Why Do People Get Sugar Cravings After Quitting Drinking?

Of course, when you’re sleeping better, feeling better, waking up clear-headed and full of energy, it becomes much easier to stick to fitness and exercise commitments. When I was drinking, hangovers often got in the way of my workouts.

• Beers and wines often contain a moderate amount of carbohydrates.
• This is why many people who try to quit “cold turkey” experience cravings among other withdrawal symptoms.
• I apply this law of physics in my recovery in numerous ways, including combating sugar cravings.
• I don’t restrict myself if I’m eating out, on holiday or meeting up with other people.

“I’ll deal with the food issue later once I’m more stable in my sobriety.” It’s easy to overlook the dangers of sugar or overeating when you were a blackout drinker. 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 is then released into the bloodstream steadily throughout the day to keep your blood sugar levels balanced. But alcohol disrupts this process, leading to low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. Fortunately, understanding why you’re craving sweets after quitting alcohol and finding ways to avoid sugar can help you maintain a healthy recovery.

Find healthy dessert alternatives and recipes.

Sugar affects the brain’s neural pathways, and weight gain affects the individual’s self-esteem and poses a risk to an alcohol relapse. As such, individuals in recovery from alcohol should prioritize their nutrition and pay attention to their sugar intake. Addiction specialists and addiction treatment centers are placing more focus on the nutritional component of recovery. Many addiction professionals have developed a holistic treatment approach that focuses on mind-body connection, paying particular attention to food as part of the treatment process.

Not only does sugar’s long-term effects on the body – like cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes – pose a problem, but the goal of sobriety is to not be reliant on any substance. If you’re prone to addictive behaviors, then you may be more likely to turn to other alternatives, such as sugar, to stay sober. But what does that have to do with sugar cravings after quitting drinking? Well, craving sugar after stopping alcohol is the result of a whole culmination of reasons. While most people attribute their post-drinking sugar cravings to their body’s reaction to the reduced intake of sugar that’s usually found in alcoholic drinks, this isn’t a complete explanation.

Stimulants Increase Sugar Cravings

Consuming alcohol leads to spikes and dips in your blood sugar levels. Studies have shown that quitting alcohol temporarily improves insulin resistance levels in participants and helps stabilize blood sugar levels.

Evan O’Donnell is an NYC-based content strategist with four years’ experience writing and editing in the recovery space. He has conducted research in sound, cognition, and community building, has a background in independent why do alcoholics crave sugar music marketing, and continues to work as a composer. Evan is a deep believer in fact-based, empathic communication—within business, arts, academia, or any space where words drive action or change lives.