Question

Prompt #1 for this Discussion: Reply to everyone for consideration by answering the following question(s): Is there such a thing as sugar addiction? (nutrition 101)

Answer 1

The term sugar include the glucose, fructose, lactose ,maltose, starch molecules that we consume.The sources of these include sweetened beverages sweetened cereals, honey , icecreams, cookies etc. It is true that sugar is an addictive compound. It can activate the reward system and cause craving, just like any psychoactive drug or nicotine or alcohol.

When we eat balanced food with nutrients in adequate proportion, the dopamine levels increase in the reward system, but gradually when we continue eating balanced diet, this dopamine level will not shoot up, instead the levels go down.This will not cause addiction or craving for food.But when we eat highly sweetened food ,the dopamine levels increase and when we go on taking such foods,the dopamine levels will not come down, instead it remains at a higher level.This causes craving.

Sugar addiction can cause ill effects such as obesity, heart disease etc.People want to reduce their weight ,but they go on eating sugary foods more and more and get obese.After consuming more sugary foods in the late evenings, we won't feel refreshed after the night sleep, we may feel lethargic and uneasiness while waking up.

This has become a serious health concern ,when we started consuming junk foods and packaged foods more than homemade foods.Most of the ready to eat food that we buy have added sugars,which we may not recognize. It is always better to go through the ingredient list, before consuming packaged foods

Once addiction has set in, the ways to overcome are:-

-instead of stopping the addictive food all at once, try to reduce the quantity

-try to mix up the sugary foods with other healthy foods

- try to include fruits .This will give additional benefits such as dietary fibres, vitamins etc

-Never skip breakfast. A good and filling breakfast will usually help to prevent binge eating through out the day

-Trying artificial sweeteners which are said to have less sugars is also not a better option to consider.If possible avoid it.

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