Most people don’t know it, but sugar has the same effect on the brain as cocaine. It triggers the same reward centers. Sugar sensitivity is real.
Sugar addiction obviously begins when you crave anything that contains this sweet ingredient. According to researchers, your tongue has two sweet receptors in it, which evolved during the early times, when our ancestors ate a typically low-sugar diet.
As the years went by, people’s tongues were still not able to adapt to sweet treats. This is why when the receptors in your tongue are highly stimulated, it results in your brain sending out excessive reward signals whenever you eat something with sugar in it, which end up overriding your self-control mechanisms. This leads to addiction.
Another major player in possible sugar addiction is the hormone leptin. It is responsible for telling the brain how energy that is stored from fat is to be used. Moreover, it targets taste receptors in your tongue, which could increase or decrease your food cravings. When you lack leptin or if there is a problem with your body’s leptin receptors, then your chances of craving food will be bigger, and more often than not, sugar is always the first pick when it comes to combatting cravings.
Behavioral Changes
Addictive and intoxicating, similar to alcohol
Rapid rise of adrenaline, hyperactivity, and anxiety
Leads to difficulty in concentration, drowsiness, and crankiness in children
Results in decreased activity in children
Reduces learning capacity and can cause learning disorders that could affect schoolchildren’s grades
Increases risk of antisocial behavior
Decrease in emotional stability
Depression
Increased Risk of Diseases and Sicknesses
Feeds cancer cells
Can induce cell death
Increases fasting levels of glucose
Increases systolic blood pressure
Significant increase in platelet adhesion
Leads to formation of kidney stones and gallstones
Rapid sugar absorption promotes excessive food intake
Obesity
Decreases insulin sensitivity, leading to high insulin levels and eventually diabetes
Reactive hypoglycemia
Headaches, including migraines
Causes atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases
May lead to autoimmune diseases like arthritis, asthma, and multiple sclerosis
Contributes to osteoporosis
Parkinson’s disease (people with said disease have high sugar intake)
Increases risk of gout and Alzheimer’s disease
Worsens symptoms of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
It’s not too late to kick those bad habits to the curb. I have a couple of recommendations on how to safely consume sugar without sacrificing your health.
The first would be to appeal to your emotions. Sometimes, when you crave food, it is triggered by an emotional need such as wanting to relieve stress or feel a little bit happier after a tiring day. More often than not, people tend to ignore their emotions when considering whether to eat healthy or otherwise.
I also advise you to avoid high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) at all costs. This is a sweetener that is made from corn and found in many of the food items that we eat and drink today. Now, this is considered to be deadly not only because of the amount of sugar that goes in it, but also because of the health risks that can it can cause, most of which were already mentioned above.
Choosing a well-balanced diet tailored to your specific needs helps, with extra emphasis on food rich in high quality omega-3 fats, which are also crucial to lessening the impact of eating excessive sugar. Constantly rehydrating with fresh and pure water are also recommended.
Lastly, exercising every day, along with optimizing your vitamin D levels, getting enough sleep, and managing your stress levels can also help minimize the effects of excessive sugar intake. Exercise in particular is known to improve insulin sensitivity, reduce stress levels, suppress ghrelin (the appetite hormone), speed up metabolism, strengthen bones, and boost your mood.
It can be quite difficult to say no to sweets, especially if you have been consuming them on a daily basis, but trust me, once you feel the effects that lowering your sugar intake has on your body, it will all be worth it.
It’s no wonder the world is getting fatter and sicker.
There’s too much misinformation out there based on outdated research contained in dusty old textbooks.
That’s why I’ve made it my personal mission to share the truth and power of real food with as many people as possible.
Here’s the good news — kicking sugar addiction has nothing to do with willpower, and everything to do with balancing your brain chemistry and hormones.
I`m here for you and I understand what you’re going through. You don’t have to live like that anymore. Our strategies work, and our clients have seen incredibly successful results, beyond what they thought possible. We guide you through the process that ends in the freedom of a radically changed life. Fill out an application today to get the individualized support you need. Your healthy, simple life is closer than you think.
Sitting down with myself or one of our dedicated dietitian coaches in our personal coaching program will be amongst the best decisions you’ve ever made, so what are you waiting for?
Published by