What’s Sugar Got To Do With Binges? by Joan Kent, PhD

What’s Sugar Got To Do With Binges?
By Joan Kent, PhD

We’ve finally moved past fat-phobia, and it’s now common knowledge that sugar is bad news. Because of that, I’ve noticed people no longer seem interested in sugar as a topic.

But obesity is epidemic, so it is worth looking at eating triggers.

Sugar is definitely an eating trigger – and not just for more sugar, although that does happen. It can make us want to eat more food in general, and that’s obviously not good.

In fact, sugar may trigger full-scale binge eating episodes.

This post is not about binge-eating disorder, detailed in the DSM-5. Instead, it’s about binge eating, which can, and does, occur without the frequency or emotional aspects of the disorder. This post will focus on binges that involve eating large amounts of food, even when not hungry.

How Can Sugar Make Me Binge Eat?

Sugar can make you binge in several ways. This post will cover three of them.

Sugar triggers brain release of endorphins (beta-endorphin). Endorphins affect the part of the brain that signals satiety – the feeling that we’ve had enough food and don’t need to eat more.

Satiety goes beyond just ending a meal at a certain point. After the meal is over, it keeps us from wanting to go back for more food. The part of the brain that houses the satiety center is the VMH (ventromedial hypothalamus, for the curious).

Endorphins stop the VMH from producing the feeling of satiety. So sugar may cause the meal to go on and on – and may also start the next meal much sooner than it otherwise would.

Does Sugar Affect Everyone That Way?

Sugar’s effect on satiety is common to most of us, but some people are more susceptible to the brain effects of sugar. That might include folks with a personal or family history of alcoholism or other addiction, depression or other mood disorders, or a personal history of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).

Someone with one or more of these factors in his/her background may release more endorphins (beta-endorphin) when eating sugar. That could prevent the VMH from performing its satiety function for an extended time.

Then There Are Food Preferences

Endorphins change food preferences, making us want foods that trigger more endorphins. Those would be fats and more sugars.

Some explanations center on the “palatability” of sugars and fats, and that’s logical. Sugars and fats taste great.

But it’s the change in the brain because of the endorphins that makes us want different foods – and those foods further encourage binge eating.

Another Way Sugar Might Make You Binge

Sugar triggers insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas that helps us process carbs. Some people release extra insulin when they eat sugar.

Those people might include those with a family history of alcoholism, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, hypoglycemia, and/or obesity.

Body type might be a factor, as well. Women with an apple-shaped body type – regardless of weight – are more likely to produce extra-high insulin when they eat sugar.

Extra-high insulin can cause a rapid drop in glucose. At that point, a variety of symptoms may occur, including premature signals of hunger – even if a meal has been eaten recently.

After a recent meal, glucose would be expected to remain elevated for a while. But, as described above, for certain people eating sugar can shorten that period of elevated glucose and trigger hunger, cravings, or both.

Between extra endorphins and super-high insulin, sugar may give susceptible people a serious – and undesirable – boost in appetite. And binges may result.

Have You Tried To Stop Binges and Failed?

If you’ve tried to stop binge eating, but think it might be difficult, or if you feel you’d like to eliminate sugar from your diet but simply know you’ll get cravings for it, here’s a suggestion. You might start by “arming” yourself with a time-tested Craving Killer.

The craving killer is liquid B-complex. A teaspoon of it can take away a sugar craving in a few minutes and help to prevent a binge.

PLEASE check with your doctor to be sure B-complex vitamins are okay for you to take. Certain medical conditions are contraindicated for any B-complex treatment, including: ulcers, gout, diabetes, gall bladder or liver disease, or a past heart attack.

Also, please avoid taking B-complex over and over if you have cravings many times a day. Even though B vitamins are water soluble, excess use can cause a variety of side effects. To repeat, please check with your doctor before trying this craving strategy.

So B-complex is quick, but it’s not for everyone. Much safer is a change in your diet to get you past cravings long term.

Yes, that’s easier said than done, but it’s almost certain to be one of the best nutrition changes you’ll ever make. The freedom that results is what I wish for you.

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If you’d like help with binge eating, excessive appetite, and/or quitting sugar, I specialize in that and would love to help you. Please visit Coaching on the home page and request your free Food Breakthrough Session. Find out how simple and safe it can be to change your relationship with sugar and food – so you can feel fantastic and in control.