Tag Archives: Binge eating disorder

Changing Self-Destructive Habits

August 18, 2014

Understanding Self-Destructive Habits

Changing Self-Destructive HabitsSelf-destructive habits are those actions and tendencies that individuals, organizations or groups engage in that are against their self-interest for one reason or another. Let’s look at some of these actions in details:

  1. Eating Disorder

An eating disorder is a psychiatric disorder evidenced by a great desire to be thin and a deep fear for weight increment .Examples of such disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a denial to sustain a fixed body weight such as the restricting type, the binge-eating and purging type.

Bulimia nervosa is whereby reoccurring episodes of binge eating is followed by such unfortunate behaviors as self-induced vomiting, fasting or too much exercising.

Ways of preventing eating disorders

  • In schools, students should be given a safe and conducive atmosphere
  • In places with many cases of such disorders, support groups should be established
  • Schools should incorporate life skills in their curriculum at an early age
  •  Carry out a regular checkup on students
  •  Physical education in education centers should focus in healthy lifestyles rather than weight management.

Five Crippling Habits That Lead To Self-Destruction

People have developed certain behaviors that tend to lead them backwards in any field of life whether in a social, economic or political setup.it becomes so severe that it can be related to the culture of an entire organization. These habits can be summed up into five headlines namely:

  • Lack of clear instructions. A person is required to have transparent and straightforward goals in an organization and in order for this to happen the goals should be easy to understand for anyone.
  • Deficiency in accountability in which people show lack of responsibility. This usually happens when the company’s reward mechanism isn’t connected to production outcome.
  • Justifying poor performance. Leaders tend to find some sensible excuses as to why they have had a bad business year instead of finding ways of improving the outcome.
  • Continuous rescheduling of plans. Some companies fail to adequately allocate enough resources and time to accomplish a set out goal.
  • Reluctance to change and risks involved. A new personnel may be employed to a company and happens to have some fantastic ideas but since he is new, he is ignored.
  • Having a positive attitude towards change and exploring any new viable idea
  • Taking time to make a clear and straight-forward objectives
  • Have a low tolerance to poor performance in a company
  • Instead of revising plans, one should allocate enough time and energy
  • Specifying the roles and duties of every member of the team.

How to curb Self-Destructive Habits

  1. Gambling:

Gambling is basically the act of wagering on money or any kind of valuable item. Problem gambling is an act in which a person’s gambling behavior negatively affects other parts of his or her life.

Signs of a gambling problem

  • Committing crimes to finance gambling
  • Money borrowing to finance gambling
  • Entertaining regular thoughts about gambling
  • Increasing the income allocated for gambling
  • Experiencing failed attempts to stop gambling
  • Denying that you have a problem
  • Taking certain things for guaranteed such as relationships, jobs or career opportunities
  • Using gambling as an escape from reality

How to Overcome Problem Gambling

  • One requires to find out what is the root cause of gambling in their life
  • Change their belief on the possibility of winning in a bet
  • Have a fixed amount of cash for gambling
  • Find another hobby
  • Find a self-support and counselling group
  1. Internet And Cyber-Sex Abuse

This is basically the deliberate action by an adult to create some form of uncomfortable atmosphere using internet and in most cases it affects minors, women or social groups such as the gay communities.

Changing Self-Destructive Habits

Ways of curbing internet sex abuse

Parents are required to monitor what their underage kids do in the internet to ensure that they are not exposed to say no form of abuse. Cyber cafes and educational instructions should block certain websites that promote pornographic behaviors in young people. The governments should establish and implement laws that severely punish offenders of such acts in order to curb any existing habits among people

Life skills on the use of the internet services for small kids should be part of the learning curriculum to spread awareness on how to handle cases of abuse.

  1. Self-Harm

Self-harm is a broad description of the things different people do that causes a negative impact on themselves such as pulling your hair, pouring hot water on yourself, cutting yourself, swallowing toxic liquids.

Ways of Curbing Self-Harm

A good way of solving this disorder is to provide optimum and adequate counseling sessions to affected people in schools, churches and other social centers.

Another way to avoid self-harm is to Substitute it with something that is in a way harmless. For example using a punching bag to release stress and other built up emotions. Sometimes you can hit pillows when you are alone, going for a nice morning walk to start off the day well or any other form of exercise, some people learn musical instruments and use them when stressed out, and one can also use a journal to write out your frustrations.

One can also train on how to create a strong mental health to cope with stress. This is done through eating well and healthily. A well balanced diet increases the amounts of serotonin in the brain which will give a person a great mood.

  1. Substance Abuse

Substance abuse is the inappropriate use of drugs and alcohol. This behavior has adverse impacts on the political, social and economic sectors.

