Sugar Cravings after Quitting Alcohol: 10 Dietitian-Approved Tips

Your blood sugar will drop again, landing you right back where you started. So, if you have sugar on your mind constantly after quitting alcohol – don’t be too hard on yourself. First, when you drink, your blood how to stop alcohol cravings alcohol level increases. These feelings can be the result of alcohol’s effects on the brain. Alcohol depresses the nervous system and interferes with its ability to communicate with other parts of the body.

Well, craving sugar after stopping alcohol is the result of a whole culmination of reasons. You’ve quit drinking alcohol and now your sugar cravings feel out of control. You’re no longer reaching for a glass of wine but you’re emptying bags of sweets and munching your way through boxes of glazed donuts. When you eat too much sugar, you train your brain to run on sugary foods the same way it did when you were drinking.

Dry January 2023

In fact, that’s part of the reason why the expert team at Silver Maple Recovery provides healthy meals for patients. Dairy products are another prime option that helps control alcohol cravings. Low-fat dairy options like cheese, milk and yogurt provide excellent sources of protein, vitamin D, and potassium — all of which work together to provide your body with that “full” feeling.

A oft-cited study in the journal PLoS ONE found that 94 percent of rats chose artificially sweetened water over cocaine. While it might be a stretch to say a daily candy break is as dangerous as a drug problem in humans, sugar does fire up dopamine and light up your brain’s pleasure systems, just like drugs do. Taking a month-long hiatus from booze can do wonders for your health. As the temperature drops and cold/flu season lurks, abstaining from alcohol may improve your immune system. If sleep is an issue for you, swapping your evening drink for a cup of herbal tea may drastically improve the quality of your sleep. Of course, another positive of sober October is a potential release of a few pounds. As someone who has not had a drink in over four years, I personally can attest to improved sleep, mood, and overall vitality.

Stopping Drinking Means You Will Sleep A Lot Better

In these first few days, you may also be at risk for more adverse and serious side effects of alcohol withdrawal. This includes hallucinations, excessive sweating, confusion and agitation at a worrisome level, fevers, fast respirations, and at times passing out. You expected discomfort and intense cravings when you quit alcohol, but not this. This type of craving is new, and you can’t get it out of your head. Almost like a shadow, it seems to follow you throughout your day.

Beers and wines often contain a moderate amount of carbohydrates. Helping business-owners and professionals get control of their drinking. You aren’t seeing the hangovers, the arguments, the broken relationships…You’re seeing a very small detail. And most of the time, people who are having a good time with alcohol would probably be having a good time without alcohol too!

Tips For Eating Less Sugar After Quitting Drinking

As mentioned above, it can be tricky to keep sugar out of your diet. But no one ever said you have to swear off sweets forever!

• Nuts like almonds, peanuts, walnuts, and cashews make for a delicious treat and tasty butter spreads.
• Many whole-grain foods contain complex carbohydrates that are vital to those who are working on their recovery from alcohol.
• Addiction specialists and addiction treatment centers are placing more focus on the nutritional component of recovery.
• Healthy and balanced blood sugar levels are critical in both the goal to reduce alcohol cravings and the recovery process overall.
• Allow for fresh berries like strawberries and blueberries and a small amount of dark chocolate.

Additionally, some researchers believe there is agenetic componentto sugar addiction in families with a history of substance abuse. Of course, alcohol and sugar cravings can sometimes go hand in hand. If you find that it’s hard to control your drinking without resorting to sugar, there are new ways to limit drinking urges. Replacing alcohol with sugar is common—in fact, one studysuggests up to 40 percent of people who stop drinking increase their sugar intake in the days after quitting. Professional help is usually necessary for alcohol addiction. Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive disease, and some people may need to be in treatment for years.

How to Kick a Sugar Addiction Without Missing the Sweet Stuff

It’s why so many alcohol-dependent people struggle with binge-eating, gambling, compulsive shopping, or even overworking. We become psychologically dependent on sugar to help us feel better because we no longer consume our former feel-good substance – alcohol.