The Shocking Truth About Sugar (and Cocaine)

If you’re anything like me, you love desserts. I never miss a chance to have a brownie after dinner. But research is showing that my sweet tooth may be the reason I can’t remember where my keys are.

The harsh reality is this: no human in this world can get through life without consuming sugar. The food we eat, the drinks we sip, and even the lip gloss we use all contain a certain amount of sugar. In fact, the average American consumes anywhere from a quarter to a half pound of sugar a day. But how much does it really affect us?

Shocking, but true: sugar is making your skin wrinkle and sag (!!), and as if that wasn’t enough, it’s also damaging your brain…

Experiments were conducted on two sets of rats, where one group ate a sugary diet high in fructose and the other had a healthy diet. They made the rats navigate a maze with landmarks helping them. After six weeks, they were asked to navigate the maze again.

Those who were fed a sugary diet were much slower and when they were dissected, researchers noticed that their brain cells had noticeably declined. “Our findings illustrate that what you eat affects how you think,” said Prof Gomez-Pinilla.

The research focused on fructose — ie. the high-fructose corn syrup that is commonly used sodas, condiments, baby food and applesauce. Prof Gomez-Pinilla said that while natural fructose is also found in fruits, they are concerned about the unnatural and highly refined corn syrup type that’s in most packaged foods and drinks.

And if you think you’re being healthy by drinking “good for you” drinks, think again. Consumption of sports drinks (yes, that means Gatorade and Vitamin Water) and pre-packaged fruit juices are also a no-no, as (in addition to be packaged in highly toxic plastic) they contain refined sugar and have absolutely no nutritional value. Bottled fruit juices are heat pasteurized, killing the bacteria along with the nutrients, and increasing the sugar content.

According to a study conducted by researchers from the University of California, sugar meaningfully decreases brain function.

And it’s not just your brain that’s affected. We are a product of whatever we eat, and when people, especially young children, consume a huge amount of sugar, this not only hinders learning and memory, but also causes health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

Studies also show that sugar is one of the largest culprits in aging because when it hits the bloodstream, it attaches to the proteins and forms advanced glycation end products. It then destroys the fibers that keeps the skin strong and supple. In short, consuming sugar causes wrinkles by degrading the elastin and collagen in the body. 

As if you thought it couldn’t get any worse, brace yourself, because sugar is highly addictive. In fact, the scientific community consensus is that it’s a harder addiction to kick than cocaine.

Refinement processes similar to sugar refinement transform other plants like poppies and coca into heroin and cocaine, and studies show that seemingly-innocuous sugar can be even more addictive than the recreational drug. Subsequently, people experience dopamine depletion, intense cravings and other sugar withdrawal symptoms.

When you look at animal studies comparing sugar to cocaine, even when you get the rats hooked on IV cocaine, once you introduce sugar, almost all of them switch to the sugar.

“You get this intense release of dopamine upon acute ingestion of sugar. After you chronically consume it, those dopamine receptors start becoming down-regulated — there’s less of them, and they’re less responsive,” said James DiNicolantonio, the researcher who conducted the study at St. Luke’s. “That can lead to ADHD-like symptoms … but it can also lead to a mild state of depression because we know that dopamine is that reward neurotransmitter.”

So why isn’t sugar regulated? Because governments all around the world – from the USA to the UK – are on the take or under heavy pressure from industry lobbyists. The government subsidizes corn, so high fructose corn syrup is cheaper than sugar, and that’s why it’s so ubiquitous in our diets. They need to start subsidizing healthy foods. We shouldn’t be able to eat a Snickers bar for cheaper than we can eat an apple.

Remember when Michelle Obama wanted to take on sugar as an issue? The lobbyists shut her up almost immediately, and changed her tune from cutting down on the mountains of junk food and sugar that kids are fed (even in schools!), to her “Let’s Move” exercise pitch.

“Sugar is addictive. And we don’t mean addictive in that way that people talk about delicious foods. We mean addictive, literally, in the same way as drugs. And the food industry is doing everything it can to keep us hooked.” – New York Times

Want another video? Here’s Russell Brand sounding off about how the sugar industry controls the government and the public’s overall perception of sugar, preventing us from talking about how sugar is a toxic and addictive drug.

How to combat the toxic effects of sugar

One way you can combat this is to eat lots of organic vegetables. They contain the Vitamin C and Zinc that helps your body create new collagen and keeps your skin from aging. Vitamin E (an antioxidant that sunlight depletes in our skin) is also important. Add to that six cold-processed flax oil capsules daily, for Omega 3’s and brain health. And put some organic olive oil and freshly ground flaxseed on your salad to help resist the sun and prevent skin damage. It steadies our blood sugar and helps control the free radicals that damage our skin.

