Sugar and Addiction

Sugar and addiction are two things that are intrinsically related to one another in multiple ways. For example, There’s a biological component to people who struggle with substance abuse that often turn to sugar when in recovery. Sugar on its own can also be an addictive substance, and our society may have many more sugar addicts than we even realize because of the standard American diet. Below we explore more about the relationship between sugar and addiction and the implications. Is Sugar Addictive? To begin considering whether or not sugar is addictive, we should look at how we view it in our society. Sugary beverages and treats are considered a treat. We reward ourselves and our children using sugar. For example, if your child gets a good grade, you may go for ice cream. That’s not inherently a bad thing, but growing research indicates too much sugar could have as much addiction potential as some street drugs. Sugar may also have similar effects on the brain, including on dopamine ...