Sugar-The Other Addictive White Powder

Did you know that when sugar hits your brain system, that it causes the same chemical reaction that heroin, morphine, and opium do? Opium, morphine, and heroin are in a class of drugs called “opioids”, and these drugs affect the beta-endorphin system in the brain. Sugar affects the same system of the brain that these illegal drugs do, causing the same elevation of mood and an increased sense of self-esteem. With the same outcome as what follows the use of opioids, sugar use is followed by a crash in the beta-endorphin system in the brain, causing the user to seek out more of the same substance, thereby resulting in an addiction to sugar. It causes a blood sugar spike that is quickly followed by a drop that creates the desire for more sugar. It affects the opiate receptors of the brain releasing endorphins, just as morphine and heroin (both are opiates) do. After the effects have worn off in the brain, another trigger for more sugar is felt. (info taken from JoLynn Braley)

Sugar is definitely highly addictive, since the user must seek out more of the substance in order to sustain the same feeling provided by the flood of endorphins released in the brain. The user will continue ingesting sugar in order to avoid the symptoms of withdrawal: uncomfortable feelings of emptiness, anxiety, boredom, or depression. The sugar use cycle continues and brings with it a host of health problems. Rather than quitting the sugar habit, the sugar addict develops such diseases as diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, obesity, and cancer. Many end up on medications, in the hospital, or worse. That may sound a little extreme, but if you think about it it's true. Sugar is a temptation for me and sometimes I have to fight really hard to avoid that temptation! So how do we cut out sugar in our diets? Well, one answer is to simply not buy it. If it's not in the house we won't eat it. Use Splenda, but not in excess. Don't buy processed foods that almost always have sugar in them. Go for the whole foods. Here's a list of great foods to eat:
PROTEIN:
Lean chicken
Egg whites
Turkey breast
Seafood (fish, scallops, shrimp)
Fruit:
Strawberries
Raspberries
Blueberries
Pineapple
Bananas (also a carb)
Apples
NO oranges-they have too much sugar in them that may trigger a craving
CARBOHYDRATES:
Rice
Potatoes
Oatmeal (regular, not the quick oats)
Sweet Potatoes
VEGETABLES:
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Green Beans
Carrots
Onions
Peppers
Mushrooms
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Celery
This is by no means all you can eat, these are just ones I eat the most and that I like. It's important to eat what you like, and don't force yourself to eat things you don't care for. But at least give some foods a try that you normally don't care for, because you never know, you may begin to like them, and after all, variety is the spice of life! Happy Eating!