Trading Alcoholism for Sugar Addiction: Here’s the Not-So-Sweet Truth Promises Behavioral Health

Like we stated earlier, rehab centers and AA meetings will have a wide array of sugary concoctions on deck. While it’s admirable that you have beat your previous addiction, replacing it with something like sweets will only further the decline of your physical and mental state. Addiction treatment programs help individuals get a jump-start on addressing the risk of becoming addicted to sugar during early recovery. Many Sober Home programs offer nutritional counseling that sets a person up to understand how to shop and cook for themselves in a way that supports their physical health, mental health, and recovery. Overcoming alcohol addiction requires strength, determination, and commitment. Once you give up drinking, do you notice that you are more drawn to sugar? Instead of a beer, do you fantasize about a freshly baked pie or warm brownie?

Alyssa who is the National Director of Digital Marketing, joined the Banyan team in 2016, bringing her five-plus years of experience. She has produced a multitude of integrated campaigns and events in the behavioral health and addictions field. Through strategic marketing campaign concepts, Alyssa has established Banyan as an industry leader and a national household name. These activities encourage dopamine production from behaviors that don’t bring about the terrible consequences of returning to active addiction. 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. Because your liver spends so much time processing the alcohol, other nutrient absorption is delayed. Alcohol Addiction 101 – What You Should Know For most adults, moderate or social alcohol use is not problematic, however, approximately 18 million American adults have an alcohol addiction. Here is some basic information to help individuals navigate problematic alcohol use. A New Age of Digital Addiction – What The Metaverse Means for Mental Health and Digital Addiction 2022 is here, and technology companies are racing to develop a new digital world – the Metaverse.

Experts suggest exercise and snacking on healthy treats to help with sugar cravings

In other words, if it takes a pack of cigarettes and a pint of ice cream a day in order to not drink, do whatever it takes. “I’ll deal with the food issue later once I’m more stable in my sobriety.” It’s easy to overlook the dangers of sugar or overeating when you were a blackout drinker. Whether you’re struggling to stop drinking or have relapsed, we’re here to help. We use a curriculum of evidence-based therapies to help you heal from your alcoholism. As Northeast Ohio’s premier provider of alcohol addiction treatment, you can safely and privately recover from alcohol addiction. That’s why treatment centers like Silver Maple Recovery offer trauma-informed care and cognitive behavioral therapy. Addressing the underlying cause of your behavior can help you overcome a transfer addiction. Addiction is a chronic condition that alters your thinking and behavior. Put sugar cravings in check by avoiding situations that will test your resolve to reduce or eliminate the substance.

I wasn’t looking to get a healthy balance right from the start, just to find alcohol replacements. As discussed above, sugar can be as addictive as alcohol for some people. Excessive consumption of fructose sweeteners, for example, can lead to fatty liver disease—just like alcohol. And restoring healthy digestion and blood sugar can make a big difference in long-term recovery. Long-term, alcohol abuse disrupts your body’s ability to regulate your blood sugar. This is partially because alcohol can damage the pancreas, which controls blood sugar levels, and partially due to poor diet and malnutrition. Studies show that alcoholism is at least partially hereditary, and this may also be true of sugar addiction. Scientists have discovered that children of alcoholic parentsmay be more likely to have a sweet tooth. This is especially true if you are struggling with sugar cravings. Many people who struggle with alcohol addiction also suffer from low blood sugar levels, or hypoglycemia.

Addiction Therapy Programs

It’s never too early to begin a conversation surrounding the topic of Metaverse addiction and the impact the Metaverse will have on mental health. Some may also benefit from working with a nutritionist, dietician, health coach, nutritional coach, nutritional therapist, or other such professionals in order to improve their relationship with food. But if you’ve quit and are on the road to recovery, it’s important to be aware of the addiction shift from alcohol to sugar. Recovery is a long battle that requires a strong support system and a healthy environment to ensure sobriety. Fruits like apples, bananas, oranges, figs, and strawberries, and veggies like Brussel sprouts, broccoli, and carrots are high in fiber and provide countless health benefits. All research on the North Jersey Recovery Center website, including images, texts and graphics, is strictly for informational purposes. Please do not ignore information from your doctor because of something you saw on the North Jersey Recovery Center website. If you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. Some patients might even benefit from working with a nutritionist, dietician, health coach, or other professionals that can help you to improve your relationship with food. Fresh fruits and veggies are a given in any diet, but including a few portions of your favorite fruits can reduce a craving quickly and effectively.

Sugar impacts the same region of the brain as alcohol and drugs, since it works to stimulate the pleasure center of the brain. Research has gone on to show that sugar has a similar influence on the brain’s reward center, just like alcohol and drugs do. When you’re experiencing alcohol withdrawals, your brain lacks the ‘good mood’ hormone dopamine. Long-term alcohol use negatively affects this hormone and causes its normal levels to fall. So eating fruits that can raise dopamine levels is a must in your diet. The highly skilled therapist coupled with the focus on purpose and long-term goals refocused my recovery from what previous treatment centers pushed onto me. I went from believing that I needed years of treatment to believing I needed years happiness and success. I came to realize all the things my addiction and mental illness had taken from me, and I used my future goals as a reason to never pick up again. Due to the passion that Launch instilled in me, I have pursued my future with excitement and dedication.

With modern food technology and the widespread availability of high-calorie foods, at least in Western nations, this is no longer necessary for survival. Even if you’re craving a food that isn’t doing your health any favors, in early sobriety your body is just trying to find its equilibrium. By making a few adjustments to do recovering alcoholics crave sugar your diet and lifestyle, you can help gently restore balance, which will take the focus off sugar. Many people who’ve recently ditched the booze have never experienced sugar cravings, and then suddenly have powerful urges to eat anything sweet in sight. My skin looks great and I am actually having dreams when I sleep.