MishaIt starts with half a biscuit, then you might as well finish it off, right? One more wouldn’t add much more to the damage already done. Suddenly, the entire packet is gone before your eyes. Not sure how it happened, but all the clues point back to you.
Sounds familiar? You may simply be human, or if you’re like me, you could be struggling with a sugar addiction without even realising it. Most people associate addictions with drugs, gambling, or alcohol. You can’t possibly have a serious problem if there’s no equivalent of AA for sugar. While there are some options, there just isn’t anything formal. There is no official diagnosis for sugar addiction for deeper reasons, but let’s explore the issue.
Sugar is a sneaky, socially acceptable addiction. It’s always been labelled the infamous “sweet tooth” or “cravings.” It’s easier to get away with it if it doesn’t show, like that one friend who can have have consecutive 4000 calorie days and still look like a paper cut. On a serious note, sugar is behind many health issues today, especially inflammation. We’re consuming more sugar than ever, and there is one main reason: pleasure.
It feels so good. Too good, actually. Almost a guilt-free (usually not) way to take the edge off because after all, it’s just sugar, you’re not a on spice right? Even the sound of crumpling of packaging activates salivation, sending tingling sensations under your tongue before it’s even in your mouth, like a Pavlov dog. Research shows that sugar can trigger the brain’s reward pathways similarly to addictive substances, and the intensity varies from person to person. Then there’s me, and then there’s you.
My Sugar Cravings Struggle
In my worst days, it would start with the thought of a quick snack. I’d remember purposely avoiding buying snacks at the shop because I wanted to be that girl who snacks on bell peppers and yoghurt – a horrid combination by the way – so I had nothing. Hours would pass, and I’d eat other options, healthier options, the “right” options, maybe even get full. But it wasn’t enough.
Eventually, all the adrenaline would kick in around 10:45 p.m., with Tesco shutting in fifteen minutes. That gave me two minutes to look like someone who could pass as human and five to make a brisk walk down to the store whilst the shutters came down. All that daydreaming about chocolate options shortened the time it would take to pick what I wanted, but of course, I used my three minutes wisely to stock up so my fix was readily available next time. Leaving the shop, shorting a couple minutes and staff ready to clock out, I would have a bag full of goodies and breaking into a pack on the way home was my tainted version of success. Whatever I bought might have been finished before the next morning.
I didn’t realise it then, but there wasn’t much separating me from well, a nitty. Feening for my fix all day, being in a mood if I didn’t have chocolate, and don’t even get me started on withdrawals and the luteal phase.
How L-Glutamine Changed the Game
The good thing is that every problem has a solution, and I unknowingly found mine.
In an attempt to heal my leaky gut lining, I looked into taking L-glutamine. This amino acid helps rebuild the walls of the gut, supporting intestinal cells. Initially, I got sucked into marketing and bought a curcumin and glutamine combination supplement. While it was decent, I finished it without noticing any major difference. Then I saw a suggestion to try just the pure form, and this was what changed everything.
Naturally, you can’t see the insides of your gut, so I would take it and not think much of it. One day, during my routine pig-out session, when I was only a quarter of the way through my usual stash, I couldn’t eat anymore. I felt physically sick, so I had no choice but to stop. I was very confused. If you hadn’t guessed it by now, sugar had been one of my few joys in life.
Breaking the Habit
It didn’t stop there. When I went to the shops, I headed toward the “forbidden aisle,” ready to be consumed by marketing, salivation, and the abundance of options. But again, I literally felt disgusted. The thought of consuming my multipack of chocolates before getting home made me leave the aisle. I ended up in a healthier section, and suddenly those options appealed to me more. Over time, I realised I was forcing myself to eat sugar out of habit, not because I craved it.
In about a month, I had stopped consuming refined sugar, and this continued for weeks.
You would think one would feel great, finally overcoming an addiction, but I didn’t. The glutamine helped eliminate cravings, but it wasn’t responsible for sorting out the emotional reasons they existed in the first place. At the time, I was dealing with severe mental health issues, and sugar had been my escape for practically my entire life without me knowing it. My days felt grey; the one thing I had to look forward to didn’t want anymore. This left a gap I didn’t know how to fill.
I stopped taking the glutamine and tried to pig out again. Thankfully, it didn’t work. While I consciously made the decision to reintroduce refined sugar, my body simply would not allow me to go back to consuming it the way I used to.
Reflections on Overcoming Sugar Addiction
Overcoming addiction is a humbling experience. It’s easy to look at someone consumed by an abused substance and judge them, but sugar, while not the same, can still be an addiction. There’s often complex reasoning behind why people turn to substances, and some stories are heartbreaking. This isn’t an excuse, just context, and anyone struggling should seek support if needed. Remember, kindness is free, or better yet, just mind your own business.
Now I’ve turned a new leaf, restarting my journey with glutamine. I still haven’t overindulged, and I’m consciously filling refined-sugar gaps with fruits, herbal teas, exercise, or channelling that adrenaline into productive work. The emotional gap is another journey in itself. Grounding myself with gratitude, journaling, and taking deliberate steps to improve my situation are all part of healing that emotional wound. I’ve found now I don’t need sugar, I just want it sometimes, less and less frequently. Implementing positive habit with accessibility and more have helped me come a long way.
Try This for Your Sugar Cravings
This was my raw experience with sugar cravings and L-glutamine. While it isn’t therapy, it absolutely kept me on a no-refined-sugar streak for weeks. I highly recommend giving it a try if you recognise some of these behaviours in yourself. Please be prepared to fill the emotional gap in whatever way you find works best for you.
For anyone interested, the pure L-glutamine I used can be found here, and it may just be the simple change you need. I’ll be delivering a part two on my new no refined sugar streak, so stay tuned!
Do you think you could be dealing with a sugar addiction?
Share your thoughts and experiences below.
