Have you ever experienced a sugar headache? That blood sugar spike caused by simple carbs (and the subsequent drop in blood glucose) is one of the least understood migraine triggers. This reaction is referred to as reactive hypoglycemia.

If we don’t eat enough calories for our bodies’ needs, then our blood-glucose levels drop too low. This can happen if we skip meals, fast, diet, or exercise on insufficient food. Eating a high-sugar meal can cause ‘reactive hypoglycemia’ because the sudden rise in blood glucose from the sugary food triggers an over-production of insulin, which in turn makes the blood glucose levels fall too low.

The brain not receiving enough glucose causes most of the symptoms of hypoglycemia, which include: headache, migraine, confusion, nausea, and sweating.

Craving sweets is human, built into our taste buds and bodies, and even mother’s milk. Sweet foods make our brains release a hit of dopamine, the best pleasure chemical we produce. Just imagine dealing with a Migraine attack for four days, finally getting past the pain to feeling normal again, and you treat yourself to a yummy chocolate chip cookie, just the fix your brain is craving, but a bad choice! For many people with Migraines, this simple and logical decision illustrates the powerful and potentially risky relationship between sugar and Migraines.

Hidden Sugars

Thanks to better food labeling, you can now see the sucrose, glucose, and high fructose corn syrup hidden in packaged foods, like barbecue sauce, spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, yogurt, and more.

Large food companies are now required to print “Added Sugars

Even if you say no to dessert, skip candy at the movies, and avoid sugary soft drinks, how can you tame your sweet tooth and keep your blood sugar more stable? Here are a few strategies that can help people get off the sugar roller coaster without wiping out.

Tips To Crave Less Sugar

1) Eat small smart meals

2) Combine carbs with fat or protein

3) Avoid Hidden sugars

4) Eat a better breakfast that includes protein, fat, and carbs