Are You A Sugar Addict?

Are you an addict?

You don’t have to be a drug user to answer that question in the affirmative. All you have to do is crave sugar.

A study out of Princeton University shows the sweet substance that makes food taste so good can also be addictive and may explain why so many have so much trouble with their weight.

Doctors used rats to test their hypothesis on sugar’s allure by first getting them ‘hooked’ on sweetened water and then taking away their ‘fix’ for several hours at a time.

When the substance was reintroduced, the rats appeared unable to stop themselves from bingeing on it, indicating a craving pattern had begun. They wound up consuming more than they had before and suffered withdrawal symptoms, like chattering teeth and anxiety, when they were deprived of it.

“In this case, abstinence makes the heart grow fonder,” notes lead researcher Professor Bart Hoebel. He also discovered something equally revealing: the rats that became addicted to sugar frequently graduated to other destructive behaviours, including drinking more alcohol when it was introduced to them.

“In certain models, sugar-bingeing causes long-lasting effects in the brain and increases the inclination to take other drugs of abuse, such as alcohol,” Hoebel outlines.

The clinicians found that sugar released a brain chemical called dopamine, often attributed to a sensation of pleasure. And the more the rats got, the more they seemed to want. If they didn’t get it, they would often compensate with other equally dangerous substances. 

Hoebel believes his study has vast implications for humans and could explain eating disorders like bulimia and people who binge on desserts to the harm of their waistlines and hearts.

“It seems possible that the brain adaptations and behavioral signs seen in rats may occur in some individuals with binge-eating disorder or bulimia,” Hoebel surmises.

“Our work provides links between the traditionally defined substance-use disorders, such as drug addiction, and the development of abnormal desires for natural substances. This knowledge might help us to devise new ways of diagnosing and treating addictions in people.”

So is sugar a “drug?”

“It’s an interesting way to look at it,” concedes registered dietician Nicole Springle. “It actually stimulated the same chemical, dopamine, which gets stimulated in alcoholism and cocaine addiction.”

Kate Taylor admits she may harbour those addictive tendencies. She buys something sweet every day.

“I definitely don’t go overboard,” she concedes. “I try and control my portions, but definitely a few little sweets and little chocolates every day.”  

And that, according to Springle, is the best way to approach your sugar intake. “It’s really about incorporating snacks and treats into a healthy diet,” she concludes.

So as you pick up that next chocolate bar or sprinkle too much sweetener on your Rice Krispies, you may want to ask yourself: am I  a sugar addict?

To find out and learn how to beat it, click here.

Ways To Beat Your Sugar Addiction

Avoid Temptation

Don’t keep those sweet treats in your desk or within easy reach. You can’t eat what’s not there in front of you and many of us simply won’t be bothered to get up and find it, allowing the cravings to pass.

Read the labels

There’s lots of hidden sugars in everything from fruit juice to breakfast cereals. Look for names like fructose, sucrose or dextrose. Find more hidden sugar warnings here.

Try something crunchy

Carrots may never taste as good as candy, but sometimes the crunch is enough to make you feel like you’re eating something special. And they’re good for you. Sweet veggies can also reduce your cravings.

Drink water

This can be surprisingly effective in removing a sweet craving.

Beware of artificial sweeteners

They can often be much sweeter than sugar itself and can convince you they’re better for you – so you eat more of the real thing when you get it, trying to recreate that taste.

Use natural sweeteners

Honey or maple syrup are better for you because they boast less processed sugar and still have some nutrient value. And they don’t put on the pounds quite as quickly.