Allowing yourself a cookie without guilt is perfectly healthy, but if sugar cravings become too frequent, it is advisable to look for the cause (stress, fatigue, a need for comfort via serotonin) and to diversify your sources of pleasure beyond food.

noli's read

The link between sleep deprivation, stress, and increased cravings for comfort foods is scientifically well-established. A meta-analysis published in Sleep Medicine Reviews (2017) demonstrates that sleep restriction significantly increases overall caloric intake and the appeal of sugary products. Furthermore, an observational study published in Appetite (2013) confirms that emotional eating is frequently used to regulate negative emotions and stress. However, the concept of 'sugar addiction' in humans is highly debated: a consensus review in the European Journal of Nutrition (2016) suggests it is more a strong consumption habit than a true biochemical dependency. Finally, attributing afternoon cravings to a direct need for serotonin is an appealing shortcut, even if clinical trials (such as those published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition) show that carbohydrates indirectly promote the availability of this serenity messenger in the brain.

the sources

1. 1Stewart TM, Williamson DA, White MA 2002
2. 2Neumark-Sztainer D et al. 2007
3. 3Malik VS, Hu FB 2019
4. 4Yang Q, Zhang Z, Gregg EW, et al. 2014
5. 5Westwater ML, Fletcher PC, Ziauddeen H 2016