Help, I Have an Addiction to Sugar? What You Can Do

Help, I Have an Addiction to Sugar? What You Can Do

Experts debate the fact that we can become addicted to sugar in the same respect as drugs, alcohol or tobacco. Addiction can be defined as a substance which is compulsive, persistently used, and is known to be detrimental to the body and harmful. Many people have experienced these feelings in relationship with white refined sugar. We know that a high sugar intake is bad for us but we cannot seem to stop ourselves, and feel the need to carry on whatever.

There are many tell tale signs and symptoms that give an indication that we may have a sugar addiction. Perhaps we can learn from these symptoms and try to find a solution:

– Do sugar cravings occur at certain times of day?

Some of us seem to follow a pattern in the time of day we crave sugar. It may be first thing in the morning or mid morning or afternoon. Perhaps for some of us early evening, while we are relaxing watching television is our craving time. Maybe we feel that at these times we need that extra lift and energy injection, or to help relieve the stresses of our day.

– Do we constantly crave sugar throughout the day?

If sugar craving takes up a major role in our thoughts throughout the day, it is most likely that we have a sugar dependency issue. If we constantly have an intense desire for sugary, sweet treats or drinks, we are severely dependent on the lift and comfort the sugar gives us.

– Do we blame a sweet tooth?

When we are faced with a choice between a sweet or savory snack, which is more appealing to our taste buds? We all like sweets but some of us can resist the temptation, others cannot. If we find ourselves unable to resist that delicious looking dessert at dinner, and just have to have that sweet cup of coffee to follow, there is every possibility that we have an addiction issue, not just a sweet tooth.

– Do we suffer side effects when reducing sugar intake?

If we feel that when our sugar intake is reduced, we notice changes in how we feel, both physically and mentally, then we are showing signs of sugar addiction. Some of us may have mood swings, anxiety attacks, or feel tired or irritable. These uncomfortable and erratic feelings and emotions lead us to believe that we are suffering from withdrawal symptoms. That is to say that our body is craving the sugar to which it has been deprived.

Once we have regulated our sugar consumption, these symptoms will gradually diminish, enabling us reduce our dependence on sugar, making it far easier to stay sugar free.

If we submit to our cravings to relieve any uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, we will only be fueling even greater cravings later. We have all, at some time eaten a chocolate, which makes us crave another. Before we know it, the whole box of chocolates is gone! It is often, the more sugar we eat, the more we want. By employing a little determination, we can overcome these discomforts and as time goes by we will gradually have the ability to fight the cravings, making them a thing of the past.