Being addicted to sugar is certainly a real thing. As someone who has an incredible sweet tooth, I can surely attest to the pleasures and pains of having constant sugar cravings. I'll venture to guess that many of you can relate as well. It's a proven fact that sugar is just as addictive as any other drug. Evidently, consuming a large amount of sugar can potentially lead to several health issues including obesity, cardiovascular disease, fatigue, headaches, to name a few. To understand how one can overcome a sugar addiction, it is important to start with why sugar is so addictive. When consumed, sugar, like many other drugs such as cocaine, affects the mesolimbic dopamine system, also known as the reward system. This system is responsible for the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that stimulates feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. The activation of this reward system in our bodies could ultimately lead to the need for more of a substance; thus, an addiction begins.

I am someone that has always loved and craved sugar to the point where my body has created a dependency on it. Once I realized the power of sugar and the adverse effects that it has had on my body such as the creation of fatigue and facial acne, I have been able to effectively reduce any bad sugar cravings by implementing the method of substitution. What this entails is that every time I feel myself yearning for a sugary food that I know is really bad for me, I will substitute it with a healthier alternative. I know that it's easier said than done. In fact, if you'd told me a year ago to eat a piece of fruit instead of having the Oreo ice cream I was craving, I would've looked at you as if you were crazy. Fruit couldn't do me justice. I wanted what I was craving, and there was no way around it. On the other hand, I have been able to experiment with different types of healthier desserts and figure out which ones did in fact leave me feeling satisfied. Now, one of my all-time favorite, go-to sweet snacks is banana and peanut butter. I particularly like this combination, because I can eat it in so many different ways. I have been able to make a PB and Banana sandwich, a PB and Banana smoothie, and a PB and Banana mini frozen treat.

Another way I was able to curb my sugary appetites is by drinking a lot of water throughout the day, especially before meals. We're all told to stay hydrated and drink more water, and this cannot be any truer. The power of water really should not be underestimated. I've noticed that by drinking more water, I felt fuller, ate less and was not so inclined to go for a piece of chocolate or a slice of cake. To add, when I drank more water, my skin looked much healthier than it did in the past when I didn't stay hydrated and ate more sugar.

All in all, sugar is the devil in disguise, and it's all around us. When you have a lot of it, sugar can certainly do a lot of harm to your body. A craving for and a dependency on sugar can be combatted, but it takes time, patience and persistence. Everybody reacts differently to different substances, and while some might find cutting off sugar to be easy, others might not find it as simple. With a person that is like the old me, it takes small changes in diet to successfully overcome strong sugar cravings. By finding out what works for your body and which foods make you feel good and satisfied, you can ultimately set yourself on a path towards a sugar-free lifestyle.