Here’s the scientific rationale for your newly adopted sweet tooth. Just knowing that this can be a normal part of the transition into an alcohol-free lifestyle can help you relax about it. These activities encourage dopamine production from behaviors that don’t bring about the terrible consequences of returning to active addiction. You may have heard that alcohol breaks down into sugar in the body, but this isn’t exactly true. While sugar is combined with yeast in alcohol production, the sugar content of most alcoholic beverages is zero, and alcohol never breaks down into sugar while your body is metabolizing it.

If you have https://ecosoberhouse.com/ drinking and crave sugar, know that you are not the only one! Alcohol addiction is a difficult challenge for everyone, even after the drinking stops. California Behavioral Health can help you get on the road to recovery. We analyze your needs and prepare a plan designed for your situation and goals. We offer detox and residential treatment, with a focus on holistic approaches to help give you a well-rounded ability to achieve long-term recovery. Part of the reason for the ease with which many switch addictions has to do with the fact that addiction has a behavioral aspect to it.

Why Do People Crave Sugar In Addiction Recovery?

Rather than giving in to the craving right when it strikes, wait it out. Drink water or tea to fill your stomach, and see if the desire for sugar lessens. Some people notice they overcome their cravings by not immediately “feeding” them. If the craving does persist, know that it’s OK to give in. Saying no to cocktails with friends and red wine with dinner are obvious and foreseen challenges, but battling a sudden new sugar craving may be less expected.

However, all alcoholic beverages contain a significant number of calories and have little to no nutritional value. So, if you have sugar on your mind constantly after quitting alcohol – don’t be too hard on yourself. Many heavy drinkers are hypoglycemic, or have low blood sugar, which can cause them to crave sweets.

Why does giving up alcohol lead to sugar cravings?

After the do alcoholics crave sugar has left the system, a person’s blood sugar level is often low. This is why so many alcoholics wind up developing a sweet tooth.

• Giving in to sugar cravings during recovery from alcohol is commonplace.
• While ultimately a person with a substance use disorder focuses on chasing the high that drugs and alcohol provide, they also come to find comfort and familiarity in the addictive behaviors.
• For example, the brain perceives sex as important for procreation.
• If you’ve ever heard of the term “hangry,” it’s actually your body’s response to going too long without eating.