Why sugar is so addicting and how you can remove it from your diet this year, according to an expert

Breaking old habits in the new year may be difficult, whether you're attempting a "dry January" or establishing a new diet or fitness goal. Those seeking to eliminate added sugars may be attempting to overcome an addiction.

Susan Peirce Thompson, an author and health specialist, told CBSN's Anne-Marie Green on Wednesday that sugar is "physiologically as addictive as cocaine." "As a result, people are caught in a physiological addiction. The brain scans clearly show this."

While health professionals advise Americans to cut less on sugar, Thompson claims that giving up the highly processed and refined substance is one of the most difficult addictions to overcome.

When you eat sugar, it first reaches your tastebuds, which have "direct linkages to the brain's addiction regions," according to Thompson. Then it enters the circulation, causing a sugar and insulin surge that is addictive.

The typical American consumes more than 135 calories of added sugar per day, which is higher than the daily amount advised by the United States Department of Agriculture's 2020-2025 national dietary standards. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, consuming too much added sugar can lead to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

According to the USDA, the most common sources of added sugars in the United States are sugar-sweetened drinks, sweets, sweetened coffee and tea, and candies.

She claims that eliminating sugar from your diet may benefit both your physical and emotional health. Sugar is a depressive, just as alcohol. You may get a brief high after eating it, but this is followed by a crash.

"If you want to improve your mood in the long run, giving up sugar is one of the greatest ways to accomplish it," Thompson added.

In just two weeks, substituting sweets with more veggies can change a person's palate.

"Now that you've given up the sugar, foods that didn't used to taste sweet will start to seem tremendously sweet," Thompson added.

Another reason why changing your diet is so difficult? According to Thompson, society does not value abstaining from sugar in the same way that it values abstaining from alcohol. "There is a food-pusher society among us. We do, in fact "she stated

She advised anyone who wish to reduce their sugar consumption this year to search for online forums and tools dedicated to doing so.

"There are tens of thousands of individuals who have given up sugar, and you don't have to do it alone," she explained.

Binge Eating And Sugar Addiction

Binge eating is a particularly dangerous aspect of sugar addiction. Binge eating is defined as eating a large amount of food in a short period of time, followed by feelings of guilt, shame, and disgust. This can include a focus on sweets for the same mood-regulating and self-medicating effects as non-sugary foods binge eating. It's important to remember that food, particularly sugar, is only a temporary fix for emotional problems. Consider therapy or rehab if you or someone you care about is depressed and using food as a crutch.

Alcoholism And Sugar Addiction

There is an unexpected genetic link between children of alcoholic parents and sugar addiction. A recent study found that when sugar is consumed, dopamine receptors in the brain light up, similar to how they light up in the brain of someone who abuses alcohol. This may encourage people who have a sweet tooth to become alcoholics.

Individuals who are addicted to alcohol have a higher preference for sweets and suffer from sugar cravings and withdrawals. Alcohol-abusing parents' genes, as well as their sugar preferences, can be passed down to their children. As a result, the child could be prone to both of these compulsions.

Withdrawal from Sugar

Many people who cut sugar out of their diet experience irritability, fogginess, moodiness, and low energy as withdrawal symptoms. Because many people who are addicted to sugar have binged on sweet meals, detox and cravings can be severe. Regrettably, many people prefer to revert to consuming sugary foods in order to achieve the same chemical release in the brain. A far better method is to undertake a nutritional switch, in which the sugar addict replaces harmful sweets with natural and healthful alternatives to recover control.

For You, There Is Still Hope

Realizing that one's sugar addiction is a problem is the first step toward change. Dietary changes and self-control exercises can help, but going cold turkey isn't recommended. Sugar addicts, especially those who have another substance abuse disorder or a co-occurring mental health condition, will find it difficult to overcome their cravings. Please contact a treatment provider today to learn more about your options if you or someone you know has a sugar addiction, especially if complicating factors are present.