Why do I crave sugar? Causes of sugar cravings and how to stop them

If you're someone who experiences sugar cravings you'll know how hard it is to give up the sweet stuff. But you're not alone.

A poll by sugar-free ice cream brand Wheyhey found almost half of us (49 percent ) in the UK are addicted to sweet foods. Of the 2,000 interviewed,  more than three-quarters have tried to quit sugar but only 3 percent have managed to kick sugary treats.

The NHS recommends 30g of added sugar a day, which should account for no more than 5 percent of the calories we consume. However, according to one NHS report, the average Brit eats 700g of sugar a week, or 100g a day. We asked clinical nutritionist Suzie Sawyer and nutritional expert Rob Hobson what causes this addiction and how to put an end to our sugar cravings.

Why do I crave sugar?

Sugar carvings are essentially down to blood sugar balance, or imbalance. If we eat too many sugary, refined foods or have an abundance of stimulants such as caffeine or alcohol, glucose levels in the blood spike. This causes a spike in insulin response to move the glucose out of the bloodstream. And this results in a much lower dip in blood sugar than a normal response. Hence – at the bottom of the curve – more cravings will be felt as well as energy dips. This tricks the brain into believing it needs more, hence those sugar cravings. This is what happens when you eat too much sugar.

'Regions in the brain responsible for pleasure and reward can also play a role in the foods that we crave,' adds Rob Hobson. 'To some degree, we are hard-wired to seek out foods that stimulate feel-good centres in the brain,' he says. 'Mostly those high in sugar and fat.'

Causes of sugar cravings

As well as blood sugar, hormones can play a part in why we crave sugary foods. 'While it’s not quite clear why some teenage girls crave carbohydrate foods (such as those high in sugar) during certain times during their menstrual cycle it may be due to a drop in the happy hormone serotonin,' says Rob. 'Carbohydrates help with the uptake of an amino acid into the brain which is used to make serotonin,' he explains.

'Microbiome imbalance can also impact on sugar cravings, as many of the opportunistic (potentially bad) bacteria in our gut feed on sugar, which enables them to multiply, resulting in dysbiosis (imbalance) in our gut microbiome,' says Adrienne Benjamin, nutritionist for ProVen Probiotics. 'This can lead to a positive feedback loop where the more sugar we eat, the more of these bacteria are present in our gut and the more we crave sugar to feed them,' she says.

Then there is tiredness and fatigue, which can cause us to seek energy-boosting foods that will provide us with a quick fix. 'Lack of sleep can affect our internal body clock, which affects the hormones that regulate appetite (ghrelin and leptin). This makes it more difficult to resist cravings,' says Adrienne.

'Feeling tired also dampens your mood, leaving you less motivated to eat well,' adds Rob. 'This could have you reaching for comfort foods. However, this effect only lasts for a short while. And it can leave you feeling worse once the initial rush wears off,' he warns.

Our mental health may spark sugar cravings, too. 'Cravings are often linked to our emotions. In times of stress or low mood we're more prone to seek out foods that offer comfort,' says Rob.' This might be because we associate these foods with happy memories and nostalgia. Plus, the stress hormone cortisol can increase appetite and your motivation to eat,' he explains.

Further culprits for your sugar cravings include 'not eating enough calories, habit – such as that chocolate bar every day or eating as soon as you arrive home after work – and seeking reward,' says Adrienne. 'Also, eating imbalanced meals that include too much carbohydrate compared with protein and/or fat. And eating too many salty processed foods triggers sugar cravings as a rebound response to high salt levels,' she adds. So, if you want to reduce sugar cravings, reducing the salt in your diet is also key.

Suzie Sawyer

Suzie Sawyer is a nutritional expert with more than 20+ years of experience. Specialising in female health and food supplements, she is a member of the British Association for Applied Nutrition and has a diploma in nutrition from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition, London. Suzie has been featured in a range of title, including Women’s Health, woman&home, Women, Women’s Own, and Daily Mail. 

Rob Hobson

Rob Hobson is an award-winning registered nutritionist, with more than 15 years experience. Accredited by the AFN and SENR, he also has degrees in nutrition, public health nutrition and sports nutrition. Rob is a published author of three successful books, Unprocess Your Life, The Detox Kitchen Bible and The Art of Sleeping. He has acted as Head of Nutrition at Healthspan since 2013. 

How do you stop sugar cravings?

'The key to reducing sugar cravings is understanding what's triggering them and to focus on balancing blood sugar to manage physical cravings,' says Adrienne. 'Eat fruit with fat or protein to reduce the impact on blood sugar, plus whole nutrient-dense foods to replace processed and sugar-laden food.' Nutrient-dense foods include fruit, veg, wholegrains, eggs and oily fish such as salmon and sardines.

Another effective way to stop sugar cravings is 'to eat plenty of protein at each meal,' advises Suzie. 'Eat eggs, meat, dairy, nuts, seeds, fish, beans or high-protein grains such as quinoa. When we eat protein, it stimulates the opposing hormone to insulin (glucagon) thereby balancing blood sugar response and reducing cravings,' she explains. 'Whenever you feel sugar cravings coming on, reach for a protein snack such as some nuts or seeds. Or an oatcake with hummus, cottage cheese or nut butter, or some natural yoghurt,' recommends Suzie. 'It’s amazing how quickly urges dissipate and tastebuds adapt.'

If chocolate is your weakness a little bit of what you fancy can actually ease your sugar cravings. But it must be the right sort. 'Eating small portions of "healthier" dark chocolate (70% cocoa or higher) can help if you're craving chocolate, as this contains both magnesium and antioxidants,' says Adrienne.

'Another thing you may want to consider is taking chromium,' suggests Rob. 'This mineral helps to regulate blood sugar levels. Some people find that it helps them get a better grip on sugar cravings,' he says. Try Healthspan Chromium (£14.95 for 360 tablets). One more supplement worth trying is a probiotic. 'A probiotic can help balance your gut and support digestion and absorption of nutrients from food,' says Adrienne. Try ProVen Probiotics Four Pillars of Nutrition (£21.95 for a 30-day supply).

Now you know what may be causing your sugar cravings, find out how to quit sugar easily and painlessly, take a look at some of these healthy sugar substitutes that will get you consuming less refined sugar, or follow our sugar-free diet plan.

Suzie Sawyer

Suzie Sawyer is a nutritional expert with more than 20+ years of experience. Specialising in female health and food supplements, she is a member of the British Association for Applied Nutrition and has a diploma in nutrition from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition, London. Suzie has been featured in a range of title, including Women’s Health, woman&home, Women, Women’s Own, and Daily Mail.