Ways of curbing substance abuse include:

Restrictive rules on the areas that create a stimulus environment for drinking and smoking. Hence a person is limited to using in homes, garages or bathrooms which tend to discourage use

Avoiding to social with people who are also dependent on drugs and substance abuse. This includes not coming to bars, bowling alleys and associating with non-abusers in places like restaurants without liquor

Performing self-relaxation and meditation. This may include expressing anger by dictating them on paper and possibly seeking counseling and any other available advice from friends and community leaders.

Another way to curb this behavior is through rewarding yourself for not using the particular drug and punishing yourself for abusing the substance. This creates an attitude that motivates one to move forward.

In case of alcohol one may decide to switch to brand they don’t enjoy taking in order to lose the taste for alcohol

Rehearsing inspiring thoughts such as every time I don’t smoke my lungs become healthier. Alcohol will damage my liver so I should not take them regularly.

The worldwide site which has proven professionals who can help you recover from any addiction is the www.awaremednetwork.com. If you need help on recovery you just need to call or visit Awaremed Wellness And Resource Center.

Understanding Self-Destructive Habits

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Overcoming Sugar Addiction

August 2, 2014

Overcoming Sugar Addiction – The Recommendations

Sugar

Overcoming sugar addiction. Sugar is the only legal poison we are allowed to take freely at the expense of our health

Even though addiction to sugar is much stronger for some people than others, the truth is sugar is highly addictive in many ways. For instance when you’ve overeaten junk foods like cookies, candy, cake, or ice cream in relation to who hasn’t, at some point you’ll know its seductive pull. Food processors bank on it when they load sugar into soft drinks, breakfast cereal, soups, salad dressings, spaghetti sauce, energy bars, and even catsup. As a result, most of us develop a strong craving for sweets, without even realizing how much sugar we consume on a daily basis

The prevalence of sugar addiction is doubtless more common than you may think and in American for example the average consumption of sugar is about 20 to 30 teaspoons (about ½ cup!) which has been linked to a variety of health problems, including obesity, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), attention and memory problems, hyperactivity, anxiety, and depression. Every month a new study comes out adding to the list of risks posed by consuming sugar and its cousins, high-fructose corn syrup, maltose, and dextrose. Despite the risks, we continue to eat sugar because it is so addictive. In fact, sugar meets all the criteria for an addictive substance:

It stimulates release of neurotransmitters in the brain, such as dopamine and serotonin, in a manner similar to alcohol, cocaine, and other drugs of abuse.

  • People eat it compulsively, despite negative consequences and the intention to stop.
  • With continued use, people develop a tolerance to its effects.
  • Heavy sugar consumers have trouble functioning without it.
  • When consumption ceases, withdrawal symptoms occur.

Overcoming Sugar Addiction – Getting Sugar problem under control

It is not very easy to free yourself from any kind of addiction and sugar addiction is not left out in this respect. The basic reasons why this may be difficult is because sugar addiction is both rooted in the physical and psychological and it will take the effort of both approaches put together when attempting to eliminate this kind of addiction. It important noting that the few times you take the lesser times you will crave for it and when you feel any withdrawal symptoms you must not be discouraged by this as it will only last for a while and then you will feel more balanced and energetic than ever and the following will help you make it easier to get your sugar problem under control.

Keep sugar and sugar products out of your house – this should include all the white and brown sugar, corn syrup, and maple syrup.

Eat enough healthy food to satisfy your hunger – only consume healthy, whole food snacks like fruit, carrots, red pepper, cherry tomatoes, dates, and dried fruit to satisfy your sweet tooth and drink plenty of water too. Add a little fruit juice to sweeten iced tea, carbonated water, and other sugar-free drinks. Frozen fruit, whole or pureed, makes a delicious alternative to ice cream. Once you have cleared sugar from your system, your taste buds will become more sensitive, and these whole natural foods will taste sweeter and more satisfying. If you slow down and eat mindfully, you’ll enjoy these foods even more.

Eat three regular meals each day – combining complex carbohydrates (vegetables, whole grains, and fruits), lean protein (poultry, fish, meat, dairy, tofu) and healthy fats (milk, cheese, omega-3’s, olive oil and other cold-pressed oils). This will help you maintain a steady blood sugar level throughout the day and reduce your sugar cravings. Eating a diet high in fiber also helps to reduce sugar cravings.

Take a multivitamin and mineral supplement.  – Chromium picolinate and l-glutamine help to reduce cravings for some people.

When out ensure you are not greedily hungry – especially if sugary sweets will be the only food available. Bring your own healthy snacks with you, or eat before going out.

Get regular exercise – plenty of sunlight, and adequate sleep to reduce sugar cravings.

