I appreciate all your comments on my previous post about sugar addiction. This topic has really got me thinking! I’d like to explore it further.
If truth be told, I never considered sugar a drug, but much of my reading suggests that sugar is capable of acting like a potent drug in certain individuals. Sugar seems to act on the same receptors in the brain that alcohol and drugs like morphine or heroin do. That gets my attention!
The Society of Neuroscience claims drugs, such as morphine, and sugar act on the same pleasure receptors in the brain which makes certain individuals want more of the substance.
Another study reported the association between sugar withdrawal and opioid dependence. In the study, rats were fed lots of sugar. Then they were given an opioid blocking medication, and, wouldn't you know, the rats started demonstrating withdrawal symptoms, suggesting similarities between the affects opiates and sugar have on the brain.
This study described a greater consumption of sugar after completely avoiding it temporarily, thus pointing to possible sugar dependence.
The book I’m reading now, Potatoes, Not Prozac, explains that two brain chemicals, serotonin and beta-endorphin, tend to be lower in sugar sensitive individuals. These two chemicals can influence your mood and energy levels. They make us feel mellow, content, and even help block pain (Think of a “runner’s high). Having low levels of these chemicals results in feeling scattered, emotional, depressed, acting impulsively, and cravings sweets or refined carbs.
Eating sugar increases the release of these brain chemicals, but the effect this has in a sugar sensitive person can be dramatic. Sugar can make the sugar sensitive person feel giddy, confident, lively, talkative, and other symptoms similar to having too many alcoholic drinks!
When the brain becomes dependent on sugar, it wants (and needs) more in order to get those great feelings. The more sugar we eat, the more we want! It becomes a vicious cycle.
Eating sugar also spikes an insulin response; blood sugar levels sore and then eventually crash. Unstable blood sugar levels leave us irritable, moody, lethargic, and craving more sweets. And eating more sweets just exacerbates the unstable blood sugar levels– another vicious cycle.
The solution for sugar addiction, according to Potatoes, Not Prozac, is to raise serotonin and beta-endorphin in a healthier manner and steady blood sugar levels, all the while slowly weaning yourself off sugar.
The goal is steadiness - in mind, body, and emotions. This may be a slow process, but by doing it slowly, you give your body a chance to heal gently instead of shocking your system and dealing with terrible withdraw symptoms.
I can't look at sugar or artificial sweeteners as innocent additions to foods anymore. For some individuals, sugar truly is a drug that affects their health and prevents them from living life to the fullest.
Do you think you might be a sugar sensitive person, even addicted to sugar? Or can you have a take-it-or-leave attitude with regards to it?
Photo credit: jefras
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I think serotonin is key. I had a bunch of stuff going on (IBS, mood swings, the list goes on) indicating low serotonin. My doctor suggested trying an antidepressant as an experiment. Not only did my IBS and mood swings go away, but I find I don’t crave sugar as much as I used to.
I don’t think everyone who has sugar cravings should take an antidepressant, but if you need to take them, reduced sugar cravings can be a nice side effect.
This is such an interesting topic. I’ve always figured that too much of any food is going to lead to an “overdose” and could very easily become an addiction… of course, it might not be specific foods but the chemical make-up of the nutrients in that food, such as sugar specifically. I look forward to reading your future posts about it all!
Lynnae,
I’m glad your medication is working for you (and helping to reduce sugar cravings)!
So true – not everyone who is addicted to sugar should go on antidepressants. They don’t work for everyone. This is a matter to thoroughly research and discuss with a trusted and qualified health care provider.
Sagan,
Thanks!
Good point. Too much of any kind of food, vitamins, or water isn’t healthy, and could possibly cause harm. Moderation with all foods is a good motto… but should refined sugar be considered a “food?”
Yep, I’ve blogged exactly the same thing before and agree completely with calling sugar the other white drug – I’m so glad to see more people blogging about this because refined sugar is the “other” white drug, it’s just that many don’t realize it (yet
).
JoLynn,
It’s great to share the same concerns and challenges about sugar addiction with another blogger who has fought the monster! I believe there are more folks addicted to sugar than we know! (And perhaps they don’t even know!)
I write my posts to help me through my process of breaking my terrible sugar addiction, but if I (we) can help others along the way too, that more than makes having this blog worth it!
Sugar works exactly like ecstacy,when you eat/take it, it spikes your sugar/seratonin levels, making you feel good. Unfortunately that wears off fast, leaving your body wanting more to get that high again. Thats why whenyou eat a candy bar to curb that afternoon hunger, you arent full for long, you want more sugar a few minutes later.
However, while getting it out of your system doesnt take very long, its hard to avoid sugar at all costs, making it difficult to kick it completely.
Kelly T,
I think that’s the hardest part – keeping sugar out of your system. It’s hard to maintain a sugar free diet if your brain chemistry is wired to want/need sugar to feel good. Changing your diet over time will help stabilize those neurotransmitters and decrease the cravings – at least that’s the goal!
Great breakdown of the research behind sugar. This is fascinating. I like how you say the goal is steadiness and a slow process. I’m always interested in how things are reacting in our bodies. The body is so complex.
My husband is the same way. He doesn’t desire sweets everyday where as I was stuck on having sweets daily. I’ve gotten better lately and it has been a slow process to shift from everyday to once ever other day. I’m moving toward once every three days now. Small steps and changes are working well right now!
Thanks, Cindy!
And good for you for progressing towards fewer and fewer sweets! It’s tough, but doable when making small changes.
I love hearing more about the addiction to sugar – the other white drug. You see the same “drug” seeking behavior in people who are sensitive to sugar. I must make a point here: a significant number of processed foods in our country now contain high fructose corn syrup as well as other various forms of sugar added for flavor. Yeah, it DOES make the food taste better but it also adds to our “sugar seeking” behavior. We get so many insulin spikes during the course of our day , thinking we are making an effort to eat healthy, when in reality, we are injesting hidden sugar, which gives us more serotonin in our pleasure centers in our brain, we release more insulin to lower the sugar level, create a crash in our serotonin levels and it’s a huge cyclic problem for many of us. It’s a real problem – I eat very few processed foods but as I type, I feel like a warm chocolate chip cookie is the answer to all my problems!
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