Why does sugar make you feel dehydrated?

Most people have a sweet tooth. Whether it is having something sweet after a meal, or even if it is our stress that leads us to binge-eat on a cup of ice cream or chocolates as a major stress-buster, we all need it one way or the other. However, when the feel-good vibe after a sugar high fades away, do you ever notice feeling sudden thirst after partaking in your sweet dish? We immediately gobble up glasses of water to quench our thirst and make up for that dehydration. Yes, you heard that right! Having sugar or something sweet leaves you dehydrated. But why? Let’s dive deeper into this topic to know why sugar makes you thirsty.

Why do I feel thirsty after eating sugar?

High sugar intake can cause fluctuations in blood sugar levels, resulting in increased urination, which further depletes hydration levels and prompts the body to signal thirst. The spike in glucose levels in our body signals the kidneys to produce more urine to flush out the excess glucose from the body. Excessive sugar consumption disrupts the body’s fluid balance, leading to thirst as the body attempts to restore hydration levels, says celebrity nutritionist Nupuur Patil.

The spike in glucose levels in our body signals the kidneys to produce more urine to flush out the excess glucose from the body. This depletes your body of its fluid balance, and thus your brain tells your body to drink more water to make up for the lost fluids.

How to deal with dehydration after eating something sweet?

There are some ways to deal with the thirst you feel right after having sugar. Here are some of them:

1. Keep yourself hydrated throughout the day

Drink plenty of water throughout the day to counteract the dehydrating effects of sugar. The expert advises so because one shouldn’t wait for the body to get suddenly dehydrated after having sugar. One can avoid that by monitoring their fluid intake wisely throughout the day. You may drink enough water so that when you have something sweet, your body should have ample water already inside to make up for the imbalance in the bloodstream.

2. Reduce sugar consumption

Who doesn’t like having sweets? No one precisely. But if dehydration after having sugar is a concern that is pestering you, try to limit your sugar intake. Excess sugar never brings any good to your body, and dehydration is one of them. Reduce consumption of sugary snacks, desserts, and beverages to prevent excessive thirst.

3. Go for healthy fluid options

Opt for water, herbal teas, or infused water instead of sugary drinks to quench thirst without adding extra sugar, reckons the expert. As a wise person, it’s a no-brainer that having sugary drinks to quench our thirst after having sugar will never benefit you it will make it worse.

Also read: Know the dangers of dehydration for your urinary health in summer

4. Diabetics should be extra aware

If you have diabetes or insulin resistance, monitor your blood sugar levels closely and adjust your diet accordingly to prevent excessive post-sugar thirst.

5. Choose your meals wisely

Consume meals that contain a balance of carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats to help stabilize blood sugar levels and prevent thirst triggers, reckons the expert.

6. Incorporate more hydrating foods

Sometimes, we tend to forget to drink ample water throughout the day. Instead, we can include hydrating foods like fruits and vegetables in our diet, as they contain high water content and can help maintain hydration levels.