Sweet Cravings: Why We Crave Sweet — and What To Do About It

Dr. Leena Sripada, ND, AAWC

For many people, sweet cravings intensify during the holiday season. Shorter days, colder weather, festive gatherings, emotional triggers, and an abundance of treats around can make it feel nearly impossible to say no to sugar — even when you tell yourself you are going to be careful this year. We all know its not good for us, and sometimes we don’t even feel good eating sweet….so why are we stuck in the craving loop?

From an Ayurvedic perspective, sweet cravings aren’t a failure of willpower. They’re a signal from the body asking for nourishment, grounding, comfort, or energy. Understanding why these cravings arise is the first step toward working with them in a supportive and sustainable way instead of against them.

The Sweet Taste in Ayurveda: One of the Six Tastes

Ayurveda recognizes six tastes that make up a balanced diet:

• Sweet

• Sour

• Salty

• Bitter

• Pungent (spicy)

• Astringent

The sweet taste is the first and most foundational of the six. In balance, it is nourishing, grounding, strengthening, and soothing. Sweet taste builds tissues, supports immunity (ojas), calms the nervous system, and promotes feelings of safety and satisfaction.

Naturally sweet foods include:

• Whole grains

• Root vegetables

• Milk

• Fruits

• Honey, maple syrup, dates etc.

When sweet taste is consumed in its whole-food form, it is deeply supportive. Problems arise when sweet taste is overconsumed — especially as refined sugar — or used to compensate for deeper imbalances.

—> Before we move on….can you take a moment to look at how much on your daily plate is “sweet in taste”? This includes carbs, dairy, sweet veggies like carrots, peas, beets and the obvious sweets like cookies, cakes, chocolates, juice.

Why We Crave Sweet Foods

1. Blood Sugar Imbalances

One of the most common reasons for sweet cravings is unstable blood sugar. Skipping meals, under-eating protein, or relying heavily on refined carbohydrates can lead to blood sugar crashes. When glucose drops, the body urgently seeks quick energy, and sugar becomes the fastest solution.

This cycle can be especially pronounced during busy holiday schedules when meals are irregular. This is common in individuals who are pre-diabetic (and may not know it) but also when you have a vata constitution where stress triggers blood sugar to go up and down. If you are concerned about this, speak with your naturopathic doctor to have additional testing done including Ha1c, fasting blood glucose and fasting insulin (a test most GPs are not doing but should be checking).

2. Stress and Nervous System

It’s important to understand that wweet taste is calming to Vata and Pitta doshas. During times of stress, overwhelm, or burnout, the nervous system craves grounding and comfort — and sweet foods temporarily provide that sense of relief. This is why cravings often intensify when you’re tired, emotionally drained, or juggling too many responsibilities. Sweet taste also “cools” down Pitta dosha. Think of when you eat something too spicy, you want something sweet to cool down your tongue.

3. Candida and Gut Imbalances

An overgrowth of yeast such as candida can drive intense sugar cravings. Yeast feeds on sugar, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of craving and consumption. This is often accompanied by digestive symptoms, fatigue, brain fog, or recurrent infections. This may manifest as yeast infections — but not always. Candida can grow anywhere in the body especially in the digestive tract leading to significant gas & bloating. You naturopathic doctor can help you identify if you have a candida issue and treat it accordingly.

4. The Body Seeking Instant Energy

At a basic physiological level, sugar is a fast fuel source. When digestion (agni) is weak, stress hormones are elevated, or nutrient intake is inadequate, the body looks for the quickest energy available — refined sugar fits that role perfectly. When you are rushed and on the go, it is a quick source of fuel to get you by — but you will inevitably crash aftewards.

Why Refined Sugar Makes Cravings Worse

Refined sugar is stripped of fiber, minerals, and life force (prana). It causes rapid blood sugar spikes followed by crashes, increases inflammation, feeds harmful gut microbes, and strains the adrenal glands.

Over time, excess refined sugar can:

• Worsen insulin resistance

• Disrupt gut health

• Increase anxiety and mood swings

• Deplete minerals needed for energy and hormone balance

• And it is no doubt “addictive”

Better Sweeteners from an Ayurvedic Perspective

Ayurveda doesn’t say you can’t enjoy sweet — it encourages better forms of sweet taste and understands which body types need what.

Healthier sweeteners include:

• Raw honey (never cooked)

• Pure maple syrup

• Jaggery

• Coconut sugar

These sweeteners still require moderation, but they provide nourishment rather than depletion when used mindfully. Then there is monk fruit extract and stevia which are used to mimic sweet taste naturally without spiking your blood sugar.

The Emotional Side of Sweet Cravings

On a deeper level, sweet taste is emotionally comforting, reassuring, and nurturing. It’s often our first association with love — breast milk, warm meals, family traditions, and celebrations.

During the holidays, sweet cravings may arise not just from physical hunger, but from:

• Loneliness or grief

• Emotional overwhelm

• Feeling ungrounded or unsupported

• A need for rest, pleasure, or reassurance

Recognizing the emotional layer of cravings allows us to respond with compassion rather than restriction. Pay attention to how you are feeling. Simply making space to feel what you are feeling and listen to what is going on is the first step to addressing cravings.

Simple Tips to Curb Holiday Sweet Cravings

If sugar is something you struggle with, take a look at the suggestions below. Can you commit to 1-2 changes this week?

• Eat regular, grounding meals with protein, healthy fats, and warm cooked foods

• Include naturally sweet foods like roasted root vegetables, oats, and stewed fruit

• Balance your plate — ensure all six tastes are present

• Pause before reaching for sweets and ask: “What do I actually need right now?”

• Support your nervous system with warm teas, meditation, and adequate sleep

• Choose better sweeteners and savour them slowly, without guilt

A Gentle Reminder

Sweet cravings are not something to “fight.” They are information. When we listen closely, they guide us back to nourishment, balance, and care — especially during the emotionally rich and demanding holiday season. Working with cravings rather than against them is the most sustainable path to lasting health.

And if this is something you have tried but find it hard to do on your own — its ok, this is a very common challenge. You can work with your practitioner

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In my practice, I have seen people struggle for years but I have also seen many people come out of cravings within weeks with the right customized approach with Ayurvedic understanding, balanced diet, cleansing herbs and the right mindset — to the point where they feel like their taste buds have changed and they no longer crave sweets. Then they feel truly free.

If this is something you would like to work on, speak with Dr. Leena Sripada, ND.

6 Flavours in the Ayurvedic Plate

www.doctorleena.ca