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.
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.
Another reason magnesium deficiency can drive sugar cravings is that the mineral helps convert food into energy, Palinski-Wade says. “So anything that's leaving you feeling more lethargic and fatigued, naturally your body craves those quick energy sources, which tends to be those sugary foods,” she says.
Hormonal imbalance or weak digestion can lead to low serotonin. Low blood sugar or low serotonin sends a signal to the brain that it needs a pick-me-up. It is this signal — which you don't consciously control — that causes a craving for sugar or carbohydrates.
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.
extreme tiredness (fatigue) lack of energy (lethargy) breathlessness. feeling faint.
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.
If you're looking to supplement with magnesium, start with 150 mg of Magnesium Bisglycinate per day. It can be especially helpful for women to take magnesium around the time of their period to add some magnesium to help their bodies manage blood sugar more efficiently.
1) Cravings:
When nutrient levels are lesser, the brain's appetite centers are triggered, causing uncontrollable cravings and a ravenous appetite. This is caused due to lack of vitamins B-12 and D, and iron. As a result of eating high-calorie foods more and uncontrollably, weight gain is all but inevitable.
Sugar cravings are often a sign of being very low in zinc, magnesium and chromium. Take a combined chromium, magnesium and calcium supplement as this will balance your blood sugar levels. As your blood sugar levels balance, the craving for sugar decreases.
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.
If you're going to recover from sugar addiction, you need to replace these vital nutrients and help control blood sugar levels. A good multivitamin with zinc, chromium, magnesium, potassium, manganese and B-vitamins helps subdue the craving demon.
As discussed above, a sugar craving could mean that your body is lacking a vitamin or nutrient, or that your blood sugar levels are off. Registered dietitian Farah Fahad recommends adding more protein to your meals, so your blood sugar levels don't drop.
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.