Anxiety To Eat Sweets

A popular saying states: “for tastes, colors”; something that could easily be extended to: “for tastes, flavors”. It is common for each of us to feel a preference for a type of taste and food. However, many people experience a sweet tooth craving that goes beyond that natural predilection.

We all know the harmful effects of a diet based excessively on these types of products. However, the overwhelming desire to consume them seems unstoppable. Therefore, if we want to combat this harmful need, we must understand why it occurs.

What is the anxiety to eat sweets?

In the first instance, it is necessary to define what the anxiety to eat sweet consists of since eating foods rich in sugar is not, in itself, negative. Glucose is necessary for the proper functioning of the body ; it is our main source of energy.

What happens is that not all types of sugar are beneficial. And those who often experience cravings for sweets tend to choose the most harmful; that is, pastries and other industrial and processed foods.

In addition, it is not about conscious and voluntary eating, but rather impulsive. The desire to eat sweet appears and it is almost impossible to fight. Thus, after having succumbed to this impulse, the person experiences a high level of guilt.

What are the causes?

It is not possible to identify a single cause that accounts for the origin of craving to eat sweet. In each case various factors intervene ; however, the most common are the following:

High stress levels

Many people, when going through periods of special nervousness or psychological tension, feel that their stomach is closed and they can hardly eat. However, in many other cases stress triggers the urge to eat sugar.

This is explained by the fact that stress is a natural reaction of the body that prepares us to act in specific situations of danger. However, when stress is sustained, we remain alert for a long period of time, thus consuming all our energy resources.

In this case, the body asks for the glucose it needs to replenish itself and continue to function. And this is when a bad choice leads us to select low-quality sugary products.

Emotional causes

It is also very frequent that the need to eat sweet appears when the individual feels sadder or down. In a way, it’s about filling the emotional void that you feel in the moment with foods high in sugar.

But again, this has an explanation. By eating these types of products, the brain’s reward circuit is activated. That is, the body begins to release dopamine; which makes us feel happier and fuller momentarily. However, in a short space of time, the sensation disappears and we need to eat sugar again, developing a kind of addiction for that type of food.

Boredom

Believe it or not, not infrequently we confuse hunger and boredom. Thus, when we are with nothing to occupy ourselves, it is frequent that we end up eating without being hungry, also choosing the least healthy foods and with higher levels of sugars.

How to combat the anxiety to eat sweets?

Eating sweets impulsively, excessively and uncontrollably has serious health consequences. Therefore, it is important that we seek the most appropriate care and treatment for this problem; something that will generally include the intervention of various professionals, such as psychologists and nutritionists.

One of the most important tasks is learning to identify the different emotional states. Ask yourself: am I really hungry or am I just sad, bored, or stressed?

Once it is established that hunger is not the problem, it will be necessary to acquire more adaptive strategies to deal with anxiety or sadness. It is not healthy to use food as a mood regulator so it is imperative to develop more appropriate coping modes.

Lastly, it is also important to remember that the goal is not to completely restrict your intake of sugars. For this reason, excessively restrictive diets are not a good alternative, since they will only increase the feeling of anxiety about eating sweets. A balanced diet and the attention of qualified professionals constitute the best intervention.