Craving for sweets is one of the most important addictions among people all over the world. Sweet craving is present in children, teenagers as well as adults. Too much indulgence in sweet can lead to several ailments such as tooth decay, osteoporosis and obesity besides the dreaded conditions such as diabetes and cancer.
Many people crave sweets after eating their meal. There are several reasons for such craving. Some people crave and eat just because of habit. Change in brain chemicals and the diet that you eat can also lead to sweet craving after eating food.
What Causes Craving Sweets After A Meal?
There are several reasons that may cause sweet craving after eating.
- Intake of too much simple carbohydrate in your diet can trigger a desire to eat something sweet. The simple reason is when you eat excess of simple sugar; it builds up quickly in the blood. This leads to a rise in insulin level consequently your body thinks it has to eat more sugar and you crave for it.
- If your meal is too salty and oily, the body tries to create a balance by longing for sweets.
- One of the causes for post meal craving of sweets is low level of serotonin. It is a brain chemical which is associated with mood elevation. When you are depressed or sad, your serotonin level in the body is due to low serotonin level. At this point the body craves for sugar as it has an action on accelerating serotonin level secretion thus improving your mood.
- If you are dehydrated, you may desire to drink water while eating food. This can cause trouble digesting food. When you do not digest your food well, you may want something sweet to eat.
How To Stop Craving Sweets After A Meal?
Here are some of the tips that may help to stop craving of sweet after meals.
- Low serotonin level can increase the chance of sweet craving. Serotonin is a feel good hormone. It can rise with diet, right amount of sleep and exercise. Hence increase your serotonin or keep it in balance by these two; exercise and good sleep.
- Drink plenty of water as the body may think it needs sugar, but in fact in reality it is water that the body needs especially during dehydration.
- Eat more green vegetables and vegetable juices. It helps to reduce craving for sugar and processed eating products. It also contains vitamins and minerals.
- The other great thing is if you need or have great desire to eat sweet, eat some fruit or dried fruit as it contains nutrition as well as natural sugars.