As I sat in a cafe, waiting to order, I couldn’t help but eye the decadent pastries displayed in front of me. The tantalizing smell of sweet caramelized sugar reached my nose and suddenly it was my turn to order. Before I even knew it I had ordered a chocolate croissant without hesitation.
“It’s fine it’s just this once,” I told myself. I knew how sugar made me feel, especially in the morning. Whenever I ate too much sugar I would start to feel lethargic, anxious, irritable, bloated and hungry. It was a constant battle of willpower and addiction that seemed to tighten its grip with every indulgence.
However, I noticed it wasn’t just me. It seemed like everyone around me was indulging in sugary treats. I observed the man that sat at the table across from me, who looked like he was on his way to work. As he took his first bite of a coffee cake, a subtle moment of satisfaction and delight glimmered across his face. However, it seemed like it was overshadowed by a lingering sense of guilt and helplessness. This serves as a poignant reminder of the widespread effect of sugar addiction and the urgent need to find it.
According to Addiction Center, approximately 75% of Americans consume excess amounts of sugar and many of them could be classified as having a sugar addiction. This is an alarming amount of people whose health could be at risk. Many of which, probably aren’t even aware that they could have an addiction.
Society’s addiction to sugar has become a prevalent and important issue in the modern world. For many, it’s difficult to resist the temptation of sugary treats and drinks present in stores everywhere. In addition, it seems like added sugar is hidden in almost everything we eat. Most people believe that an addiction to sugar is simply the result of a lack of willpower.
However, there are key psychological and biological factors that drive sugar addiction. The addiction is real and can have an effect on the brain similar to drugs. People claim that they feel compelled to eat sweet foods, similar in the way an alcoholic might feel compelled to drink. Despite what many companies want you to believe, sugar addiction is a big problem that can have detrimental impacts on your health.
When we consume sugar, the brain’s mesolimbic dopamine system (its reward system) is activated. When the sugar reaches our system it triggers the release of a huge surge of dopamine. Dopamine is a type of neurotransmitter that makes us feel pleasure. This feeling of pleasure reinforces the desire for more sugar. This creates a seemingly never ending cycle of consuming sugar in order to experience the pleasure again.
The emotional and psychological associations with sugar and sugar addiction can vary from person to person. However, our brains are all wired similarly when it comes to dopamine release. The pleasurable sensation that sugar gives can lead people to develop emotional associations with sugar, such as using it to comfort unpleasant emotions. The consumption of sweet foods leads to temporary relief of stress and negative emotions, which can lead to a psychological dependence on sugar to regulate emotions.
Similar to drug addiction, extended exposure to high amounts of sugar can build a tolerance. When we consume sugar it is broken down into glucose and is then absorbed into the bloodstream. The pancreas responds by releasing insulin which is a hormone that helps transport glucose from the bloodstream into cells that can be used for energy. Overtime, the brain becomes desensitized to the high levels of sugar and insulin which leads to insulin resistance. Therefore, more insulin is needed to have the same function of transporting glucose which leads to elevated blood sugar levels and potential long term health issues, such as type 2 diabetes.
In addition to type 2 diabetes, sugar can cause a host of other health problems. Obesity is one of the most common and apparent health problems sugar can cause. While weight isn’t a direct reflection of one’s health, consuming excess sugar can lead to weight gain and obesity due to the sugary foods high calorie content. Excess weight from sugar can lead to other life threatening health issues such as heart disease and certain types of cancer.
Science shows that high sugar intake has been linked to an increased risk in heart disease. Diets high in sugar can raise blood pressure, promote inflammation, and contribute to unhealthy cholesterol levels. The inflammation caused can create stress on the heart and blood vessels which can lead to increased blood pressure. These are factors for heart disease and dramatically increases the risk of it becoming fatal.
This problem can be solved by increasing awareness and encouraging people to reduce their sugar intake. Making people aware of the negative impact that sugar has on their health can help them begin to battle their addiction. Education on not only the impact but the presence of sugar is important as well. There are many hidden sources of sugar in foods and drinks. Hidden sugars are in many popular snacks and even foods that may be marketed as healthier. Learning how to read food labels can be helpful in avoiding concealed sugars.
After education, gradually reducing one’s sugar intake and eating a balanced diet rich in fiber and protein can help. Emotional support and stress management are also important strategies to help prevent emotional overeating. If more people don’t make the effort to fight their dependency on sugar, then global health will continue on a steady and dangerous decrease. Starting with awareness, all of these strategies can be used to make a difference in one’s health.
So, the next time you find yourself gazing at a case full of tempting treats, reflect carefully on the unsettling effect that sugar has on your body. While I’m not asking you to never eat sugar again. Simply take a moment to remember that a few mindful choices at a time can bring you closer to breaking free from the firm grasp of sugar.
Rock Star Writers Blog 