Are We Addicted to Sugar?

Most of the people used to get a carving for a little sweet after dinner. It is an increasing problem for Americans who are conditioned to carve sugar because of a constant exposure from processed foods. It is bad for your teeth and waistline. More and more research has been done and it says that excessive sugar intake leads to serious health issues, including type II diabetes, blood pressure, dementia and stroke.

So the question is how much sugar is too much? The amount that your body can metabolize is slightly different for everyone. The American Heart Association recommends that no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugar a day for women, less than the amount of sugar in a single 12-ounce can of non-diet soda - and no more than 9 teaspoons a day for men. According to survey done by American Hearth Associate, adult Americans consume an average of 22 teaspoons of added sugar every day, mostly from drinks. You can calculate the number of teaspoons of sugar you are getting per serving of a particular food or drink by taking the number of sugar in grams in one serving as listed on the product’s nutritional label and dividing it by four.

Once you are in habit of eating too much too sugar, it becomes harder and harder to stop it is a real phenomenon. A research indicates that changes to brain chemicals after sugar you have consumed are similar to changes seen after drug use and constantly over eating sugar leads to obesity. This issue isn’t just limited to sweet snacks like candy and soda. It is also the sugar added in processed foods that do not even taste sweet, like ketchup and white starchy foods like pasta and bread.

There are four types of sugar addicts:

1. People who are constantly tired and need sugar for an energy boost.
2. People who are extremely irritable when they go without eating for too long and turn to sugar for a quick snack.
3. People with hormonal imbalances who turn to sugar as a way to boost their mood.
4. People who constantly crave “a little something sweet”

If you are constantly turning to sugar for an energy boost or craving a sweet treat, Teitelbaum says you can typically treat this addiction by drinking more water, eating a balanced diet, stop drinking soda. Some addicts are triggered by stress so identifying and eliminating the source of your stress is a key. If you are suffering from a hormonal imbalance, you might talk to your doctor about hormone therapy or supplements.