It’s no secret that almost everything you eat, even foods you’d never expect, has sugar in it. It’s no secret that sugar consumption is a huge problem that can lead to major health problems like diabetes and heart disease. Although these problems are on the more serious end, there are still some signs to look for when trying to determine how much sugar you have. We spoke with Brooke Alpert, MS, RD, and CDN, founder of B-Nutritious, American Dietetic Association Fellow, and how to know when it’s time to cut back on sugar.
- You crave sugar a lot
Believe it or not, sugar addiction is possible. According to Alpert, the more sugar you eat, the more insatiable you become. “When you eat a high-sugar meal, you create a wave of hormonal responses in your body that make you go up and then come down and cause your body to crave more sugar,” says Delish. If you’re constantly craving sweets, don’t forget, because your cravings may be a symptom of a bigger problem. - Need more sugar to satisfy yourself
Along with your cravings, you may have a problem if the amount of sugar in certain foods doesn’t satisfy you. Say what Alpert calls sugar overeating, “your taste buds’ sugar tolerance goes up, so you need more sugar to satisfy that sweet tooth.”