Comments on: Sugar, The Other White Drug http://nutritionfitnesslife.com/sugar-addiction-and-brain-chemistry/ eating healthy, getting in shape, and living life to the fullest Mon, 27 Jun 2011 02:19:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Casey http://nutritionfitnesslife.com/sugar-addiction-and-brain-chemistry/comment-page-1/#comment-1311 Casey Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:57:54 +0000 http://nutritionfitnesslife.com/2008/04/24/sugar-addiction-and-brain-chemistry/#comment-1311 I love hearing more about the addiction to sugar - the other white drug. You see the same "drug" seeking behavior in people who are sensitive to sugar. I must make a point here: a significant number of processed foods in our country now contain high fructose corn syrup as well as other various forms of sugar added for flavor. Yeah, it DOES make the food taste better but it also adds to our "sugar seeking" behavior. We get so many insulin spikes during the course of our day , thinking we are making an effort to eat healthy, when in reality, we are injesting hidden sugar, which gives us more serotonin in our pleasure centers in our brain, we release more insulin to lower the sugar level, create a crash in our serotonin levels and it's a huge cyclic problem for many of us. It's a real problem - I eat very few processed foods but as I type, I feel like a warm chocolate chip cookie is the answer to all my problems! I love hearing more about the addiction to sugar – the other white drug. You see the same “drug” seeking behavior in people who are sensitive to sugar. I must make a point here: a significant number of processed foods in our country now contain high fructose corn syrup as well as other various forms of sugar added for flavor. Yeah, it DOES make the food taste better but it also adds to our “sugar seeking” behavior. We get so many insulin spikes during the course of our day , thinking we are making an effort to eat healthy, when in reality, we are injesting hidden sugar, which gives us more serotonin in our pleasure centers in our brain, we release more insulin to lower the sugar level, create a crash in our serotonin levels and it’s a huge cyclic problem for many of us. It’s a real problem – I eat very few processed foods but as I type, I feel like a warm chocolate chip cookie is the answer to all my problems!

]]> By: Susan http://nutritionfitnesslife.com/sugar-addiction-and-brain-chemistry/comment-page-1/#comment-487 Susan Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:32:03 +0000 http://nutritionfitnesslife.com/2008/04/24/sugar-addiction-and-brain-chemistry/#comment-487 Thanks, Cindy! And good for you for progressing towards fewer and fewer sweets! It's tough, but doable when making small changes. :) Thanks, Cindy!
And good for you for progressing towards fewer and fewer sweets! It’s tough, but doable when making small changes. :)

]]> By: Cindy http://nutritionfitnesslife.com/sugar-addiction-and-brain-chemistry/comment-page-1/#comment-486 Cindy Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:47:53 +0000 http://nutritionfitnesslife.com/2008/04/24/sugar-addiction-and-brain-chemistry/#comment-486 Great breakdown of the research behind sugar. This is fascinating. I like how you say the goal is steadiness and a slow process. I'm always interested in how things are reacting in our bodies. The body is so complex. My husband is the same way. He doesn't desire sweets everyday where as I was stuck on having sweets daily. I've gotten better lately and it has been a slow process to shift from everyday to once ever other day. I'm moving toward once every three days now. Small steps and changes are working well right now! Great breakdown of the research behind sugar. This is fascinating. I like how you say the goal is steadiness and a slow process. I’m always interested in how things are reacting in our bodies. The body is so complex.

My husband is the same way. He doesn’t desire sweets everyday where as I was stuck on having sweets daily. I’ve gotten better lately and it has been a slow process to shift from everyday to once ever other day. I’m moving toward once every three days now. Small steps and changes are working well right now!

]]> By: Susan http://nutritionfitnesslife.com/sugar-addiction-and-brain-chemistry/comment-page-1/#comment-471 Susan Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:12:14 +0000 http://nutritionfitnesslife.com/2008/04/24/sugar-addiction-and-brain-chemistry/#comment-471 <strong>Kelly T,</strong> I think that's the hardest part - keeping sugar out of your system. It's hard to maintain a sugar free diet if your brain chemistry is wired to want/need sugar to feel good. Changing your diet over time will help stabilize those neurotransmitters and decrease the cravings - at least that's the goal! Kelly T,
I think that’s the hardest part – keeping sugar out of your system. It’s hard to maintain a sugar free diet if your brain chemistry is wired to want/need sugar to feel good. Changing your diet over time will help stabilize those neurotransmitters and decrease the cravings – at least that’s the goal!

]]> By: Kelly T http://nutritionfitnesslife.com/sugar-addiction-and-brain-chemistry/comment-page-1/#comment-466 Kelly T Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:29:12 +0000 http://nutritionfitnesslife.com/2008/04/24/sugar-addiction-and-brain-chemistry/#comment-466 Sugar works exactly like ecstacy,when you eat/take it, it spikes your sugar/seratonin levels, making you feel good. Unfortunately that wears off fast, leaving your body wanting more to get that high again. Thats why whenyou eat a candy bar to curb that afternoon hunger, you arent full for long, you want more sugar a few minutes later. However, while getting it out of your system doesnt take very long, its hard to avoid sugar at all costs, making it difficult to kick it completely. Sugar works exactly like ecstacy,when you eat/take it, it spikes your sugar/seratonin levels, making you feel good. Unfortunately that wears off fast, leaving your body wanting more to get that high again. Thats why whenyou eat a candy bar to curb that afternoon hunger, you arent full for long, you want more sugar a few minutes later.

