5 Reasons You Can't Stop Craving Sugar (And How to Stop)

Are you trying to get healthier, but just can’t stop craving sugar and sweet treats?

Maybe you just shrug it off as having a sweet tooth. Or maybe you blame a lack of willpower.

But what if your problem goes deeper than that, and is a sign of an underlying problem?

There’s no doubt that the American diet relies too heavily on sugar, and it’s causing a lot of health problems.

Sugar has been linked to cancer, heart disease, and to diabetes, as well as obesity.

Understanding why you have a hard time staying away from sugar is the first step to changing your habits.

There are many experts who say that we can’t help being addicted to sugar. They call it a toxin and suggest that it's as dangerous as tobacco. But others suggest that the urge for sweets is a reflection of specific health issues or habits.

5 Reasons You Crave Sugar

1. Yeast overgrowth

Not every yeast issue is an infection. “Candida albicans” is a type of yeast that lives in your digestive tract.

It grows as a result of antibiotics killing off good bacteria and leaving behind bad bacteria. This type of yeast needs sugar to grow, and that causes sugar and carb cravings.

It can also make you feel tired or down, and that makes you even more likely to turn to sugar for comfort.

2. Too many artificial sweeteners

Did you know that those cute little packets can boost your sweetness craving?

Aspartame, Sucralose, and others are so much sweeter than sugar that they change your taste and make you seek even sweeter things.

You need to cut them out of your diet and use healthier sweeteners. Read your food labels carefully too! These sweeteners can be hidden in some of your favorite foods, including chewing gum and yogurt.

3. You are sleep deprived

Not getting enough sleep doesn’t just leave you rubbing your eyes.

It can boost the level of a hormone called ghrelin, which makes you hungry. At the same time, it drops your levels of leptin, which lets you know when you’re full.

People who don’t get enough sleep are more vulnerable to obesity, food cravings, diabetes, and other health issues. Make sure you’re getting between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night.

4. You’re suffering from stress

Stress is more than just a feeling. It has a physical effect that leads your blood sugar levels to shift up and down.

This could be one of the reasons you're craving sugar. And to make matters worse, when you take in sugar and fat while you’re stressed, it makes you feel better emotionally. That’s why we call it comfort food. Unfortunately, it’s not good for your body. You don't have to give up your favorite comfort foods once you learn how to make them healthier!

5. You’re skipping meals

If you’re busy, it’s easy to go too long between meals. That makes your body crave quick energy foods, which are the ones loaded with sugar.

If you have a hectic schedule (and who doesn’t?), pack healthy snacks. Nuts are a great choice, and so is Greek yogurt.

Instead of beating yourself up for craving sugar, know that those cravings could mean you have an underlying issue that you can treat with healing foods and a healthy lifestyle.

P.S. Please share this article with those sugar lovers in your life! Then comment below — do you feel like you're always craving sugar?