Why is sugar so addictive? How does a person become addicted to it? According to Doctor, sugar is addictive because we have a response to dopamine. Sugar releases a chemical in our brain that makes us feel good. “So by consuming even a small amount of sugar, we produce a soothing and calming response to dopamine,” he says. “Over time, the amount of sugar consumed will need to be increased to continue giving you the same dopaminergic response. This is one of the reasons people use drugs because they get a dopaminergic response. ” It’s also easy to get addicted to sugar. “Some research suggests that sugar is more addictive than cocaine,” said by him, “and it’s in almost everything we eat. So what you will see in a lot of addiction recovery centers are the drug addicts who switch from drug to food addiction, mainly sugar, but also gluten or dairy products. They just transfer, substituting an addiction for each other to keep their opiate receptors stimulated. ”
Here are some of the ways I cut sugar from my diet, and I hope they help you, too!
Eat “real” meals
I cannot overemphasize this one. Eating real meals, well balanced with a mixture of lean protein, healthy fats and high-fiber carbohydrates, makes all the difference in controlling my sweet tooth. Having all of these nutrients in one meal really satisfies me, so my sugar cravings are less intense and easier to manage.
Treat yourself to fresh fruit
I totally agree that fruits are not desserts. But if you have intense sugar cravings, fresh fruit is a healthier way to take off. My favorite tactic is to splurge on expensive organic fruit. I hate wasting both food and money, so this tip encourages me to hit the fruit first when my desires arise. I have to eat it before it gets worse!
Boost the flavor
If you’re a fan of sweet dishes, like oatmeal for breakfast or a smoothie for lunch, you can use less sugar in your meals and snacks by adding flavored extracts like vanilla, almond or Scottish caramel. The same goes for spices like cinnamon, pumpkin pie spices and ginger. Add them for a punch of flavor without all the sugar!
Other signs of sugar craving include:
- Constant craving for sugary snacks and drinks.
- Consuming certain foods because of the craving even though you’re not very hungry.
- Worrying about cutting down on certain foods without doing so.
- Feeling sluggish or fatigued from overeating.
- Having health or social problems because of food issues that affect school or work, yet you maintain bad habits.
- Needing more and more of the foods you crave to experience any pleasure or to reduce the negative emotions from it.
The good news is that physical addiction to sugar can usually be broken in about three days. “A diet that incorporates complex carbohydrates (such as a baked sweet potato), healthy fats (like guacamole) and proteins (lean meat, chicken or fish) is ideal for that.”