However, while getting it out of your system doesnt take very long, its hard to avoid sugar at all costs, making it difficult to kick it completely.

]]> By: Susan http://nutritionfitnesslife.com/sugar-addiction-and-brain-chemistry/comment-page-1/#comment-465 Susan Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:35:33 +0000 http://nutritionfitnesslife.com/2008/04/24/sugar-addiction-and-brain-chemistry/#comment-465 <strong>JoLynn,</strong> It's great to share the same concerns and challenges about sugar addiction with another blogger who has fought the monster! I believe there are more folks addicted to sugar than we know! (And perhaps they don't even know!) I write my posts to help me through my process of breaking my terrible sugar addiction, but if I (we) can help others along the way too, that more than makes having this blog worth it! JoLynn,
It’s great to share the same concerns and challenges about sugar addiction with another blogger who has fought the monster! I believe there are more folks addicted to sugar than we know! (And perhaps they don’t even know!)
I write my posts to help me through my process of breaking my terrible sugar addiction, but if I (we) can help others along the way too, that more than makes having this blog worth it!

]]> By: JoLynn from The Fit Shack http://nutritionfitnesslife.com/sugar-addiction-and-brain-chemistry/comment-page-1/#comment-464 JoLynn from The Fit Shack Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:18:23 +0000 http://nutritionfitnesslife.com/2008/04/24/sugar-addiction-and-brain-chemistry/#comment-464 Yep, I've blogged exactly the same thing before and agree completely with calling sugar <a href="http://www.thefitshack.com/2007/04/16/sugar-the-other-addictive-white-powder/" rel="nofollow">the other white drug</a> - I'm so glad to see more people blogging about this because refined sugar <em>is</em> the "other" white drug, it's just that many don't realize it (yet ;) ). Yep, I’ve blogged exactly the same thing before and agree completely with calling sugar the other white drug – I’m so glad to see more people blogging about this because refined sugar is the “other” white drug, it’s just that many don’t realize it (yet ;) ).

]]> By: Susan http://nutritionfitnesslife.com/sugar-addiction-and-brain-chemistry/comment-page-1/#comment-463 Susan Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:31:57 +0000 http://nutritionfitnesslife.com/2008/04/24/sugar-addiction-and-brain-chemistry/#comment-463 <strong>Lynnae,</strong> I'm glad your medication is working for you (and helping to reduce sugar cravings)! So true - not everyone who is addicted to sugar should go on antidepressants. They don't work for everyone. This is a matter to thoroughly research and discuss with a trusted and qualified health care provider. <strong>Sagan,</strong> Thanks! :) Good point. Too much of any kind of food, vitamins, or water isn't healthy, and could possibly cause harm. Moderation with all foods is a good motto... but should refined sugar be considered a "food?" Lynnae,
I’m glad your medication is working for you (and helping to reduce sugar cravings)!
So true – not everyone who is addicted to sugar should go on antidepressants. They don’t work for everyone. This is a matter to thoroughly research and discuss with a trusted and qualified health care provider.

Sagan,
Thanks! :)
Good point. Too much of any kind of food, vitamins, or water isn’t healthy, and could possibly cause harm. Moderation with all foods is a good motto… but should refined sugar be considered a “food?”

]]> By: Sagan http://nutritionfitnesslife.com/sugar-addiction-and-brain-chemistry/comment-page-1/#comment-462 Sagan Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:41:16 +0000 http://nutritionfitnesslife.com/2008/04/24/sugar-addiction-and-brain-chemistry/#comment-462 This is such an interesting topic. I've always figured that too much of any food is going to lead to an "overdose" and could very easily become an addiction... of course, it might not be specific foods but the chemical make-up of the nutrients in that food, such as sugar specifically. I look forward to reading your future posts about it all! This is such an interesting topic. I’ve always figured that too much of any food is going to lead to an “overdose” and could very easily become an addiction… of course, it might not be specific foods but the chemical make-up of the nutrients in that food, such as sugar specifically. I look forward to reading your future posts about it all!

]]> By: Lynnae http://nutritionfitnesslife.com/sugar-addiction-and-brain-chemistry/comment-page-1/#comment-460 Lynnae Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:05:33 +0000 http://nutritionfitnesslife.com/2008/04/24/sugar-addiction-and-brain-chemistry/#comment-460 I think serotonin is key. I had a bunch of stuff going on (IBS, mood swings, the list goes on) indicating low serotonin. My doctor suggested trying an antidepressant as an experiment. Not only did my IBS and mood swings go away, but I find I don't crave sugar as much as I used to. I don't think everyone who has sugar cravings should take an antidepressant, but if you need to take them, reduced sugar cravings can be a nice side effect. :) I think serotonin is key. I had a bunch of stuff going on (IBS, mood swings, the list goes on) indicating low serotonin. My doctor suggested trying an antidepressant as an experiment. Not only did my IBS and mood swings go away, but I find I don’t crave sugar as much as I used to.

I don’t think everyone who has sugar cravings should take an antidepressant, but if you need to take them, reduced sugar cravings can be a nice side effect. :)

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