Deficiencies in certain minerals such as zinc, chromium, iron, calcium, and magnesium may lead to sugar
Meet your magnesium needs.
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.
Deficiency of Vitamin B12 is also a reason for increased sugar cravings. Eating a bowl of fresh homemade curd can help you with this.
An iron deficiency will leave you with very low energy and may be a reason for your sugar cravings because the body will crave quick energy to boost itself up. Iron supplements may help fight fatigue and other symptoms of iron deficiency.
Supplements of magnesium can reduce sugar craving and help stabilise blood sugar levels[1]. If you have Type 2 diabetes or Pre-diabetes you are more likely to have low magnesium levels[2, 3].
Sugar cravings are often caused by imbalances in blood glucose levels. Low blood sugar levels might cause you to crave something sweet in order to bring up these levels. Other factors that can play a role include psychological stress, medications, hormone imbalances, and health conditions.
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.
Max out your magnesium
Many doctors believe sugar cravings could actually be a magnesium deficiency, especially if the person craves chocolate. Men should get between 400-420mg per day, with women up to 320mg of magnesium.
Zinc plays many roles in regulating metabolic processes, including glucose metabolism and insulin production. Deficiencies in this key nutrient have been linked to increased food cravings, especially for sweet things like chocolate and sweets.
Weakness, tiredness, or lightheadedness. Heart palpitations and shortness of breath. Pale skin. A smooth tongue.
Estrogen and progesterone were both found to influence cravings when the women in the study were on their periods. Estrogen was the hormone linked with increased cravings for carbohydrate-rich food—progesterone linked with higher consumption of sugary foods.
There are many reasons for the excess sugar in your diet. Perhaps you are eating an improper balance of macronutrients which leads you to crave more simple carbohydrates like sugar. You may be consuming hidden sugar in daily foods. You might eat more sugary foods when stressed, emotional, or lacking sleep.
In a nutshell, drugs to treat sugar addiction include varenicline, mecamylamine, and cytisine.
Magnesium deficiency is diagnosed via a blood test and sometimes a urine test. Your doctor may order the blood test if you have symptoms such as weakness, irritability, abnormal heart rhythm, nausea and/or diarrhoea, or if you have abnormal calcium or potassium levels.
CHROMIUM - Chromium, like magnesium, is involved in blood sugar regulation. Depletion of chromium contributes to decreased glucose tolerance, a precursor to diabetes. Like with magnesium and calcium, high sugar consumption promotes chromium excretion, putting you on a fast-track to deficiency.
Nigma Talib, a naturopath who works with celebrities, has popularized the term “Sugar Face” to describe the effects that excess sugar has on the skin. Supposedly, she can look at someone's face and determine if they have a sweet tooth by the appearance and the location of their blemishes and wrinkles.
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.