Can You Be Addicted To Sugar

Can Artificial Sweeteners Help

Some studies suggest artificial sweeteners may leave you craving more sugar. That could make it harder to control your weight. The problem is, some experts say, that artificial sweeteners don’t help you break your taste for sweets. Pay attention to your body. Are sweeteners making you crave even more sugar? If so, look elsewhere for that sweet taste.

Sugar Has Zero Nutritional Value

Thats right. No vitamins, minerals, no NOTHING. Sugar is literally plain calories. And after you have some, youll only want more because it wont make you full.

Thats why people have inadequate amounts of sugar. Because they just dont know when to stop. They think if theyre still hungry, that means they havent had enough. And again, and again, and the circle never ends.

But next time you have sugar, remember how absolutely useless it is and dont give in to the feeling of needing more of it!

Good To Hear But I Still Feel Like Im Constantly Craving Sugar

Its best to avoid having large amounts of sugar very frequently. For example, having a doughnut, soda, or Frappuccino every day greatly increases our blood glucose on a daily basis, which makes us accustomed to consuming large amounts of sugar. Its at this point that we start to experience cravings towards sugar.

But cutting back on this sugar can help these cravings. We can retrain our palates to crave less sugar, simply by having less of it.

Distinct from cocaine, sugar is pretty easy to give up. As previously stated, it goes against the typical addiction model, so abstaining from sugar creates a decrease, rather than an increase, in craving.

Maybe you put 4 packets of sugar in your coffee. If you try, you may be able to get it down to 3 packets of sugar. Try to stick to this for a few weeks. Then, maybe challenge yourself again to reduce the packets to 2. Try this for a few more weeks. Eventually, try putting only 1 packet in your coffee. By this point of this slow transition, you may realize that you no longer crave all 4 packets of sugar. In fact, its likely that if you put in all 4 packets after weaning yourself down to 1 packet, you would not even enjoy all that sugar anymore. You may find it too sweet for your liking.

Also, by the time youre down to 1 packet, your body wont be accustomed to such high blood glucose levels anymore. So, simply by consuming less sugar, youll crave less sugar throughout the day, and notice fewer cravings!

Recommended Reading: What Is An Addictive Personality

Is Sugar Addiction Real Here’s Why It’s So Hard To Resist Sweet Treats

After you learn why it’s so hard to stop eating sugar, you’ll never look at candy the same way again.

Sugar addiction is a real thing.

When you think of a substance addiction, sugar probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But on the other hand, if you know anyone with a serious sweet tooth , you know just how hard it is to resist sugar — and in the US, sugar is in nearly all packaged and fast foods.

While some people say that using the term “sugar addiction” is fear-mongering, many researchers agree that it’s a real and harmful phenomenon. Keep reading to learn why sugar is so addictive and how we ended up here in the first place.

Our Health & Wellness newsletter puts the best products, updates and advice in your inbox.

C Craving: Enhanced Responding For Sugar Following Abstinence

As described in Section 2, craving in laboratory animals can be defined as enhanced motivation to procure an abused substance . After self-administering drugs of abuse and then being forced to abstain, animals often persist in unrewarded operant responding , and increase their responding for cues previously associated with the drug that grows with time . Additionally, if the drug becomes available again, animals will take more than they did prior to abstinence . This increase in motivation to procure a substance of abuse may contribute to relapse. The power of craving is evidenced by results showing that animals will sometimes face adverse consequences to obtain a substance of abuse such as cocaine or alcohol . These signs in laboratory animals mimic those observed with humans in which the presentation of stimuli previously associated with a drug of abuse increases self-reports of craving and the likelihood of relapse .

After 14 days of abstinence from sugar, rats that previously had 12-h daily access significantly increased lever pressing for glucose to 123% of pre-abstinence responding, indicating increased motivation for sugar. The group with 0.5-h daily access did not show increased responding after abstinence. **p< 0.01. From .

You May Like: How To Stop Drug Addiction At Home

Hunger Hits You Like A Brick Wall

If your hunger comes on suddenly, urging you to eat immediately or else, you could be suffering from hypoglycemia, or bouts of low blood sugar. Riding the blood sugar roller coaster makes us crave sugary foods when our blood glucose drops, and hypoglycemia becomes a health hazard when blood sugar levels plummet too low.

The solution: Eat a protein and fat at every meal and snack, especially if youre eating carbohydrates. Dont ever eat carbs in isolation .

Sugar Addiction And Alcoholism

There is a surprising genetic link between children of parents who abuse alcohol and sugar addiction. A recent study confirmed dopamine receptors in the brain light up when sugar is consumed, similar to the receptors lighting up in the brain of someone who abuses alcohol. This can encourage people who struggle with sweets to develop alcoholism.

Alcohol-dependent individuals have a higher preference for sweets and experience sugar cravings and sugar withdrawals. The genes in parents who abuse alcohol, as well as their preference for sugar, can be passed down to their children. As a result, the child may have a predisposition to both of these compulsions.

