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Chemistry for the day: The brain loves sugar

First, let’s talk about sugars because it’s a general idea that sugar is only the table sugar placed on the table but no, there exists a number of sugars which come from fruits, vegetables, wheat and grains, anything starchy even. Sugar is not necessarily sweet but it actually has a variation in sweetness but regardless of this, we all still love sugar.

Especially the human brain, the brain really loves sugar; it consumes almost **60% of the total body’s sugar when in a state of consciousness and at least 20-23% when unconscious.** That’s how important sugar is to the brain since the organ has the most number of cells and cellular connections so that’s why. In addition to that, the brain can’t store sugar unlike in other cells. The brain gathers its sugar needs from what’s available in the blood thus why maintaining a healthy blood sugar level is important. Does this mean it’s fine to eat a lot of sweets? Well that would depend on your bodily needs but it would still be best not to. Of course possible development of diabetes is a given but then what else could go wrong? **Sugar is addicting** I think this goes without being said but I have to say it. Everyone is addicted to sugar in one way or another. Which is why we can’t live without rice, or bread or any forms of carbs really, and fruits and veggies too. But hen how is sugar addicting? Well research has shown that dopamine and opioid levels increase just after in taking sugary materials. Opioids are responsible for one’s pleasure and the brain’s reward function (it gives a feeling of happiness or joy when activated). So if sugar can artificially trigger your opioid level and your brain’s reward function, slowly, you’ll need higher and higher dosage of sugar to be able to experience the same feeling of pleasure that your brain craves for, thus the first steps in making someone an addict, really. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327512#Why-sugar-may-be-addictive-after-all **Sugar can cause mental disorders** As much as sugar can make one happy, an elevated level of sugar intake is linked to the development of depression, mostly explained by the above statement on how the brain’s reward function is impaired (the harder it is to get pleasure, the more it contributes to depression). But then it also is a prospective cause of anxiety and sadness, especially with people who have type2  diabetes (a lot of old papers say that “sugar rush” thing is a reason why but I really don’t think so). Studies also show that people who regularly consume a high dosage of sugary food are more prone to mental disorders than those who have their sugar levels in check. **Excess sugar impairs your learning capacity** An excess of sugar in the blood stream can impair or slow down your cognitive function and even affect your memory and attention. How does this happen? Well sugar can harm blood vessels, in the brain though, it targets major areas that use up much sugar then the eyes (this explains why people with diabetes are prone to having bad eyesight). In addition, there had been studies that show how a high sugar diet reduces the brain production of **brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)**, it’s what makes new memory formation and learning possible. This is also a reason why it’s thought that high sugar diets can also cause Alzheimer’s and dementia.

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