For someone in recovery, a sugar addiction is hard to avoid because sugar hides in unexpected places. It’s legal, accessible, inexpensive, and in the vast majority of foods that Americans like to eat. Even things that don’t taste particularly sweet can be very high in added sugar. For example, the following foods have as much sugar as a glazed donut even though they seem relatively healthy at first glance. Without staying on top of your sugar intake, you can find yourself caught in this cycle. It’s important to talk to your doctor if you suffer from low blood sugar. You’d be surprised at how some diet changes can help ease your sugar cravings.

• This is especially relevant, considering hypoglycemia also causes low mood, making someone more likely to seek relief through sugar or alcohol.
• Whenever you can make healthy choices about what you put into your body, do but don’t put yourself under pressure about it.
• Chrissy Teigen said she’s “very into sweets” since going sober.
• The entire Soberish community is available to support you along the way.

Even after abstinence, people experiencing chronic opioid use may feel drawn to activities that trigger these receptors. People with severe alcohol use disorders can consume more than 50% of their calorie intake through alcohol alone¹, leaving them at significant risk for nutrient deficiency.

Experiencing Sugar Cravings After Quitting Alcohol

Experiencing sugar cravings when stopping alcohol can occur when a person replaces one addiction with another, also known as transfer addiction. While relying on sweets to keep you sober in the early stages of recovery can be beneficial, becoming dependent on sugar to stay sober is a whole other problem. 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. Now that you’ve made the courageous decision to quit drinking, the future looks brighter. The truth is, it’s common for people who quit drinking to, out of nowhere, start craving sugar or sweets. Food, especially high-sugar foods, should not be a substitute for alcohol.

As a result, the brain is trading one type of stimulant for another. When you’re stressed, do alcoholics crave sugar your body releases cortisol—a hormone known to intensify sugar cravings.

Why People with Substance Use Disorder Crave Sugar

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. On top of the factors mentioned above, there are several other good reasons you may experience sugar cravings after quitting drinking. These include disruptions to your body’s blood sugar regulation, and mood swings due to a drop in serotonin. If your sugar cravings are frequent, it’s best to opt for natural, whole foods options over highly processed sugars.

• Having a short love affair with sugar is still healthier for you than if you had carried on drinking.
• If you’re in recovery, limiting your sugar intake is a smart move because there is a real possibility that sugar could become a substitute addiction.
• This type of craving is a new one, and you can’t seem to shake it.
• As discussed above, sugar can be as addictive as alcohol for some people.
• A replacement addiction is when you quit one addictive behavior but feel like you need to replace it with something else.