Sugar Addiction Dangers

When a person is standing outside their office on a cigarette break, it is clear that the person is addicted to cigarettes. When a person regularly consumes two desserts and perhaps some sweets throughout the day, that person is said to have a “sweet tooth”.

However, more and more research over the past few years has confirmed that sugar addiction is a very real issue. Sugar addiction, which is the root of food addiction, can be just as harmful to the body as a drug, tobacco, or alcohol addiction.

Scientific Study of Sugar Addiction

A 2013 study on lab rats at Connecticut College, found that rats were just as likely to over-indulge on high-fat, high-sugar Oreos, as they were to over-indulge on the drugs morphine or cocaine. In both cases, researchers tested the levels of a protein called c-Fos, which is a known marker of neuronal activation in the part of the brain that controls pleasure. After eating Oreos, c-Fos levels were significantly higher than in the rats who had taken either morphine or cocaine. Researchers believe that this is strong evidence of the case that “high-fat/high-sugar foods stimulate the brain in the same way that drugs do”, which does make biological sense.

Over time, every being on earth has found foods that markedly improve their energy, strength, and vitality. They instinctively learn to adopt and rely on these foods in their daily diet. Sugar provides many of the positive feelings that stimulate the brain, without adding much nutritional value. However, as long as it stimulates the brain, people continue to eat it and can develop a sugar addiction despite being aware of its lack of nutritional value.

Sugar Addiction and the Human Brain

The human brain has been hard-wired to indulge in high-fat/high-sugar foods whenever possible. This was a survival mechanism back when humans had to hunt for food, and bouts of famine were not uncommon. Thus, the brain knew to eat as much as possible of this type of food when it was available in order to sustain the body when it had no choice but to live off vegetables, or even roots or wild plants. Now, however, famine is not an issue for most people around the world – but high-fat/high-sugar foods still set off the same trigger in the brain to eat as much of these foods as they can when possible. And since high-fat/high-sugar foods are more available now than ever before – people develop an addiction, sourcing these types of foods at every chance they get.

Sugar is Everywhere

And that’s the problem that all sugar and food addicts face. Unlike heroin, sugar is everywhere you look. Even the bread you buy at the supermarket, the pasta sauce, cereal, yoghurt – everything has added sugar. In fact, large companies have spent millions of dollars over years of research to find the exact fat and sugar content that will keep their consumers begging for more. Essentially, they are hooking their customers on their product – not much unlike a drug dealer handing out free bags of heroin to purposely hook a user and secure a full-time customer. The foods causing sugar addiction in people may also disguise the fact that they contain sugar. Alternative terms for sugar include:

These are also guilty of perpetuating people’s obsession with sugar. Corn syrup is also a type of sugar that’s become popular as a lower-cost alternative to cane or beet sugar. With these alternative types of sugar-lowering food production costs, manufacturers are given more incentive to create new foods using corn syrup. This will also lead to more cases of sugar addiction in people unaware of the dangers.

Quiet Dangers of Sugar Addiction

American TV personality Rosie O’Donnell suffered a near-fatal heart attack in 2012, largely due to her obesity and unhealthy eating habits. For her, she claims, sugar is as addictive as heroin. “I walk past one of those kiosks selling newspapers, and I’m like ‘There’s the Swedish Fish. They’re right there.'” she says. “Almost like alcoholics can’t go into a bar. They want to grab the bottle. I want to do that with the Swedish Fish.”

Not All Sugar is Bad

Keep in mind, however, that not all sugar is bad. In fact, the brain needs a daily dose of sugar in order to function properly. However, the sugar that the brain craves comes from naturally occurring sugars in fruit and whole grains, for example. The kind of sugar that results in obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, on the other hand, is added refined sugars. Studies show that regular overconsumption of added sugar dulls the brain’s mechanism to send the “full” flag and instead encourages increased consumption of sugar.

Links Between Sugar and Diseases

Research has also shown links between overconsumption of sugar and diseases such as depression and dementia. It has also been linked to negative metabolism effects, impaired brain function, and can make you more susceptible to heart disease and even cancer. The chemical reactions that sugar sets off begin in the brain and eventually cause damage to various parts of the body.

Sugar Addiction Requires Effective Treatment

For those who are suffering from over-eating and sugar addiction, the only way to stop the addiction is by removing these types of food from the diet completely. Like a heroin addict who has to avoid all drugs and alcohol, a sugar or food addict must avoid all refined carbohydrates and sugars. A sugar addiction is treated much like a drug habit at a drug rehab facility. And, surprisingly enough, when the addiction is dealt with, the addict will experience signs of withdrawal. Headaches, nervousness, grouchiness, drowsiness and even weakness are not uncommon when someone abruptly stops the consumption of added sugars.

Summary of The Article

Sugar addiction is a serious issue. It can be just as harmful to the body as a drug addiction. Research has shown that lab rats are equally likely to overindulge in high-fat, high-sugar Oreos as they are in drugs like morphine or cocaine. Sugar provides a quick source of energy and positive feelings that stimulate the brain, leading to a hard-wired craving for high-fat/high-sugar foods. Overconsumption of sugar has been linked to various health complications, including depression, dementia, impaired brain function, heart disease, and cancer. Treatment facilities like The Cabin Chiang Mai can help individuals overcome food and sugar addictions, preventing severe health complications.