All About Sugar Cravings

Sugar is addictive

It’s a rare person who is immune to the call of the sweet stuff when tired, stressed, fed-up or hearing that “I deserve it” inner voice. We can dismiss indulgence in cakes, biscuits and sodas as ‘treats’ but the truth is that high-sugar foods like have been shown to affect the same opioid receptors in the brain that are activated by drugs like cocaine and morphine¹. With regular sugar consumption shown to create patterns of craving, bingeing and withdrawal, it has earned its growing recognition as an addictive substance as well as contributing to obesity, inflammation and chronic disease^2,3,4,5,6.

Cravings for instant hits

Craving is the uncontrollable want for something immediately; as sugar in the form of glucose is our main energy source, it represents the most immediate ‘quick-fix’ when we feel an imperative to get a task done or the need to protect ourselves. Our brains are our most important survival organ and they demand a constant energy supply; if this is interrupted, ancient survival mechanisms create sugar cravings and then reward us for supplying it with a hit of the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine⁷.

This vicious cycle can more easily become the norm when we are not eating enough quality protein and fats in our diets^8,9,10,11. These energy-dense foods provide the building blocks for efficient brain chemistry and help slow digestion to drip-feed sugar from carbohydrates (in plant foods and dairy) to the bloodstream. This supports even sugar supplies to cells, helping relieve the ‘highs and lows’ that set off sugar cravings.

Stress and sugar cravings

Stress also contributes to this imbalance; our bodies react to any perceived danger with heightened physical changes even if we don’t play out this ‘fight-or-flight’ response. Blood sugar levels are raised to supply energy to brain and muscles and the quickest route to make more available for this protection is a sugar hit^12,13.

Stress can also lower our feel-good and motivational neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine; both have shown to be raised in response to sugary foods and low brain levels are linked to sugar cravings^14,15,16. Serotonin is also lowered with poor sunlight exposure, so if dietary factors are not ideal we may see worsened cravings in the winter.

Both stress and high-sugar foods create blood sugar spikes that provoke insulin production. This hormone delivers sugar into cells for energy but also signals fat storage over burning fat as fuel in our bodies. This is the opposite effect on body composition to the action of thermogenesis – ‘heat creation’ – which promotes production of brown fat that we use as fuel, over white fat which we store as fat cells. Eating protein (and other specific foods, see diagram) also creates this effect and makes our bodies less likely to crave quick-fix sugars as they become more energy efficient^17,18.

Reduce sugar craving culprits:

• cake, biscuits, ice cream, sweets, chocolate, sodas and alcohol
• sweeteners confuse the body by promising something sweet without providing the energy¹⁹
• stimulants like caffeine, nicotine and some recreational drugs
• for those susceptible, grains (especially wheat) and dairy may exacerbate^20,21,22,23
• sedentary lifestyles equal poor insulin utilisation
• stress creates instant gratification impulses^24,25,26
• low sunlight reduces our desire to move and increases our want for sugar

Increase energy & appetite regulators:

• protein with a savoury breakfast and then each meal – eggs, free-range meat, fish, nuts, goat’s or sheep’s cheese, tofu, beans^27,28
• soothe brain with fats throughout the day – nuts, seeds, oily fish, olives and oil, avocado, coconut milk, whole milk Greek yoghurt²⁹
• thermogenic foods that raise metabolism and satisfy appetite – protein, coconut, green tea, chilli, cayenne pepper, citrus, ginger, turmeric, apple cider vinegar, horseradish, wasabi, dark chocolate^30,31
• mindfulness, meditation and yoga – raise calming GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) levels in the brain to reduce agitation, shown to be low in those with addictive tendencies^32,33
• Ketogenic diets and intermittent fasting have shown to help regulate disordered blood sugar patterns 

For more on Ketogenic diets, see my Natural Health Webinar on Ketogenic Diet - recording available to all Whole Health members and taster below:

Sweet Craving Solutions

• Cinnamon – this wonder spice mimics the action of insulin to help us use energy sources more efficiently and regulate blood sugar levels; it tells the brain we have eaten something sweet so the best sugar alternative in porridge, baking etc³⁴.
• Licorice tea – licorice has a long history as an adrenal support and may help regulate how we respond to stress; this action can energise but best in the morning as so effective it can raise blood pressure in those susceptible to high levels³⁵.
• Coconut – we cannot store the fats in coconut but instead they raise metabolism as used immediately for energy; coconut chips make very satisfying snacks^36,37.
• Berries – have shown to temper the surge of sugar that hits the bloodstream after a meal; they are a great sweet snack as we also eat the protein and oil rich seeds intact^38,39.
• Dark chocolate – 40g a day has shown to help people cope with stress, making this the best regular treat to avoid less healthy choices^,40.

Supplements to support dietary changes*

• Dedicated blood sugar regulating supplements may help break craving cycles – the glucose tolerance factor (GTF) mineral chromium is often formulated with synergistic nutrients zinc, magnesium, selenium, molybdenum and vitamin B6; found in protein foods and depleted by stress^41,42. Others included may be co-enzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid and glutathione.
• Low omega 3 oils in modern diets have been linked to low serotonin levels and therefore sugar cravings. Supplementing these as fish oils, krill oil or in algae form has shown to support our cannabinoid brain reward systems and so may stop us turning to sugar for a beta-endorphin rush^43,44,45.
• Plants with long traditional use, increasing evidence and use in supplements and as food for glucose regulation include cinnamon, fenugreek, green tea, turmeric and garlic^{46,47,48,49,50}.

Whole Health members receive a 20% discount on all supplements from my health shop.

The bottom line is that we don’t need any refined sugars in our diets – they are modern, man-made substances and need to be reserved as occasional treats. When eating them becomes a habit and we feel we need them to feel energised or ‘normal’ we can make steps to break these cycles. If we can support ourselves nutritionally and decrease stress, we may me more able to handle the odd sugary treat without it taking over control of our brain chemistry^51,52.

 * discuss with your medical advisor and do not stop any conventional medication without their advise 

A version of this article was first published in the autumn 2012 issue of Optimum Nutrition magazine.  

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