Typically after we crave sugar, we’re simply making an attempt to really feel higher — and candy meals do present a short lived increase. “[Sweet] substances launch opioids . . . into our bloodstream, and when these chemical compounds bind with the receptors in our mind, we expertise an intense sensation of delight — perhaps even get a bit excessive,” explains Alexandra Jamieson, co-creator of the Oscar-nominated documentary Tremendous Measurement Me and writer of 4 books, together with Girls, Meals, and Want.
A behavior of turning to sweets can turn into an unconscious technique for mitigating troublesome emotions, says functional-medicine dietitian Katherine Wohl, RDN, IFNCP. “You naturally wish to tamp down that stress response with carbs and sugar and meals that mitigate these emotions within the second — nevertheless it backfires [in the] long run, really making the stress response worse.”
This was excerpted from “9 Frequent Questions Answered About Starvation Cravings” which was printed in Expertise Life.