What is Sugar Addiction?
Sugar addiction occurs when your brain craves sugar. Consuming sugar is part of an addictive behavior tied to the release of chemicals in your brain. These chemicals act on the rewards and pleasure sections of your brain, causing you to experience "highs" in energy before your brain adjusts, and the chemicals drop considerably. The drop is severe enough to adjust your moods and energy levels and cause your behaviors to alter severely. Every time you consume something with sugar, your brain receives reinforcement to continue the habit, and the cravings for it will increase. Like other drugs, there will become a time when you can't ingest enough to reach that feel-good area anymore.
What are the Symptoms of Sugar Addiction?
Sugar addiction can be seen in your behaviors. You will need to watch what you do, when you are doing it and how you feel the entire time because the following can apply to you:
• That one piece of after work candy becomes two, then three, then four, and the indulgence continues. Sugar addiction starts gradually and grows almost without your noticing. Your brain becomes decentralized to having that one piece of candy and starts to expect more.
• It is easy to convince yourself that one more piece or slice is okay. Who hasn't said, "Well, I had a hard day at work today, I earned this.”
• You will incorporate stops at local establishments that provide you with frequent treats throughout the day because it is just one donut or cookie.
• You start to notice your weight increases. Sugar can lead to weight gain and changes in your body's health.
Why is Sugar so Addicting?
When you eat sugar, your neural system receives the motivation to seek more. During studies conducted on rats, when they are fed a diet high in sugars and then deprived of them, they experience behaviors that are very likened to drug abuse. In addition, they will start having withdrawal symptoms when deprived of sugar. These symptoms include depression and anxiety.
How do You Lower Your Sugar Intake?
Lowering your sugar intake takes courage and a desire to improve your life and make healthy eating choices; you can do the following to alter your habits.
Stop Buying Bags of Candy and Sugary Drinks
The easiest way to stop eating sugar is to stop buying the main thing you are ingesting. If you don't buy it, it won't be around to tempt you. This sounds simple, but it is not. When your addiction is driving you, you will want to keep buying it.
There are things you can do to avoid this, such as going to the store after you have eaten a healthy meal. Eating a healthy meal before you go food shopping will reduce your impulse buying as you are already full.
Check the Sugar Content
A lot of the foods you buy use sugar as a preservative. The sugar in the product is also not always listed as "sugar," such as aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose. The artificial sugars are as dangerous as the real thing. They trick your brain into wanting the chemical and will override your ability to control your hunger. They are also can cause you to overeat.
Eat Whole Foods
If the food is processed, there will be sugars of some kind added for flavoring and preservatives. By eating whole foods such as fruits and vegetables, you will ensure there will be no added sugars, only the natural sugars the foods already have.
How is Sugar Bad for Your Teeth?
Sugar will eat at your teeth and gums if not consumed in moderation. Your mouth is home to a host of different types of bacteria. They are required to taste and enjoy food; they also help break that food down and to start the process of digestion. Unfortunately, without proper dental hygiene, consuming large amounts of sugar can result in the development of plaque and, eventually, cavities and gum disease. Cavities can lead to tooth decay which can cause great pain and lead to tooth loss if not treated in time.
How Does Sugar Negatively Affect Your Body?
Eating too much sugar can not only cause cavities after neglected hygiene but can also lead to health problems such as being at higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Too much sugar can lead to many dental and overall health problems. If you believe that you may be addicted to sugar, visit the Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre in Ottawa today to learn about ways to decrease your sugar intake. If you have already experienced dental health problems from sugar intake, the Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre in Ottawa can create a specialized treatment plan for you. Contact us today to book an appointment and learn more about the condition of your oral health.