Don’t Miss: How To Stop Nicotine Addiction

You Might Feel Addicted To Sugar

First, let me say: Its possible to feel addicted to sugar. If you typically try to restrict sugar or avoid sugary foods, there are two common side effects. First, you might find yourself thinking about sugar constantly. We tend to want things we cant have. Second, you might feel like youre unable to control yourself around sugar. You might binge on sweet foods when theyre around. When you start eating sugary foods, you may not be able to stop yourself, even when you feel full.

Related: Sugar Is Killing Us Heres Everything You Need To Know

2. You own 50 pairs of sneakers and overdo it at happy hour on the reg.Along with genetics, past food experience, and body composition, your addictive personality could determine the difference between really loving cupcakes and really needing cupcakes. The analogy is similar to substance abuse, says McDaniel. Some can easily stop at one glass of wine, where others cannot.

3. Unlimited breadsticks is your dream come true.Sugar addiction isnt just about sweets, says Bjork. All carbs turn into sugar in your body. You may not have a sweet tooth, but if you crave potato chips or pretzelsor even breadlike theyre going out of style, then you are really craving sugar, she says.

You May Like: Can You Get Addicted To Kratom

Youre Probably Just Hungry

Restrictive eating patterns have become the norm in our society, she says. When our bodies dont receive the energy they need, biological reinforcements kick in to ensure our survival. This can come in the form of craving sugar or feeling out of control around it. Whether youre in the middle of a no-added-sugar challenge, on a low-carb diet, or just trying to cut your calorie intake, your bodys natural response is to crave sugar as a quick source of energy.

Researchers have explored withdrawal symptoms associated with sugar, Habtemariam notes. Some reports suggest that rodents display signs of anxiety following loss of access to sugar, Westwater says. However, since such withdrawal often occurs in the context of extended fasting, we cannot say if the behaviors were precipitated by previous sugar consumption or by hunger. In other words, it isnt clear whether the anxiety is caused by lack of sugar or by lack of food overall.

How To Handle Sugar Cravings In Addiction Recovery

Cravings for both food and alcohol are common when you are newly sober. Cravings occur because your body is still adjusting to sobriety and may be sending you mixed signals. For example, you may mistake hunger for an alcohol craving.

Eating an unbalanced diet has been linked to having increased cravings. In contrast, eating a balanced diet at regular mealtimes can help control cravings for both food and alcohol. As your body gets used to sobriety over time, you will learn your bodys hunger cues and eat on a more regular basis, reducing both food and alcohol cravings.

Also Check: How To Help Someone Recovering From Addiction

Getting Help For Your Sugar Addiction

If you think that you may have an issue with sugar addiction then take our sugar addiction quiz today. Admitting you are addicted to a substance is difficult. However, in order to move on with your life and become healthier and happier, it is an important step to take. The most important thing to understand is that you are not alone in your struggles. The resources that we offer are a means to help you overcome your sugar addiction once and for all, and finally, regain control of your eating habits and your life.

What Happens After One Quits Sugar

Within hours after stopping sugar consumption, a bodys hormone levels will change. The insulin levels will start to decrease and allow the body to burn stored fats for energy. After a few days, lipid and triglyceride levels will drop, and taste buds will crave less sucrose to feel satisfied. However, one may suffer from many of the side effects listed above. Since the addiction is more mental than physical, it is not out of place to ask, is sugar a drug? Those who are addicted to sugar may suffer health problems, but it is not a controlled substance and does not alter cognitive abilities hence, it cannot be referred to as a drug.

There are cases where individuals who realize that they have a sweetener problem seek counseling on how to stop eating sugar. The following are simple techniques on how to stop eating sugar.

You May Like: How To Encourage An Addict To Get Help

Does Sugar Cause Diabetes

Sugar itself doesn’t cause diabetes. But lots of sugar splurges can point you there. Too much of anything, including sugar, can pack on pounds, for one thing. Heavy bodies may have a harder time using insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar. When your body resists insulin, blood sugar and your risk of diabetes go up.

19) David Sacks/The Image Bank

Corwin, R. The Journal of Nutrition, March 2009.Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, American Dietetic Association spokeswoman author, Doctor’s Detox Diet.Princeton University.Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, LD, Cleveland Clinic.Gearhardt, A. Archives of General Psychiatry, August 2011.Mozaffarian, D. New England Journal of Medicine, June 2011.Kidshealth.org.Harvard School of Public Health.CDC.Yang, Q. Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, June 2010.American Academy of Family Physicians.Columbia University.Welsh, J. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, September 2011.Johnson, R. Circulation, September 2009.Ahmed, S. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care, July 2013.

American Heart Association.

Can You Be Addicted To Sugar

Is there such a thing as sugar addiction or do people just use the word loosely to explain cravings or tastes? If there is a real addiction to sugar, how do you get over it?

