There is an addiction in the nation, and I’m not talking about drugs or alcohol in the traditional sense. I’m referring to sugar in its many forms, which is present in much of our food here in the United States—even in foods that seem otherwise healthy. If you’ve ever been determined to make better food choices only to find that around 5pm each day, you’re craving a king size Snickers bar, you’re certainly not alone.
The average American consumes 19.5 teaspoons daily—10.5 to 13.5 teaspoons more than what is recommended by the American Heart Association. Dr. Alan Greene told "Healthline," “In medicine we use "addiction" to describe a tragic situation where someone’s brain chemistry has been altered to compel them to repeat a substance or activity despite harmful consequences…So I’m serious when I say that evidence is mounting that too much added sugar could lead to true addiction.” Why is this happening, and why is this so alarming?
Like other drugs, high-sugar foods cause dopamine, the “reward hormone,” to be released in the brain, which is why we feel happy when we eat junk food and probably why Professor Lupin always gave Harry Potter chocolate after Dementor attacks. Not only does our brain get high off of sugar, but the dopamine receptors dull over time, which means our brains require more and more of the stuff to get the same effect. Those who detox from sugar experience a number of withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, depression, headaches even nausea.
Additionally, when we are stressed out our bodies produce cortisol. Pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Robert Lustig explains, “When cortisol floods the bloodstream, it raises blood pressure; increases the blood glucose level, which can precipitate diabetes. Human research shows that cortisol specifically increases caloric intake of ‘comfort foods.’” No wonder I crave a candy bar when I’m having a stressful moment at work: it’s an endless cycle of sugar cravings and my brain literally encouraging bad habits.
In moderation, sugar is just fine. But in excess—like those 10.5 extra teaspoons per day—sugar could possibly be toxic for our health. Dr. Lustig clarified to the "New York Times" that sugar is not an “acute toxin,” or a substance that can kill after one meal, but possibly a “chronic toxin” that could prove dangerous after 1,000 meals. Besides diabetes and weight gain, sugar has been linked to heart disease, cancer production, liver toxicity, and resistance to leptin, the hormone that signals you’ve had enough to eat.
In response to the backlash of the sugar industry, companies have put high fructose corn syrup into foods to make them appear less threatening and because it is a cheaper alternative than sugar in its traditional form. These companies argue that fructose is the sugar found in nature, so it’s good sugar. But the fructose content in most fruit is considerably less than the fructose content in corn syrup. The bottom line? Fructose is still sugar, and sugar in any form in excess is not good.
Should we stop consuming sugar altogether? I’m the first to argue against that. I’m sure Dr. Lustig would agree that the key to avoiding becoming addicted to and poisoned by sugar is to avoid consuming it in excess—which means carefully looking at labels to avoid dangerous additives. While I’ve read up on sugar detoxes and am in no way denying their health benefits, I prefer to do my best to eat right most of the time and allow myself to try out the new Disney Springs Sprinkles cupcake ATM sometimes as well.
For further information on the possible toxicity of sugar, check out the documentary "Sugar Coated" on Netflix, which features Dr. Lustig himself.
