Here’s how sugar addiction is similar to drug addiction and how to break your sugar cravings!
If you read my stuff, then you (probably) already know that I’m a recovered stress eater and founder of the Stop Emotional Eating Program – a life-changing health-improving video course.
I’m passionate about helping people to STOP emotional eating and cut back on junk food!
Many of my students tell me that they particularly have trouble with stopping their sugar cravings.
I relate.
I used to have a very big sugar addiction. But thankfully I put in the effort to break by cravings for sugar – once and for all!
Here’s why…
A 60 Second Video About The Dangers Of Sugar Addiction
Sugar addiction is harmful for many reasons…
increases our weight
harms our liver
messes with our metabolism
impairs brain function
leaves us susceptible to heart disease, diabetes and cancer
So why can’t you stop eating all that sugar?
It’s not your fault if you have seemingly uncontrollable sugar cravings!
First I will explain 4 reasons why you can’t stop eating sugar.
Afterwards I will share 4 ways to stop sugar cravings.
4 Reasons Why You Can’t Stop Eating Sugar
1. Dopamine makes you act dopey
First, you should know, you’re not alone in your urge to inhale a bag of candy or scarf down a box of Oreos. Your cravings for sugar go super deep.
To examine the hold sugar can have over us, substance-abuse researchers have performed brain scans on subjects eating something sweet. What they’ve seen resembles the mind of a drug addict!
When tasting sugar, the brain lights up in the same regions as it would in an alcoholic with a bottle of gin.
Dopamine—the so-called reward chemical—spikes and reinforces the desire to have more.
If so, it might be because your body’s biologically wired to crave simple carbohydrates when it’s feeling low on energy.
Yep, your insightful, intuitive body recognizes that sugar will quickly turn into glucose in your bloodstream and energize you.
Happily you can still eat something sweet without experiencing that blood sugar level spike. Simple carbs are also found in fruits, veggies, and dairy products. Unlike candy, syrup, soda, table sugar (etc) these simple carbs have fiber and protein that slow the process of release – so you don’t spike and crash!
3. Behavioral addiction
Sugar is biologically addictive – due to how it increases insulin levels.
In the movie “Fed Up,” they called sugar the new cigarettes because of its addictive nature.
In one study, 93% of lab rats chose sugar water over cocaine!
4. The reward center
Aside from the pleasure of eating itself, when you consume sugar your brain also sees sugar as a reward, which makes you keep wanting more of it.
If you often eat a lot of sugar to celebrate something good or forget about something bad, you’re simply reinforcing that reward. Unfortunately these habits can make it tougher to break free from sugar addiction.
Avoid processed foods wherever possible. Look carefully at labels.
The majority of sugar sweetened cereals contain at least 4 teaspoons of sugar per serving.
Flavored yogurts and energy bars are other culprits – and so is store bought bread.
2. Know sugar’s aliases
This crazy sociopath sugar often goes by other names. Around 56 of them!
High fructose corn syrup, sucrose and maltose are just a few of Sugar’s aliases.
Be on the lookout.
3. Make room for magnesium
Sugar cravings may be more prominent in people who aren’t getting enough of this crucial mineral.
Your doctor can test your levels – but you can also help yourself!
Start choosing magnesium rich foods, such as dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, fish and beans.
4. Power up with cinnamon.
A true superhero spice, cinnamon tastes wonderful and has powerful medicinal properties.
Ceylon cinnamon is particularly beneficial. It offers lower amounts of coumarin. It not only lowers blood sugar levels, it also reduces heart disease risk factors! So get sprinkling!
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