What Kind of Sugar Addict Are You?

by Shelby Molchan |

The Standard American Diet (SAD), high in refined sugar and void of nutritional value, has lead to epidemic proportions of sugar addicts; along with a litany of corresponding health issues. Likened to a heroine addiction, sugar has become the drug of choice for the American population and it is available everywhere! According to the USDA the consumption of refined sugar in the standard American diet has increased by over 30% since 1983. The average person in America consumes 150 pounds of refined sugar in one year.

White refined sugar is not a food, but rather a chemical with highly addictive properties. The biochemical makeup of sugar is almost identical to alcohol. When removed from the diet, sugar causes withdrawal symptoms such as tremors, headaches, flu like symptoms and more. As an immune suppressant, sugar decreases the activity of white blood cells for up to five hours after intake. In order for the body to metabolize sugar, it must rob from vitamin and mineral supplies of the body, which alone makes it a threat to proper bodily function. What’s worse, sugar is an acceptable addiction. Most people know and admit that they “need” their fix.

Characteristics of an addictive substance are:

• In spite of negative consequences or the desire to quit, it is consumed anyway.
• Dopamine and Serotonin (neurotransmitters in the brain) are impacted in the same way as with alcohol and hard drugs like cocaine.
• Tolerance occurs with regular use and consumption amounts must be increased to derive the same effects.
• Over time, the substance is required for normal functioning.
• Withdrawal occurs when consumption is ceased.

Sugar dependency is so common that it can be classified into four key types of addiction, each with different underlying causes and requiring a different approach to treatment.

The first type of sugar addiction deals with energy and exhaustion. The afternoon slump occurs so we reach for sugar and caffeine or both. Instant energy occurs when the empty calories and sugar reach the bloodstream. The problem with this is that in a few hours the rush is over and we are again looking for a way to boost energy. Another candy, coffee or energy drink only promotes the cycle. Getting energy this way is like borrowing with a high interest rate, it costs a lot more in the end.

The second type of sugar addiction is related to stress. When we react to stressful situations, our adrenal glands produce stress-handling hormones called cortisol and epinephrine. When adrenal glands are overwhelmed by chronically stressful environments, they become exhausted and don’t provide the “kick of energy” needed to get through a particular situation. In return we reach for sugar to pump them up. Following the sugar rush is a drop in blood sugar results in hypoglycemia. When the brain is starved of glucose we become anxious, jittery and lightheaded. The answer is, more sugar!

The third type of sugar addict needs sugar fixes regularly. Sugar is a staple in their diet, from morning until night. The constant craving for sugar is caused by an overgrowth of Candida Albicans, a type of yeast that grows in the digestive tract that is fed by fermenting sugar and carbohydrates. Candida overgrowth is responsible for a huge variety of unpleasant conditions and symptoms and is widely misdiagnosed as autoimmune diseases; in which case, medication is prescribed that further weakens the immune system and allows the overgrowth to spiral out of control. Physicians rarely consider Candida overgrowth to be the cause of a problem, diet modification is recommended even less often.

The fourth type of sugar addiction deals with hormones. When hormones are out of whack a person may become sad and/or anxious. As the body tries to raise serotonin (the happiness molecule), a person might crave sugar, in an attempt to find balance. But as usual, as soon as the sugar effects wear off they are right back to where they started. Swinging high then low can wreak havoc with physical and emotional well-being, causing a person to feel totally unstable. Anxiety from imbalanced hormones can produce adrenal fatigue, leading to type two sugar cravings, compounding this type of sugar addiction.

This might be too overwhelming that it seems hopeless to cure even one of these sugar addictions, let alone a combination of two or more. Feelings like this are partially caused by the negative effects of the sugar addiction. It will take a commitment to the change of diet and lifestyle in order to rid your body of the symptoms of sugar addiction. It is hard to fathom that by giving up sugar, a person can achieve naturally sustaining energy, better digestive function, enhanced brain function, better looking skin and weight loss. Sugar addicts fear a day without sugar because they do not remember a time when they got through a day feeling well without it. As the body begins to detoxify and re-balance itself, natural energy levels increase. With proper supplementation, adrenals and hormones can be encouraged to regain their proper function. With cleanses and diet adjustments, Candida overgrowth can be controlled.

People who have made the commitment and have done the work to gain control of their sugar addictions report positive changes in physical health, emotional well-being and happiness levels, and although the changes take time and require embracing new lifestyle and eating habits, the end result is feeling fabulous!

References:

1. Teitelbaum MD, Jacob. Beat Sugar Addiction Now.
2. Fitzgerald, Dr. Patricia. The Detox Solution.
3. Perkins M.Ed., Cynthia. How To Break Your Sugar Addiction Today.

For more info, contact Shelby Molchan at Island Rainbow Wellness Center at (775) 762-2463 or visit online at www.IslandRainbowWellness.com.