Drugs.
They destroy lives. They destroy families. They destroy you.
When we think of drugs, we think of cocaine or heroine. We think of the drugs that tear into a persons life leaving them nothing but a shell of a human. When we think of drugs, we think of losing control, losing our lives and losing ourselves.
But what if you could be addicted to something and not even know it. What if there was a drug that was so widely accepted that we didn't even think of it when it took someones life.
This drug exists. This drug is very real. This drug is the culprit for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, liver disease, and cancer.
This drug is sugar.
A study was performed to compare the effects of sugar to cocaine. While it was noted that there were many shared traits between sugar and addictive drugs, the most noteworthy similarity was that both sugar and drugs of abuse stimulate dopamine. Dopamine signals the brains reward system. To conduct this experiment, researchers used rats to prove sweetened water could surpass the reward signal of cocaine, one of the worlds most addictive drugs.
A study performed in 2003 on rats demonstrated how sweets and fats can reduced
the stress response in the rat’s brain, and that the rats suddenly seemed less annoyed and more calm.
But you couldn't possibly be addicted to sugar... Or could you? The signs of sugar addiction include headaches, lethargy or feeling tired, cravings, muscle pain, nausea, bloating and even insomnia.
So, if you think you might be addicted to sugar, here are a few things to try in order to kick the habit.
1. Stop eating sugar. Make a mental point to break the cycle now and stop eating foods with added sugars.
2. When you are craving sugar, drink a big glass of water. Dehydration can cause cravings.
3. Eat more protein. Make an effort to have a serving of meat protein at every meal. If you find yourself hungry between meals, load up on some more protein.
4. Increase your vegetables. While vegetables might not be the most satisfying, they are high in fiber and low in calories. I always say "If i'm not hungry enough to eat vegetables, I'm not actually hungry."
5. Get a good nights sleep. When we don't get a good nights sleep, our body craves energy, and the quickest way to get energy is from sugar. Getting a good nights sleep can help fight against cravings.
6. Don't starve yourself. I know we always think less will equal less, but if you starve yourself, there is a good chance your cravings will come back ten fold. Instead try filling up on healthy foods before cravings hit.
Remember, awareness will be your strongest weapon. Once we are aware of our challenges, we can truly address them. Don't beat yourself up if you falter, after all you are fighting the world's most accepted drug.
Cheerfully,
Serial Dieter 911
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