Andrew Weil, M.D. | March 25, 2011

Some evidence from animal studies suggests that sugar can be addictive. A Princeton University research team has shown that lab rats accustomed to sugar display the cravings and the relapses that signal addiction, as well as brain changes similar to those associated with addiction to narcotics and nicotine. For example, the investigators found that the brain chemical dopamine is released when hungry rats drink sugared water and that a surge of dopamine occurs in the brains of hungry rats that binge on sugar. Over time, these increased dopamine levels resulted in fewer of a certain type of dopamine receptor and more opioid receptors in the animals brains. The same studies showed that rats deprived of sugar exhibited anxiety characteristic of withdrawal.

While we cant say on the basis of these findings that humans can become addicted to sugar as they can to drugs, we know that individuals can experience very strong cravings for certain foods that they describe as addictions. Cravings affect 97 percent of all women and 68 percent of men. Women tend to crave sweets while men go for meat.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Don’t Miss: Why Do Drug Addicts Drink Milk

Quiz: Are You A Sugar Addict

Craving a sweet treat after lunch or dinner could be a warning sign

Answer honestly yes or no to the following questions…

• Can you eat sweet, starchy or fatty foods until you are over-full?

• Do you feel hungry even after eating a full meal?

• Can you eat large quantities of sweets or stodgy foods even when youre not feeling particularly hungry?

• Do you ever feel ashamed about your eating habits?

• Do you ever turn to sugar when you are feeling down or upset?

• When things are bad, do you find you need more and more sweet foods to feel better?

• Do you plan to eat a small portion , but end up binge-eating ?

• Do you find starchy, sweet or fatty foods the most difficult to cut back on?

• Do you find it difficult to stop once you start eating starches, snack foods, junk foods or sweets?

• Are your eating habits having an impact on your social life, work or physical abilities?

• Do you find impossible to stick to healthy-eating resolutions?

• Do you feel you need to have something sweet after lunch or dinner?

• Do you eat sweets and chocolates secretly and hide the wrappers because you dont want anyone to know?

• If you cut yourself one piece of cake, do you then find yourself coming back for more and more?

• Do you get a foggy head after big meals ?

Sugar addiction is far more common than you might think. It often triggers a compulsive pursuit of foods rich in sugar and carbohydrates in response to both positive and negative feelings.

Avoid Sweeteners

Any Withdrawal Symptoms?

You Crave Salty Foods

Cravings for salty foods are one sign that your body is not getting the nutrition that it needs. This is surprisingly common among those who are addicted to sugary foods, as these people are often deficient in key nutrients, says Lisa Richards, a nutritionist and creator of the Candida Diet. If you find yourself regularly eating sugary snacks, youre probably not eating enough of the healthy proteins and fats that your body needs. Cravings for salty and savory foods are one way that your body might be telling you to take a break from the sugar and eat something more nutritious.

The inverse is true too, she adds. If you eat too much salty food, you might find yourself craving sugary foods or simple carbohydrates. The key is balanceeating foods that are rich in the micronutrients and macronutrients that your body needs to function and thrive.

Don’t Miss: How To Convince An Addict To Get Help

Dont Quit It Cold Turkey

The human body relies on many elements of food and drinks to run efficiently sucrose is one of those elements. This is the reason many health professionals do not recommend that a person cuts it completely out of the diet when attempting to detox. Instead, they recommend that one reduces sugars to a more refined amount, possibly just eating a little fruit after a meal, for example.

Overcoming A Sweet Tooth Might Be Easier Than You Think

• Find a therapist to overcome addiction

Are you a lifelong sweet tooth ? Cant finish a meal without something sweet to top it off? Does your stomach have a reserve tank purely for sweets? Me too. I could be completely full after a meal yet have plenty of room for an 800 calorie dessert. My palate isnt discriminating either, it loves real sugar and fake sugar, you name it, anything sweet will do. The gravity of my addiction came last year when I ordered my coffee at Dunkin Donuts with five Splenda. The lady behind me yelled loud enough for the entire line to hear, Five? Who needs that much? The sad part is if I was using real sugar, it would have been more like eight or nine.

Just as our palates have been conditioned to crave sugar, they can be conditioned to crave it less. The process is pretty straightforward. If you repeatedly eat a food, your affinity toward it will increase even if you didnt like that food in the first place. This is how we have gotten into trouble with sugarwe have created too much of an appetite for it. To like a food less, we have to work this process in reverse. The key is to train your palette to prefer less sweet. Notice that I write sweet and not sugar. Noncaloric sweeteners are sweet too, sometimes even sweeter than sugar. Using noncaloric sweeteners instead of sugar will not reduce your sugar addiction, it will only feed it.

Here are a few ways you can begin to condition your palette to prefer less sweet.

Don’t Miss: Can You Get Addicted To Methadone