Sugar has a unique effect on the human body. At some point after consumption, one is left feeling thirsty and craving for a glass of water. This effect explains why you may suddenly want to get a drink after indulging in a slice of cake or a bar of chocolate.
Why does sugar make you feel thirsty?
According to Caroline Apovian, MD, a professor in the endocrinology, diabetes, and nutrition department at the Boston University School of Medicine, the feeling of thirst an individual gets is caused by the spike in one’s sugar levels. After an individual consumes sugar, it is eventually absorbed into the bloodstream. The simple way of explaining the phenomenon that occurs is that water stored in cells throughout the body will move into the blood to restore balance in the blood. When your water levels lower, you begin craving for more, leaving you searching for a bottle of water or a cup of tea.
When does thirst kick in?
Depending on the amount of sugar one intakes, the feeling of thirst can arrive just after a few minutes. Since sugar essentially forces out the water from the cells of the body, the body will have to respond as fast as it can to balance its water levels. The body will also signal the brain that the stored water has been used and that it needs to refill.
As soon as the brain receives this signal, it will start to make someone feel thirsty. If one consumes a large serving of sugar, the hypothalamus will tell the body that it needs water because the water storage in the cells is starting to deplete.
Why do frozen sweets make you even more thirsty?
Unlike other types of sweets, frozen sweets such as ice cream often have sodium in the mix. Salt is added to frozen sweets to keep them below the freezing point of water but maintain their viscosity and thickness. It may sound like a strange frozen combination, but salt keeps your ice cream bar from turning into an ice cube.
Just like sugar, salt travels into the bloodstream, calling for the brain to react the same way. However, because the body is now dealing with two compounds that disrupt the balance in the blood, the body will have to double its efforts to keep the equilibrium, making the individual feel even more thirsty.
According to Dr Apovian, this phenomenon will happen quickly and that the glucose that will be absorbed by the stomach and sends it into the bloodstream “fairly fast.” Within five to ten minutes of sugar intake, the person should feel thirsty.
What should you do when you feel thirsty after consuming sugar?
The obvious and healthiest thing to do is to drink water. You may feel a craving for other beverages, but it will likely contain sugar, which won’t help restore balance to your blood at all. As such, drinking water—and water alone—should restore balance to the blood sugar levels. Dr Apovian adds that you’re not only putting more sugar in your body, but you’re also getting more empty calories if you drink anything besides water.
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