Have you ever asked yourself, “Why Do I Crave Sugar?” The answer is simple: The body is naturally setup to crave sugar. There are many physical and psychological reasons that can lead to craving sweets.
Stress & Exhaustion:
Eating sugar gives you a rush of energy. When a person is tired or stressed, especially if they haven’t eaten for a few hours, blood sugar levels drop and cause fatigue and mood swings.
Lack of Activity:
When a person is inactive and doesn’t get enough exercise, they feel lazy. This causes the body to rely on sugar as a source of energy. Staying active can help reduce sugar cravings.
Dehydration:
Lack of hydration can cause a person to feel hungry and cause sugar cravings. If a sugar craving appears, have a big glass of water. It could go away.
Psychological Reasons:
Sugar cravings could be a response to boredom, upsetting situations or force of habit. Scientifically, eating sugar can increase the absorption of an amino acid called tryptophan, which helps your body make serotonin. Serotonin is a brain chemical that makes you feel content. Many people seek emotional comfort through sweet, sugary food, since it raises your serotonin levels and makes you feel happier for a brief time.
Sugar Addiction:
It’s easy to get addicted to sugar because it can be found in many of the foods we eat. When you eat sugar, your brain releases opioids, a natural chemical that leads to feelings of pleasure and happiness. When a person becomes stressed or sad, they turn to sugary sweets to get a “fix.”
Did You Know? The average American consumes 160 pounds of sugar each year without even realizing it, so it’s possible that you’re addicted to sugar, even if you eat a minimal amount of sweets.
Individuals that consume sugary foods because it makes them feel better about life may be comfort eating. Some “experts” claim that sugar should be entirely cut out, however, that is not the answer. The body needs sugar. The key is to cut down on refined sugars and consume more natural sugars.