We all feel like eating sweets sometimes. Sometimes after eating food and sometimes when we are upset, we run towards sweets. However, some people like sweet food so much that they always wish to eat something sweet. This is called sugar food cravings.
Eating too much sweets is not considered good for health at all. This can not only increase your weight but also has adverse effects on everything from high blood pressure to diabetes, heart problems, joint pain or oral health. However, have you ever wondered why you get sugar cravings? There are many reasons behind this. So, today in this article, RituPuri, Dietitian of ESIC Hospital, Central Government Hospital, is telling you about the reasons why you may have sugar cravings-
Low protein intake
Protein is very important for the body. It also makes you feel satisfied. Not only this, it also plays an important role in insulin and blood sugar regulation. Therefore, when you reduce protein intake, it disturbs the blood sugar. In such a situation, it can also affect your hunger hormones, leptin and ghrelin. Due to this, you may have sugar cravings.
Reduce fiber intake
Like protein, low fibre intake can also cause sugar cravings. Fibre also plays an important role in blood sugar regulation. The fibre in carbohydrate-rich foods slows down the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream. Due to this, you do not have the problem of blood sugar spikes. Due to this, you do not have frequent sugar cravings. Try to include high-fiber foods like fruits, vegetables and whole-grain foods in your diet.
Hormonal fluctuations
Apart from the hunger hormone, the stress hormone can also become the reason for your sugar cravings. When you are under a lot of stress your body releases cortisol which stimulates ghrelin production, which increases appetite. In such a situation, your desire to eat sweets increases a lot. This is why people often eat chocolate or pastries when they are stressed. Additionally, changes in estrogen and progesterone levels during periods can also lead to sugar cravings.
Not sleeping properly
Many times people ignore sleep because of their work. But lack of sleep can also cause you sugar cravings. When you do not sleep properly, it can worsen the hormonal balance. Specifically, it can affect the hormones ghrelin and leptin. Due to this, you may have excessive cravings for sweets.
Dehydration
If you drink less water. Especially in cold weather, when we feel less thirsty, our body gets dehydrated. Due to this, the body can interpret the signals of thirst as hunger. In this situation, the person's desire to eat sugary drinks or snacks increases significantly.
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