Sugar Addiction Help

Does Sugar Have Neurochemical Effects On Our Brain?
Do We Really Need Sugar Addiction Help?

Exploring The Sugar Addiction Definition

Before getting into the sugar addiction help, let's look at what an addiction is.

An addiction is when you have a dependency or a habitual behaviour.

It is the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, like narcotics, to such an extent that it's cessation causes severe trauma.

An addiction is the compulsive, physiological need for and use of a habit forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/addiction)

And, an addiction is the persistent, compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be physically, psychologically or socially harmful. It is a physiological tolerance and a psychological dependence on a drug.

Can Sugar Really Be Considered Addictive?

According to a Princeton University study, sugar is addictive. And, there are more and more studies indicating that sugar has neurochemical effects on our brain. This means that sugar affects opiads and dopamine in our brain. These pleasure receptors in our brain keep us going back for more sugar to keep us feeling "good".

Sugar has been compared to a drug by some researchers. When someone has a drug addiction, they go thru 3 steps.
1. Increase the intake of the drug.
2. Experience withdrawal symptoms when access to the drug is cut off.
3. They face an urge to relapse and take drug again.

In the Princeton study, rats went through similar stages. When sugar was taken away, they exhibited withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal symptoms can be:

  • shakes
  • binging
  • craving
  • headaches

    • Many scientists feel that for sugar to be considered a true addictive substance it must cause:
    1. behavioural pattern of increased intake
    2. changes in brain chemistry
    3. signs of withdrawal
    4. changes in brain chemistry from deprivation
    5. signs of cravings relapse after withdrawal

    The reality for many people is that they have an extremely difficult time not eating sugar or sweets (and scientific studies are now supporting it). Many people need sugar addiction help.



    Health Dangers Caused By Sugar Addiction


    The average North American eats double the recommended amount of sugar. (The recommended amounts for women is 26 grams and for men 38 grams. This means that many people eat as much as 22 teaspoons of sugar a day (or more). Excess amounts of sugar can cause hypoglycemia, poor circulation, excessive thirst, excessive hunger, obesity, tooth decay, onset of diabetes, cardivascular diseases, binging, Candida, weight gain, blood sugar spikes/lows, increased cancer risk, and premature aging.

    If this list doesn't make you pause and think about your sugar intake. I don't know what will! Sugar addiction help becomes more interesting the more we learn about the dangers of sugar consumption.


    What Fits Into The Sugar Category

    We can get a sugar fix by eating all of the various forms of sugar. Or, our bodies even will make sugar by converting food we eat into sugar in our bodies.

    Read labels and watch out for these forms of sugar:

  • fructose (fruit)
  • sucrose
  • dextrose
  • glucose
  • maltose
  • lactose (milk)
  • white sugar
  • brown sugar
  • corn syrups
  • corn sweeteners
  • fruit juice concentrates
  • honey
  • molasses
  • maple syrup
  • malt syrup
  • brown rice syrup
  • evaporated cane juice
  • simple carbohydrates
  • high glycemic foods
  • white flour
  • white potatoes
  • wheat
  • pastas
  • artificial sweeteners
  • aspartame
  • saccharin
  • and so on...

    • Our bodies very quickly convert some foods, like simple carbohydrates and high glycemic foods, into sugar so the end result is the same sugar fix.

    Caffeine and alcohol can be considered part of the sugar family too because they raise glucose levels.

    Just avoiding the obvious white and brown sugar isn't going to neccesarily limit your sugar intake. We need to be aware of all these forms of sugar because they are in so much of the packaged and processed foods we eat.


    Sugar Addiction Connection to Candida And Yeast Infections

    If you have Candida or yeast infections you have 2 forces within your body making you crave sugar.

    First, you have the neurochemical reaction in your brain. This pleasure receptor center makes you crave sugar. After having a constant supply, your brain will start sending out withdrawal symptoms if you stop eating sugar.

    Second, you have the Candida Albicans yeast demanding to be fed. Candida thrives on sugar. When you are battling chronic yeast infections, systemic Candida infections or even just a one time yeast infection - that infection loves sugar. If you all of a sudden stop earing sugar, the yeast has lost a major food source!

    Not only do you experience psychological reasons for craving sugar, your body is physically craving sugar to feed it's overpopulated Candida albicans yeast cells. It is a 2 pronged battle. This is one reason people find the anti-candida diet so challenging. It can be extremely hard to cope with withdrawal, cravings, candida die off reactions and candida symptoms or yeast infection symptoms all at the same time.


    Sugar Addiction Help and Solutions

    Food Choices for Sugar Addiction Help

  • beware of sugar substitutes because they can cause you to overeat, neglect nutrients and nutrition or make you consume empty calories

  • eat foods in their natural form

  • eat foods that lower blood sugar

  • don't eat packaged or processed foods that may have hidden sugars

  • buy a juicer and make juice using whole fruit including seeds, pulp and skin in whole or part

  • keep fresh cut up vegetables handy

  • stock up on frozen vegetables

  • avoid fruit, until all cravings are gone and Candida is clear - then can use fruit when you want something sweet to eat. Eat whole, fresh fruit - not dried or juice

  • increase proteins and fats, incorporating saturated fats

  • avoid carbohydrates in the form of grains

  • use coconut oil to help suppress cravings - can use 1-2 tsps in herbal tea

  • look for no sugar added versions of your favorite foods

  • check labels

  • avoid vegetable oils

  • switch to green tea because the caffeine is released slowly into your blood so you get the benefits of caffeine's positives stimulating your immune system and healthy heart

    • Lifestyle Changes for Sugar Addiction Help

  • exercise helps with cravings, but sometimes exhaustion and fatigue make it hard for us to be interested in exercise and be active - this is a great product to help fight fatigue

  • meal planning helps avoid impulse eating

  • eat every 4 hours

  • give yourself time to get over your sugar addiction - it can take from a few weeks to a few months to beat sugar cravings

  • change your habits - focus less on sweets and more on diversity
  • snacking often does many of us in - fill your fridge and cupboards with healthy snacks

    Supplements and Herbal Support for Sugar Addiction Help

  • sugar cravings and carbohydrate cravings can sabotage our efforts to cut out sugar - the candida albicans yeast wants to be fed and it loves to feed on sugar and simple carbohydrates - this product helps deal with sugar cravings and carb cravings


    • Your Health Care Provider's Support

  • Go to your doctor and have a fasting blood sugar test

  • Get a vitamin deficiency test

  • Try acupuncture
  • Consider traditional chinese medicine and look into the connection to Spleen Qi (chee)

    • Books
    Sugar Shock!



    There are many ways of how to stop sugar cravings. Check them out.


    Tell us about your sugar addiction experiences. Read what other's say about their sugar craving stories.



    If you found this sugar addiction help information useful, you will also like the information in our YIA Health Ezine.
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