why do reformed alcoholics crave sugar ?

Question:

my boyfriend quit drinking 3 years ago,,,but he craves sugar products,candy,sweets, cakes,ect.ect. is this normal?

Answers:
Yes, it's normal. A lot of times alcoholics will start craving sweets because it's thought that might be their way of increasing the brain's level of serotonin. Researchers think that's why they might have been addicted to alcohol, because they used the sugar to increase the serotonin in their brain.

Here's an excerpt from an article written about the connection between alcoholics, a craving for sweet foods, and serotonin levels.

"Alcohol and carbohydrates have both been shown to increase levels of serotonin in the body, the researchers explain. Low levels of this chemical can lead to depression, anxiety, aggression, and sleep problems."

http://www.personalmd.com/news/n0526050420.shtml
http://www.mercola.com/2000/may/28/alcoholics_sweets.htm
http://www.jointogether.org/news/research/summaries/2000/carbohydrates-connected-to.html

edit: And by the way Glen, NOT ALL ALCHOLICS SMOKE. That's an offensive and stereotypical statement made by someone who is very small minded. I bet you're a janitor in your job, and it's no wonder.

Other Answers:
The real question is why do they smoke so much? The answer is vague but probally they are substituting one addiction for another.

it is usually heroin addicts that crave the sugar, but cant swear to it. I have quit drinking for 3 year periods & I didn't want any more sugar than usual. But I did like a donut in the morning.

Yeast from alcohol builds in the body over time (Candidas). They feed off sugar and sugar products.

http://www.curezone.com

Yes. alcohol is mostly sugar.

Alcohol and sugar are related.

alcol like smoking is a crutch,thats why smokers often eat more after quitting,they just swap one crutch for onther ie smoking dringing,sex,sugar high,are all crutchess,and most often one will look for onther crutch when quitting one,might i sugest the sugar cruthch is better than being an alcoholics but he will in time have a weight problem,that leads to other health problems

i would say yes because beer has so much sugar that he probaly misses all that sugar and didnt even relize it

Does he have any permanent liver damage?.Is he overweight?.I'm certainly not a doctor but it sounds like he may have type 2 diabetes.Ask him to see a GP.Maybe he just has a sweet tooth?.
Source(s):
http://www.diabeteshealthonline.com

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why do reformed alcoholics crave sugar ?

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