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By Marcus Morgan, M.Ed., Exercise Science, Fitness Professional
This article will help you be more aware of why you eat so much sugar and what you can do about it.
Can You Be Addicted To Sugar?
Sugary foods are often consumed in the most unhealthy ways, but this fact alone doesn't mean that you are actually addicted. It is the repetitive cycle of eating sugar from hour to hour that brings concern. Some signs of sugar addiction can include, a loss of self-control when eating sweets and the repetitive eating of sugary foods through consistent thinking.
What Triggers Sugar Cravings and Addiction?
The body uses sugar, a carbohydrate, to fuel the muscles and brain cells. The brain naturally recognizes sugar as a benefit to the body, which can encourage a person to eat sugar for healthy reasons.
The consumption of sugary foods may be a sign that you need an energy boost and you may not realize it.
When sugar is consumed too often during the day, a sugar rush (elevated blood sugar) is reached. When blood sugar levels drop below normal, slowly it can trigger a person to eat more sugar later to re-boost the blood sugar again. This fluctuation in blood sugar, rising and falling, can be reflected as your natural desire to eat more sugary foods throughout the day. As a result, you may see that you may not want sugar again later in the day and can wait for dinner to get a welcomed energy reduction . It's kind of like using sugar and food as a drug for mood regulation. If you go through the cycle of eating sugar regularly throughout the day, you can turn sugar into a reward system, making it tough to break the habit.
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What is adding to your sugar addiction?
A midday candy bar, cakes, sweet coffee drinks, and candies can give you a sugar rush at the job, on-the-go, or in the classroom. The sugar quickly turns into glucose in your bloodstream and you're ready to get more work done with a short lasting energy boost. Your blood sugar levels will spike temporarily, until you get another dose of sugar. Complex carbohydrates found in fruits and veggies can be healthier alternatives to get you through your day of work. These foods have fiber and protein that extend the feeling of energy longer and maintains blood sugar longer.
What if you enjoy the taste of sweets? Is there an alternative?
Many times, we may not notice the energy boosts from the sweets that we eat or drink, and simply know that they will give us energy. Other times we may simply enjoy the sensation of sweetness on the tongue—this is a major contribution to the addiction of sugar. Alternatives, such as sugar-free gum, breath mints, and mildly sweet fruits are good alternatives, if you just want to taste sweet.
Bottomline
From this article you should be more aware of why you eat so much sugar and what you can do about it. Managing your sugar intake can reduce anxiety, improve the quality of your teeth, and control your bodyweight way more easily. Be patient with yourself and be consistent—you'll see benefits for yourself!
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