Deficiencies in certain minerals such as zinc, chromium, iron, calcium, and magnesium may lead to sugar cravings as well, Elia says. Magnesium deficiency is specifically worth paying attention to.
B Vitamins
B vitamins curb sugar cravings significantly through the essential support they provide to the metabolism and nervous system.
Low iron levels in the body can lead to reduced energy production and an imbalance in hormones that are responsible for regulating hunger and satiety signals. This can result in increased cravings for sweet foods as our bodies seek out additional sources of energy.
Deficiency of Vitamin B12 is also a reason for increased sugar cravings. Eating a bowl of fresh homemade curd can help you with this.
Many sugar cravings stem from a blood sugar imbalance. When your body ingests sugar, your blood sugar spikes and your body releases insulin to lower it to a safer level. If the insulin brings your blood sugar level a bit too low, as often happens, your body craves foods that will raise it and increase your energy.
Just before your period when estrogen is low and progesterone is on its way down, levels of feel-good beta-endorphins in your brain bottom out. This hormonal imbalance can cause intense sugar cravings for women in perimenopause or with PMS as your body attempts to boost serotonin and endorphins.
A low level of magnesium can increase sugar cravings, especially for chocolate. Other mild deficiency symptoms could include constipation, tight muscles, high stress levels, difficulty sleeping, clenching teeth at night and more.
Another study showed that zinc deficiency may play a role in sugar cravings. They found that when people who were deficient in zinc supplemented with it, their sugar cravings decreased significantly! Zinc is found naturally in foods, however often we don't eat enough of these foods to sustain our levels.
Craving and chewing ice (pagophagia) is often associated with iron deficiency, with or without anemia, although the reason is unclear. At least one study indicates that ice chewing might increase alertness in people with iron deficiency anemia.
What deficiency causes sugar cravings? Lacking magnesium affects the body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels and deliver energy into the cells which can instigate sugar cravings. Eat more magnesium rich foods like raw nuts, seeds, avocados, cacao, leafy greens, and bananas.
In a nutshell, drugs to treat sugar addiction include varenicline, mecamylamine, and cytisine.
If you struggle with a sweet tooth, you may have heard of the sugar-buster herb, gymnema sylvestre. This fascinating herb contains gymnemic acids which, when placed directly on your tongue, actually fill the sugar receptors in your taste buds, effectively blocking your ability to taste sweetness.
How to raise your B12 levels fast. The most common way to treat B12 deficiencies is by adjusting your diet. If this is unsuccessful, vitamin supplements may be recommended. If you're looking to boost the amount of vitamin B12 in your diet, you should eat more animal products, like meat, seafood, dairy and eggs.
A lack of vitamin B12 can cause neurological problems (issues affecting your nervous system), such as: vision problems. memory loss. pins and needles (paraesthesia)
Vitamin B12 deficiency can indeed lead to weight gain. But the weight gain is not a direct result of the deficiency. Instead, vitamin B12 deficiency causes lethargy or lack of energy, and in turn, inactivity causes weight gain.
It's harder to get your B12 from food if you're on a strict plant-based diet. That means you don't eat any animal products, including eggs or dairy. Your doctor will likely suggest taking a daily or weekly dietary supplement to keep your levels up.
When you're stressed, you might have trouble sleeping, and when you have trouble sleeping, you might be stressed. This cycle—in which lack of sleep and stress fuel each other—can lead to cravings for sweet food, so addressing your lack of sleep and high stress may help you curb your sugar intake.
Without enough insulin, your brain cannot make use of that sugar. Since the brain relies on a second-by-second delivery of sugar for fuel—and your brain doesn't know you have diabetes—it's going to cue cravings and hunger to encourage you to eat.
Sugar as a substitute for something
Many of us reach for something sweet in times of stress and sadness. If you find yourself mindlessly munching on sugary snacks during these emotional times, you may be using sugar as a symbolic substitute for something missing in your life. Perhaps instead your mind/body is craving -