(Are you Addicted to Sugar? first appeared in the Public Opinion Newspaper in June 2015.)
Dr. Robin Witmer-Kline, licensed professional counselor at Keystone Behavioral Health, shares what you need to know about sugar addiction and tips on how to overcome it.
Regular sugar intake
Every one of us have the same biological makeup that create addictive behavior, however, some of us are more likely to become addictive due to our genes. In addition, if we eat processed foods on a regular basis which are made with ingredients that are highly addictive (fat, salt, and sugar) we are also much more likely to become addicted to these ingredients.
Addicted
According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, foods with a high amount of sugar can become addictive in the same way as cocaine and heroin. Foods with a high glycemic index (a measurement tool of carbohydrate containing foods and the impact they have on blood sugar) can trigger a special region in the brain that is associated with pleasure.
Broccoli doesn’t do this
When this part of the brain becomes activated, it motivates us to seek out more of the same. Sugar stimulates the brain’s pleasure centers in the same way as addictive drugs. Brain imaging scans showed high sugar and high-fat foods work just like heroin, opium or morphine in the brain. In contrast, a low-glycemic diet does not do this – that is why we don’t become addicted to broccoli.
What can you do?
To avoid becoming addicted to sugar, try the following: combine protein with good fats like olive oil and coconut oil with nuts, eat good carbs like vegetables and whole grains at each meal, balance blood sugar by eating small meals every 2 to 3 hours, avoid high sugar foods, eat a nutritious protein breakfast, manage stress, exercise, and get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.
Seek help
It is always good idea to work on wellness with the support of others such as a nutrition group or a nutritional counselor. There are natural supplements and medications which can help control cravings and the support of a professional can help you get to the root of psychological issues that may be driving the addiction in the first place.
To learn more about Keystone Behavioral Health, click here.
