The Link Between Sugar And Alcohol After Addiction Recovery

It’s relatively common knowledge in the recovery community that people in early recovery from drug and alcohol abuse have pretty insane sugar cravings. The original Printing of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) even has a mention of a physician who encouraged newly sober alcoholics to keep chocolate and candy nearby to curb alcohol cravings. 

But, do you know why this is? There are different reasons for the cravings, and some of these reasons might surprise you. 

The Connection Between Alcohol and Sugar

Myth: Alcohol breaks down into sugar in the body.

Yes, sugar is combined with yeast in alcohol production, but most alcoholic beverages, like pure spirits, vodka, whiskey, and tequila, have a sugar content of zero, unless, of course, if flavoured or sweetened. Sugar-free mixers are used to mix with alcohol and contain little to no sugar or calories. Plus, alcohol never breaks down into sugar while the body metabolises it. 

While it’s true that mixed drinks, including alcopop, cocktails, and liqueur, tend to have a lot of sugar, the alcohol itself doesn’t contribute to your sugar intake. Wine and beer, though, may contain natural sugars or residual sugars from the fermentation process.

Alcoholics often consume more than 50% of their calories through alcohol, so nutrient deficiency or overall poor nutrition is a very real risk. When your liver spends that much time processing alcohol, the absorption of other nutrients is delayed.

Sugar Cravings After Quitting Alcohol

Alcohol consumption has a big impact on blood sugar levels, causing an initial spike followed by a dramatic crash. Alcohol inhibits your body’s response to insulin, which is the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. These spikes and crashes are the primary reason why people in early recovery commonly experience such intense sugar cravings.

When you stop alcohol use abruptly, you’re disrupting your body’s blood sugar regulation after losing a significant source of calorie intake, leading to a reduction of glucose. These deficiencies lead to cravings for sugary foods and drinks, like juice and soda.

Drugs, Alcoholic Drinks, and Sugar Cravings

Drugs, on the other hand, have an impact on our dopamine levels, and so does sugar. When we eat sweets, our brain’s reward system is activated similarly to how it’s activated when we use drugs. And, of course, drinking alcohol has a similar impact on our brain’s reward system, so we have a double whammy with alcohol – the blood-sugar deficiencies or hypoglycemia, and the way that alcohol affects the brain. 

High-sugar foods feel much more pleasurable and rewarding than foods with a higher nutritional value. In essence, sugary foods are highly addictive, as they trigger a dopamine release in the brain, just like drugs and alcohol.

If You’re in Early Recovery, Have the Sugar!

In the first few months of recovery, high amounts of sugar found in sugary foods and drinks can be enormously beneficial because they can reduce the intensity of drug and alcohol cravings. The short dopamine boost that you’ll get from having sweets may very well save you from a relapse. A bag of jelly beans or a chocolate bar will do much less damage than a drink or a drug. 

Find Sugar Replacements in the Form of Healthy Activities to Avoid Diabetes and Other Health Problems

Ultimately, however, you don’t want to rely on sweets too often, as sugar can also have downsides because it’s not very good for you. Excessive sugar consumption can, of course, lead to many health risks, including weight gain, obesity, diabetes, bad skin, gut problems, and a general decline in physical health.

The good news? You can get those dopamine hits by engaging in other healthy and rewarding behaviours. These include yoga and exercise, meditation, playing music, painting, and competitive sports, among other things. 

How Sugar Affects Addiction Recovery

Does sugar affect alcohol? As addicts, we’re accustomed to getting a quick fix, and sugar provides just this. Once again, it’s fine to reach for sugar in early recovery. When you first start on your recovery journey, you should do whatever it is you need to do to stay off the drinking and the drugging. If this means having the occasional Snickers Bar, knock yourself out, and don’t beat yourself up for it. 

Once you’ve put some months together, try going for the long-term, sustainable dopamine hits mentioned above. Activities like yoga, surfing, painting, and hiking will keep you feeling good without a crash later. Your brain and your body will become stronger, too. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is still one of the most promising ways to recover from alcohol addiction.

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