please explain the sugar thing

[mama bear]

Sheri....I expect YOU to chime in here!!!!!!
I am now addicted to sweet iced tea...
other than the fact that it is fattening.......does the sugar cause cravings and do I need to wean myself off of it???
WAAAAHHHHHHHHHH:nutso:
I will have NOTHING TO LIVE FOR......just kidding
Seriously though....please help me understand.....

[newstart32]

please explain the sugar thing

mama bear;961299 wrote:
I will have NOTHING TO LIVE FOR......just kidding

I have been thinking the same thing. No alcohol AND no sugar? How does one survive??

I would love to know more as well. It seems like many of you go AF and clean up your diets at the same time. How do you do this? I feel like I only have the discipline to get rid of one bad thing at a time.

[rubywillow]

please explain the sugar thing

Actually, IMHO, I think it's OK to have sugar. When we stop AL, we immediately cut off our regular sugar intake, so why shock and torment our bodies more? After a while, our cravings get better, our body finds it's regular level. Take some of your new, sober time, and research what your body actually needs each day to be healthy. I watch what I eat now, but have to really REMEMBER to eat! :H Dark chocolate is really good for you, plus you can get lots of unprocessed sugars from fresh fruits. Take the opportunity to to improve ALL of your health.

[paguy]

please explain the sugar thing

Yep, Rubs. You're right. Alcohol is loaded with highy refined sugars which has a huge impact on our blood sugar and insulin levels. Key solution is to follow a healthy, well balanced diet which should help reduce the sugar cravings.

You may find this article helpful in understanding the relationship between recovering alcoholics and sugar cravings: Sugar Craving Recovering Alcoholics | Talk Rehab

[Guest]

please explain the sugar thing

There seem to be two schools of thought on this one; one says to eat sugars to replace the lost alcohol, whilst the other says simple sugars have negative effects on blood sugar and therefore mood/craving levels. I personally find the latter is the case for myself but folk around me say I'm denying myself, using it as an excuse to restrict my diet.

Think a few posted on another thread this week saying eating things like chocolate, whilst sating certain cravings left them feeling pretty rubbish.

Would appear the initial sugar fulfillment is temporarily satisfied, followed by a dip worse than the original need.

[RV434]

please explain the sugar thing

Hello again mama bear,

From past readings, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and swings in blood sugar are responsible for a lot of the sugar cravings in the recovering alcoholic. If you google alcohol and hypoglycemia, you will find a lot of interesting reads.

[mama bear]

please explain the sugar thing

I just wondered if sugar caused ALCOHOL cravings......

[Guest]

please explain the sugar thing

Its the blood sugar swing AFTER eating simple sugars that we think causes the cravings.

So yes in certain circumstances.

[mama bear]

please explain the sugar thing

k......thanks...

[Guest]

please explain the sugar thing

Best thing is to stick to slow release carbs with the occasional treat. I go bonkers over chocolate, and always feel rubbish afterwards. That's physically as well as mentally.

Someone once told me alcoholics are borderline diabetic in their responses to sugars.

[Doggygirl]

please explain the sugar thing

Mama, have you ever read the My Way Out book? If not (or if it's been a while) you might want to do that. It explains a lot about how important diet is to the My Way Out sobriety plan.

DG

[Guest]

please explain the sugar thing

That's very good although I disagree that alcohol's underlying cause is sugar addiction. It's usually the need for sedation, to escape or avoid certain feelings or thoughts and alcohol happens to do all of this whilst activating addiction centres in the brain.

[spuddleduck]

please explain the sugar thing

i just cant get this. im type 1 diabetic and have to check my blood sugar constantly, taking insulin when i have sugar/carbohydrate. surely the whole thing is that the sugar is turned to alcohol. i used to make wine and yes the sugar is there but as it ferments it turns to alcohol. spirits never increased my blood sugar levels, nor did dry wine and dry cider only slightly. lager and beers and obviously sweet liquers and thing made it rise. a few hours AFTER drinking the alcohol makes blood sugar levels drop... which is why i struggled a lot with hypos (hypoglycemia)in the morning. so as i said i dont understand where this connection comes from.... it seems a very common topic so theres obviously something going on but my experience and blood sugar levels dont seem to tie in with it.

[Guest]

please explain the sugar thing

Spuds

I'm not sure AL affects sugar levels as such but I've always been told the body sees AL as sugar. Apart from the fact it has double the energy value. So treats it as such although suppose it might not actually cause blood sugar to go up.

Most people's experience is that they crave sugar when stopping drinking and that unsteady sugar levels can affect mood(in my experience). Maybe we need you as a guinea pig so we can test this out?feed you different things, do your tests and see how you feel!!!

[bugz]

please explain the sugar thing

mama bear;961384 wrote: I just wondered if sugar caused ALCOHOL cravings......

the short answer is YES, especially in early recovery! I know it for a fact for me
cause drinking 2liter bottle of sprite made me think of nothing but booze
for hours and nearly made me relapse.