5 Signs You’re Addicted to Candy

Sweets offer much more than a pleasant taste to the palate. They are responsible for increasing the levels of serotonin in the human body, which is popularly known as the “mood hormone”.

No wonder, sweets end up becoming women’s allies, especially during PMS, a period of greater sensitivity and emotional fragility thanks to hormonal variations in the body.

However, sometimes, the desire to eat sweets ends up becoming uncontrollable and what was just gluttony becomes an addiction. At this point, it is essential to review this habit and balance your diet.

See below if you really are a candy addict and check out tips to fight addiction. If this is not your case, even better: follow the tips to prevent sweets consumption from becoming a compulsion one day.

How to identify a sweet tooth

1. You have strong cravings for sweets

It is confirmed that sometimes the body asks for something sweet, and this can happen for several reasons, according to nutritionist Fernanda Machado Rezende, from Nutri Import. However, in your case, this desire is much more frequent. And it’s a cycle: the more sweets you consume, the more cravings you’ll feel. Therefore, the idea here is to think of alternatives that replace sweets.

2. Small portions don’t satisfy you

This can happen for several reasons, but a possible reason for this insatiability, according to the professional, can be insulin resistance. “People with this resistance tend to crave more sweets because insulin can’t get the sugar into the cells and produce energy, and so it feels like there’s no sugar at all, which makes the body send signals that it needs the substance.” , informs.

3. You get rid of stressful moments with sweets

According to Fernanda, “the increase in the cortisol hormone, which is related to stress and anxiety, also increases this intake”, which justifies this behavior. This also happens because the consumption of sweets brings with it the feeling of pleasure, thanks to the help in increasing serotonin levels.

4. Have you tried to reduce consumption and it didn’t work

No addiction is easy to control, and, similarly, reducing sweets consumption is not going to be simple. If you identified the addiction, you are already earning for it. Seek the help of a professional to follow the case and help you to control and reduce the compulsion more and more.

5. You eat in secret

This is because you are aware that you are compulsive for sweets and know that it is a problem. However, sharing it with someone can be advantageous, as the person can help you control addiction (if they are a person present in your daily life).

Is it possible to fight candy addiction?

According to the nutritionist, there are several ways to contain the compulsion for sweets, but the most important thing is to have the follow-up of a professional. “First, you need to consult a nutritionist to see which type of deficiency is related to the desire to eat sweets”, she suggests.

In addition, the tip is to opt for alternatives that can offer sensations similar to those felt with the consumption of sweets. See below options to dribble addiction:

• Fruits are a great option. They are important to balance food, in addition to vegetables. However, the professional does not indicate that fruits (as well as sweets) are ingested alone in the middle of the afternoon, as this can cause an insulin spike.
• Sweets don’t leave the list! Protein options are welcome in this situation. Nowadays, some brands offer chocolates and even puddings in these conditions. “In addition to being very tasty, protein provides better satiety and slower digestion than a simple fruit”, suggests Fernanda.
• Teas with a high concentration of catecholamines are good allies. Rezende explains: “they have antioxidant effects 5 times higher than those of vitamin C and E and thus reduce the excess of the stress hormone”. The tip is to ingest it in a bottle throughout the day.
• To complete the feeding, rules and schedules must be established. Eating every 3 hours prevents the increase in the cortisol hormone, a strong enemy in the fight against the compulsion of sweets.
• Providers of pleasurable sensations are not just food. Fernanda indicates the practice of physical activities, for example, which has the ability to raise the levels of adrenaline and serotonin in the body, and which causes a great feeling of well being, reducing anxiety.

And don’t forget: sweets are fundamental to the human body, but just like any compulsion, exaggerated consumption can bring big problems. Pay attention to your food and always be up to date with your health!

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. They do not replace the advice and follow-up of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, physical education professionals and other specialists.