Sugar is the name given to a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, which are characterized by a sweet taste. In foods, sugar refers almost exclusively to sucrose, which in its fully refined form comes primarily from sugar cane and sugar beets, although it occurs naturally in many carbohydrates.
Other refined sugars used in industrial food preparation are glucose, fructose or fruit sugar, high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, maple syrup, malt syrup, honey, etc.
Man has enjoyed sugar for a long time. Originally, even before 350 AD. C., people chewed raw sugarcane to extract its sweetness. Later known as “the cane that produces honey without bees”, sugar has evolved throughout history at a breakneck pace and has become a billion-dollar producing industry.
But have we become addicted to the monster that is slowly killing us?
The American Dietetic Association and the American Diabetic Association agree that sugar consumption is one of the three main causes of degenerative diseases.
Cardiovascular diseases and cancer were virtually unknown at the beginning of the 20th century. Over the past 20 years, we have increased our sugar intake from an average of 5 lbs. per person per year to around £135 per person per year!
But why is it so difficult for us to give up sugar?
In a recent scientific study, rats were induced to binge on sugar and found to show telltale signs of addiction withdrawal, including “the shakes” and changes in brain chemistry when the effects of sweets were blocked. These signs are similar to those produced by drug withdrawal.
Sugar triggers the production of the brain’s natural opioids. This is a key to the addiction process. The brain becomes addicted to its own opioids like it would morphine or heroin.
It is a proven fact that sugar increases our insulin levels, which can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, and premature aging.
Sugar is also known to aggravate asthma, promote mental illness, anxiety, hyperactivity, mood swings, cause personality changes, nurture nervous disorders, cause gallstones, arthritis, and all forms of cellular cancer.
– Is sugar more addictive than cocaine?
Did you know that refined sugar is much more addictive than cocaine? Research shows that a staggering 94% of rats given a choice between sugar, water, and cocaine chose sugar.
The researchers speculate that sweet receptors (two protein receptors located on our tongues), which evolved in ancient times when our diets were very low in sugar, have not adapted to the high sugar intake of modern times.
The abnormally high stimulation of these receptors by our high-sugar diets generates excessive reward signals in our brain, which have the potential to override normal self-control mechanisms and lead to addiction.
– A diet high in sugar has been shown to increase antisocial behavior.
Dr. Russell Blaylock (Neurosurgeon, Author, and Speaker) explains that high sugar and starchy carbohydrates lead to excessive insulin release, which leads to a drop in blood sugar levels, or hypoglycemia. This would cause our brain to secrete glutamate at levels that can cause agitation, depression, anger, anxiety, panic attacks, and an increased risk of suicide.
A 1985 study published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology found that reducing sugar intake had a positive impact on emotions:
“…Subjects reported many symptoms and/or presented a distressed profile during baseline assessment. However, after a 2-week change in diet, symptoms abated and MMPI or POMS profiles reflected a more stable individual and less distressed. The results suggest that a diet change may remedy the emotional distress exhibited by some individuals…”
The dietary change consisted of a high protein, low carbohydrate diet with no sugar or caffeine.
– Our genes remember when we eat sugar
When we eat sugar, our genes not only turn off controls designed to protect us from heart disease and diabetes, but the impact lasts up to two weeks!
If we eat poorly for a long time, our DNA can be permanently altered and the effects could be passed on to our children and grandchildren.
We are born with a set of genes, but the expression of those genes is not set in stone. Our genes can be turned on or off by various factors, including our diet and even our mind.
Emotions also play an important role.
So, whenever you feel the urge to binge on sugary or junk foods, you need to have a system in place to help curb those cravings. Now you know why willpower and self-control just don’t work for most people! You need to start by consciously putting certain strategies into practice.
Mental technologies such as NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), Hypnosis, and EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) have proven extremely successful in helping curb sugar cravings and developing healthier eating habits.
When you eat the foods that are right for your biochemistry, you will push your body toward your goal weight and find that food cravings are greatly subsidized. This is because you’re giving your body the fuel it needs, so you’ll feel full throughout the day and be much less tempted by sugary or greasy foods.
Remember that sugar is not only found in sweets, but also in fruit, some salts, peanut butter, canned vegetables, bouillon cubes, medicines, toothpaste, vitamins… and! in almost all low-fat or fat-free processed products!
Get rid of it and improve your physical and mental health.