave sweets.
• There’s no point becoming overwhelmed by all the different aspects of you and your life you want to change–that’s one sure-fire way to end up stressed, feeling like a failure and back on the booze.

Many people who struggle with alcohol addiction also suffer from low blood sugar levels, or hypoglycemia. Normally, the liver stores glucose in the form of glycogen, which then is released into the bloodstream steadily throughout the day to keep your blood sugar levels balanced. But alcohol disrupts this process, leading to hypoglycemia.

I Got Sober And Learned To Like Myself Again

While many of us understand the effect sugar has on our weight, its ability to affect hormones related to mood can compel some individuals to engage in addictive behavior. Just as an alcoholic loses control of his or her ability to control drinking, someone who consumes too much sugar may eat uncontrollably, often referred to as binge eating.

• An unbalanced diet is a common trigger for sugar and alcohol cravings in recovery.
• Sugar’s siren call in early sobriety can be hard to resist.
• However, eating too much sugar can trigger serious consequences for an alcoholic.
• Furthermore, excess sugar can increase belly fat, which is a risk factor for heart disease.
• Many heavy drinkers are hypoglycemic or have low blood sugar, which can cause sugar cravings.

Think back to why your brain and body became addicted to alcohol. Whenever you would drink, the alcohol would release a rush of dopamine that would make you feel good. As your tolerance increased, your cravings and need for alcohol to function normally also increased.

More in Alcohol Abuse

“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 of whac-a-mole, it might feel like no matter what you do, your why do alcoholics crave sugar vices still keep popping up.” They suggested exercise, sleep, and snack alternatives like frozen bananas dipped in dark chocolate. Eventually, I was able to work on the underlying factors that drove me to push my addictive tendencies onto other things.

Regular exercise and meditation practice will also increase dopamine levels in the brain, helping to manage stress as well. Plus, a good exercise routine helps battle the holiday bulge. Explore membership at Tempest— and get ready to live an alcohol-free life you love. Exercise will help with cravings and your mood, especially if you take it outside to get some sunshine.