Craving for sweets: alternatives to avoid excess sugar

People who follow a diet high in sugar, saturated fats and refined flours could be affected he is more likely to feel anxious about eating something sweetsuch as chocolates, sweets or cakes.

This has an explanation: the foods rich in sugar generate the hormone dopamine, which acts as a reward mechanism for the brain. It is a feeling of well-being that does not last long and therefore forces us to eat more sweets.

Numerous scientific studies show that if a person goes several hours without consuming a sugary food, the brain can enter a sugary state withdrawal statesimilar to that of a person addicted to other substances.

Even for psychology this anxiety can become a nuisanceespecially when it becomes a sensation that lasts over time.

How to calm the anxiety of eating something sweet?

The place Psychology online explains that “sugar binge eating disorder is linked to various factors, both emotional and physiological and it can arise when a person is hungry or not.” He adds that this disorder can be occasional and mild, or become a real behavioral pattern, more difficult to control.

The site explains some of the causes of sweet tooth cravings. One of these, perhaps the most common, is when you experience a drop in blood sugar levelsespecially among those who are used to three meals a day.

“Glucose becomes the best choice to recover from this imbalance since sugar is an easily digestible food and when ingested it quickly informs the brain that it is already the power has been restored that was missing,” he adds.

Also the stressful situations They cause the body to start needing glucose excessively. Permanent production of cortisol maintains alertness and high energy expenditure. So, stressful situations or emotional disturbances can cause anxiety about eating. comfort foodsaccording to the portal of BBC.

Another factor, he says Psychology onlineis that “our reward system is activated when we carry out activities that we find enjoyable and one of these is eating our favorite foods, especially those that contain simple carbohydrates, such as sugar.”

The pleasant taste it produces causes the brain to release dopamine, the “happiness hormone”. According to an article from National Geographicone study concluded that this ingredient increases dopamine levels by 135% to 140%.

Another investigation conducted by scientists from Queensland University of Technologyin Australia, and published in the magazine Plos One, indicates that consuming excess sugar it affects the brain similarly to cocaine and morphine.

The place Better with health recommend consuming some foods that provide natural sweetness and are not addictive:

• Cinnamon. Used to treat type 2 diabetes, it lowers blood sugar levels and delays stomach emptying, preventing post-meal sugar spikes that cause sweet cravings. It can be consumed added to desserts, as an infusion or combined with honey, on an empty stomach.

• Pumpkin. Rich in carbohydrates and fibre, it balances blood sugar levels. A study conducted in Spain found that pumpkin seeds are very nutritious and recommended for calming anxiety. One way to consume it: cut it into thin slices and bake them in the oven with a little cinnamon.

• Carrot. An ingredient in very modern puddings, it contains complex carbohydrates that must be digested to become sugar. Therefore, like pumpkin, it is slow to digest and prevents sugar spikes. Consume in the form of juice, combined with apple or grated and added to all types of salads.