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@Gwenie

Sugar Addiction

Sweet treats. I guess many people can relate to this. Many people eat sweets especially when feeling stressed. They find comfort in sugary foods like cakes, milk teas, chocolates, soft drinks, and many more. These foods are really hard to resist. But why do people get addicted to sweets? Can we really call this *addiction*? Let's find out. To understand this better, let's define some terms first. **Dopamine -** A chemical messenger (hormone) responsible for controlling the brain's pleasure and reward centers. **Mesolimbic Dopamine System -** Also known as *mesolimbic pathway.* This is a pathway within the brain in which dopamine is carried from one area to another. **The brain's reward system.** Sugary foods are highly desirable due to the powerful impact of sugar on the rewards system of the brain, called the *mesolimbic pathway*. This is where the neurons release dopamine in response to a rewarding event. Normally, this system is activated by natural rewards and behaviors such as eating tasty foods, achieving something, or interacting socially. Activating this system will make you want to carry out the behavior again because it feels good. According to the experts, excessive consumption of sugar can lead to some problems similar to substance addiction. So it appears that sugar may have addictive qualities. **Symptoms of Sugar Addiction** **You always crave sweets**. This is the most common sign of sugar addiction. You crave for sugary foods even when you're not physically hungry. **You hide your sugar habit**. Some people may recognize that they're eating too much. But instead of finding ways to stop it, they hide it. **You need more to satisfy your craving.** Like with many addictive substances, your tolerance to sweets may build in the long run. This results in taking more and more to satisfy your cravings. **You crave salty foods.** This can also be a sign because when you regularly eat sweet foods, you're probably not getting enough proteins and fats that your body needs. Craving for salty food might be a way that your body is telling you to take a break and eat something healthier. **You use sugar to soothe.** This is when you continuously turn to sugar as a means to cope with stress, boredom, and other psychological issues like anxiety and depression. How sugar addiction negatively affects the body. **Increased fat storage.** The human body is designed to store fat in times of starvation as a means to survive. The excess sugar you consume is converted to fat. The body will continue to do this and it is capable of storing endless amounts of fats. Excess body fat is associated with cancer, heart disease, and other health conditions. **Reduced immune system.** High sugar consumption can have multiple impacts on the immune system. It can prevent you from getting enough sleep at night as well as increase inflammation. A constant state of inflammation can destroy our tissues and it can lead to more serious disease like cancer. **Insulin resistance.** The body releases insulin in response to sugar in your blood. As the day goes on, your body becomes less sensitive to insulin and you become insulin resistant. Which is associated with type two diabetes and obesity. **Amputation.** In the setting of type two diabetes, there is a chance that your peripheral areas stop receiving an adequate amount of blood. When blood supply reduces to areas like the legs and feet, your cells can die and cause infections. When this occurs, an amputation may be needed. Ways to stop sugar cravings **Give a little.** Eat just a bit of what you are craving. **Combine foods.** Try to combine nutritious foods to the food you crave. **Grab some gum.** Research proved that chewing gum can reduce food cravings. **Reach for fruit.** Keep fruit handy for when your sugar cravings hit, you can reach them instead of reaching for sugary foods. **Choose quality over quantity.** If you need sugar splurge, learn to incorporate small in your diet but concentrate on less sugary and healthier options. **Eat regularly.** Avoid irrational eating behavior. Waiting too long between meals may set you up to sugary foods to cut your hunger. **Get support.** If your emotions are involved in your sugar cravings, try to ask for help to find another solutions for your emotional problems. *The informations presented here are guides on what sugar addiction is and how it affects your health. But please note that every situation may vary per person.* *Lead image is from Unsplash.* Thank you for reading. 💕 -Gwenie

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