ARE YOU AN ADDICT?

What is 4x more addictive than cocaine and heroin?

 Has an opiate effect like heroin?  

Causes loss of control?  

Addicts will continue use despite adverse consequence? 

 Has a 97% relapse rate (higher than any other drug)!! 

 Certain types will cause liver damage equal to that of alcohol? 

Withdrawal symptoms include:

HEADACHES

TIREDNESS

FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS

CRABBINESS

MOODINESS

AND IS SOLD ON EVERY STREET CORNER IN THE USA?

SUGAR

Sugar comes hidden in many forms:

Brown sugar 91% to 96% sucrose.  Confectioner’s sugar, or powdered sugar.  Corn syrups Three major producers’ contain 42%, 55% and 90% fructose. Dextrose comprises most of the remainder.  Dextrose, or glucose, is also known as corn sugar.  High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) twice as sweet as sucrose, twice as addictive and can damage the liver like alcohol  Honey. Invert sugar.  Lactose, or milk sugar. Levulose, or fructose, is a commercial sugar much sweeter than sucrose. Its sweetness actually depends on its physical form and how it’s used in cooking. Fructose, known as a fruit sugar, occurs naturally in many fruits.  Raw sugar consists of coarse, granulated crystals formed from the evaporation of sugar cane juice. Raw sugar contains impurities and cannot be sold in grocery stores due to FDA regulations.  Sorbitol, mannitol, malitol and xylitol are sugar alcohols or polyols. They occur naturally in fruits and are produced commercially from such sources as dextrose. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol made from a part of birch trees. Sorbitol, mannitol and malitol are about half as sweet as sucrose. Xylitol has a sweetness equal to sucrose.  Sucrose, or table sugar, from sugar cane or sugar beets consists of two simple sugars, glucose and fructose. It is about 99.9% pure and sold in either granulated or powdered form.  Turbinado sugar.  Breads, muffins, crackers, cereals, bars, protein shakes, yogurt, milk, canned foods, sodas, sports drinks, health drinks, energy drinks all contain added sugar.  There is virtually no processed product that does not contain added sugar anymore!

Starches, Sugars, Processed Chocolate, Gluten and casein containing foods all have the same effect and were are high calorie drugs manufactured for addiction.  Julia Ross talks candidly about the sugar-drug addiction and it's impact on the world in The Diet Cure.

In 2006 The World Health Organization stated "Our only recommendation for ending the world-wide physical and mental health crisis is to cut all sweetened foods to below 10% of calories (less than 250 calories per day)." 35 million people have degenerative diseases linked to sugar consumption. Every year this substance KILLS more people than TOBACCO and ALCOHOL combined!

So what causes this addiction?  Dr. Fuhrman explains:

The science on food addiction has now established that highly palatable foods (low-nutrient, high-calorie, intensely sweet, salty, and/or fatty foods - those that make up the majority of the Standard American Diet) produces the exact biochemical effects in the brain that are characteristic of substance abuse.

Junk food is ubiquitously available, legal, cheap, and socially accepted; therefore, it becomes the drug of choice for many of us.

The following are some characteristics of addiction to a substance or behavior:¹ 

• Compulsive use of the substance despite negative health and social consequences
• Tolerance - over time, progressively greater amounts of the substance are needed to reach and maintain the “high”
• Withdrawal symptoms (link toxic hunger) when the substance is discontinued
• Activation of reward pathways (including the dopamine system) in the brain

Many of us have had the experience of tasting a junk food or dessert, and then feeling the intense demand from our brain: “MORE!” We feel a complete lack of control, and our commitment to excellent health all of a sudden doesn’t matter. These feelings originate from the dopamine reward system – dopamine is a neurochemical that regulates motivation, pleasure, and reinforcement related to certain stimuli – such as food. The amount of pleasure we derive from eating a food correlates with the amount of dopamine released in the brain.²

Recent research suggests that overeating and obesity create greater desire for palatable food, but reduce the pleasure derived from consuming these foods – resulting in a progressively worsening addiction.

Need help with your sugar or food addiction?  My Health Coaching programs will support you in finding freedom from food and living a balanced and healthy life.  

Health Coaching

References¹Taylor VH, Curtis CM, Davis C: The obesity epidemic: the role of addiction. CMAJ 2010;182:327-328.
²Small DM, Jones-Gotman M, Dagher A: Feeding-induced dopamine release in dorsal striatum correlates with meal pleasantness ratings in healthy human volunteers. Neuroimage 2003;19:1709-1715.