The most effective way to prevent skin aging and sugar related health problems is to minimize sugar intake in your meals. Some diets cut sugar out completely, but since we need at least a little natural sugar in our bodies, take consume it in moderation (preferably through fruit). In the end, feeling healthy and smart is all about maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

How to control sugar cravings

Fitness expert Kayla Itsines has some great tips for weaning yourself off of sugar:

The Less (Junk Food) You Eat, The Less You Will Crave:
Whilst this isn’t exactly a tip, I thought I would share it for good measure. Research has shown that the less junk food you eat, the less you will crave it. This may be because you aren’t exposed to the artificial ingredients that lead you to crave it more. If you gradually start to cut junk food from your diet, you can begin to notice yourself craving it less and less, especially if you are eating a wide variety of nutritional foods.

Manage Your Stress
When talking about cravings, I think it is really important to look at how you manage your stress. For many people, there is a direct correlation between being stressed and eating junk food, and they may not even realize it. Being stressed can cause certain parts of the brain to release specific chemicals such as opiates and neuropeptide Y, which can trigger cravings for fat and sugar. Next time you are feeling stressed or have had a long day, take a moment to reflect back on it and think about what you feel like. Do you chow down on a few pieces of chocolate to take the edge off? Whilst this is okay once in a while, if you use food as a means of coping with stress, you could be eating junk food everyday and not realizing the impact it is having on your body. Instead, try to replace eating junk foods with deep breathing techniques, exercise, meditation and distracting yourself.

Variety is KEY
This is one of my biggest tips! Many people want to cut junk food out of their diet and clean up their eating, but they literally can’t get salad and tuna out of their minds. It is SO important to eat a variety of foods so that you don’t get bored. If you crave crunchy potato chips with dip, swap these for carrots and hummus and if you love brownies find a recipe that is refined sugar free and made with natural ingredients. There is absolutely no reason healthy eating has to be boring, it will just take a bit more time than buying pre-packaged versions. Create a Pinterest board where you can store all of your favorite healthy eating recipes so you always have inspiration. Also remember to stock up your pantry with various herbs and spices so you can add flavor to anything. If you always use the same four ingredients in your salads, switch it up! Go to the fruit and veg aisle and try things you have never had before, this is how you make it exciting.

Remind Yourself of How You Will Feel
Next time a craving hits, take the time to figure out how you will feel after. This goes for both if you indulge in the craving, or if you are strong enough to ignore it. If you indulge in it, but really don’t want to, chances are you will be left feeling guilty and/or sick. I personally don’t like to focus on negative feelings and prefer to focus on the positive ones instead. I like to remind myself about how proud I will feel once the craving has passed and I don’t feel lethargic and bloated. Regardless, try and take that minute’s pause to really figure out if you want to go through with satisfying that craving or not.

Don’t Deprive Yourself
Ever heard the saying “you want something more when you can’t have it”? Sometimes cravings work like this as well. The more we try to convince ourselves we can’t have something, the more appealing it looks. Instead of totally deciding something is off the cards forever, tell yourself you can have it later. This way you are tricking your brain into thinking you are still going to eat that thing, and chances are by the time the craving passes, you won’t want it anyway.

Don’t Buy Unhealthy Foods
This is a really important one! I know so many people who still buy chocolate bars because they store them ready for ‘treat day’. Out of sight, out of mind is the way I like to look at it. If you don’t have something to tempt you in the first place, you are less likely to eat it. If you have a craving for a chocolate bar, if it is in your cupboard you are more likely to reach for it. If the chocolate bar wasn’t in the cupboard, there is the extra effort of having to go get one that may stop you from indulging altogether.

Always Have Healthy Options on Hand
Sometimes we can’t help it, we want something sweet or salty. Try to keep healthy options near you if possible, so that when a craving hits you can easily eat something else to satisfy it. For example, keep protein balls and raw slices in the fridge and natural tortilla chips in the cupboard so that if you really want to indulge you can, just in a healthier way. I always have apples and bananas in my fruit bowl at home. These are great for snacking on when you are feeling peckish.

Eat Wholesome Meals Throughout The Day
Many times cravings can sneak up on you when you are hungry. I recommend eating 3-5 wholesome meals daily that are filled with natural ingredients. This can help to keep you feeling full and satisfied throughout the day, and potentially reduce cravings. Regular intake of both complex carbohydrates and lean protein is also important, because it can help keep your blood sugar levels stable and your appetite satiated.

I hope these few tips have helped, girls. What are some of your favorite ways to get rid of cravings?