8 Underlying Root Causes For Sugar Cravings

We know the damage that regular processed sugar consumption can do to the body (and mind!) But, it's not always a question about willpower. Regular sugar cravings are a sign of a body imbalance that can't be entirely pushed away by willpower alone, and instead you need to take steps towards a balanced chemistry in the body.

One of the more common indirect symptoms my wellness clients see me with is regular sugar cravings. This is something that begins to organically fade away as they start rebalancing their body, peeling back the layers of their health, removing their toxicities and replacing their deficiencies.  

Having the occasional sugar, carbohydrate or salt craving is completely normal and ok.  Sugar is technically our bodies preferred fuel source. It’s chronic and regular sugar cravings that can be a problem, and lead to negative impacts on our health, mood and well-being. 
 

8 Underlying Root Causes To Sugar Cravings

1. Nutrient deficiencies. You are not eating and/or not absorbing balanced whole food meals that the body requires for specidic vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

2. Your body is in a chronic sympathetic nervous system state aka "fight or flight." Stress hormones trigger the nervous system to be overactive and dysregulated. This survival mode can induce sugar cravings. 

3. Gut microbiome imbalances like parasites, yeast & bacteria overgrowth can trigger sugar cravings When these sugar loving bugs take up shop in your gut, increased sugar cravings are common. 

4. Hormone imbalances like low estrogen, low progesterone or low testosterone can cause sugar cravings. It's important to note, mild sugar cravings before a woman's cycle are completely normal. 

5. Imbalanced feel good neurotransmitters due to emotional and mental stress. Sugar, carbs and salty foods can give you a temporary serotonin and dopamine boost. It's temporary and that's where the addiction comes in. It's short lived and you go back for more to get that neurotransmitter boost again. 

6. Low blood sugar often caused by skipping meals and not getting enough food and nutrients. 

7.  You are dehydrated.You are not getting adequate hydration with minerals. A lot of the time, we are low on energy and reach for sugar ,but we are low on energy because we are dehydrated.

8. Poor sleep quality. Studies show poor sleep can actually induce sugar cravings. 

 6 Ways To Reduce Sugar Cravings & Improve Your Health

1. Reduce/remove processed foods (Packaged brown or white foods typically) and find more nourishing replacements. Packaged foods like chips, cookies, simple carbs go into our blood stream quickly, spike your blood sugar levels and then lead to additional sugar cravings 1-2 hours later.

2. Boost serotonin and dopamine levels naturally instead of through sugar. Some ways to do this is movement, meditation, laughing, dancing, listening to binaural beats or your favorite music, and sun exposure.

3. Eat nourishing complex carbohydrates with meals like sweet potatoes, squashes, peas, zucchini lentils, beans and chia seeds.

4. Satisfy your sweet tooth naturally via whole real fruit with a little raw honey.

5. Be sure you are getting proper hydration in between meals.

6. Eat balanced meals with a balanced plate that includes a healthy protein, healthy fat and fiber via veggies.

You do not need to change everything at once, but begin to work with a health practitioner you align with and start looking deeper and chipping away at the possible root causes one by one!