Identify and manage cravings that are not a result of physical hunger – but instead are rooted in stress or anxiety. Develop alternative ways of managing stress like take a walk, call a friend, read a book, play with your pet, watch a movie. Breathe, meditate, listen to music, or take a hot bath to activate your body’s relaxation response. Relaxation helps to balance your blood sugar and reduce cravings.

If you have turned to sugar to deal with uncomfortable feelings – try to identify the specific feelings and respond appropriately to them. If you are tired, take a break or rest, rather than trying to persevere in the face of fatigue. If you are bored, find something stimulating to do. If you are lonely, reach out to a friend. Overcoming your sugar addiction involves really paying attention to what you are feeling, and giving yourself what you really need instead of using sugar as a substitute.

If you do overindulge in sugar – acknowledge that you slipped, and get back on track as soon as possible. Let go of the guilt and shame. Eating sugar is unhealthy, but it’s not a sin. As with other addictions, it doesn’t matter if you need multiple attempts to quit, just that you keep trying until it sticks.

Be kind to yourself – To end the struggle with sugar, learn to nourish your body well and respond compassionately to your own feelings. The best sugar substitute is genuine self-acceptance.

In conclusion dear reader it is true that sugar is sweet and no one cannot deny that but as it is said not all that glitters is gold you must be careful not to fall prey of this white poison. Just in case you’re already addicted there is help at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury who is also the chief executive of the facility. She is an experienced medical doctor of several decades of practice and together with her team of experts they will focus on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE.

Overcoming Sugar Addiction – The Recommendations

 

 

 

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Addictiveness of Sugar

July 28, 2014

Addictiveness of Sugar – The White Addictive Poison

Sugar

Addictiveness of Sugar. It is not funny sugar is a legally accepted poison to your health. You can get help from the experts

A part from those committing suicide no one would want to poison themselves for fear of the consequences and love of life. But did you know that on a daily basis you are willingly adding poison in your body system? This sounds strange to your ears but it is the truth. I am talking about the sweet things and food staff you love and a day cannot go without having a bit. It may sound unbelievable to you that the normal sugar you add to your coffee, tea or milk is more addictive than cocaine, in fact it is not just addictive but it is eight time more addictive. How would you feel if you are told that researchers and medical professionals the world over are now saying that if they knew the effects and destruction that this substance has on people they would have banned it and placed it on the same list as cocaine. This substance is the cause of a pandemic of health issues, diabetes, obesity, disease and death. And what if you are told that you and your children are probably already addicts?

It is not my intention to scare you this drug is consumable and in fact, it’s not only legal to push, pedal, distribute and sell, it is also commercially promoted and advertised openly as one of the world’s most traded commodities. It is one of America’s top exported products of mass destruction alongside with weapons of war, alcohol, tobacco and entertainment. It is omnipresent in almost every food type and major American food brand. This addictive drug is one of the world’s most valuable agricultural commodities and is traded in the world market in the tune of billions of dollars by more than 123 countries. The secret of its deadliness is out in most developed countries and its use however has increased in spite of this knowledge and has more than doubled in developing countries. So what is this addictive, omnipresent, legal drug of choice? You have probably guessed it by now its C12H22O11 and I am almost sure that you are a user on some level of sugar.

Addictiveness of Sugar – Sugar

Research has established that almost everything, delicious and very addictive stuff, called sugar or sucrose or fructose or many other names it now goes by to hide its presence. Ever since laws have been implemented to specifically state the amount of sugar in their products, manufacturers have been using various other names to hide the actual amount of sugar contained in them. For instance look out for these sly labels – barley malt, beet sugar, brown sugar, buttered syrup, caramel, corn syrup, confectioners’ sugar, carob syrup, caster name them, whatever their new nouns may be the all have a common denominator and that is sugar.

Addictiveness of Sugar – Yes we need Sugar

Yes we do need sugar (glucose) and our bodies cannot function without it. We can however get our required amount from healthy fruits and foods and we need not add the extra 4kg of refined sugar every month, over and above what we require. It is important to note that sugar is found in most of our food but the adding of extra sugar and the creation of sugary products has grown exponentially. Researchers tell us that the most efficient way to deliver a sugar fix is via the soft drink industry. Apart from the effects on your health, a sugar researcher tells us that drinking one sugary soft drink a day will increase your weight by 6kg per year. A bottle of Coke a day will increase your weight by 11kg per year. And don’t get me started on sugar substitutes and “diet” cold drinks. According to medical professionals they are nothing more than poisons. Medically most, if not all sugar substitutes are referred to as neurotoxins.

Addictiveness of Sugar – Behavior Change

So it will be important that you make a decision to limit your consumption of sugar and realize the benefits. For instance listen to this confession my mother became a diabetic (no surprise) she then stopped eating sugar and lost about 20kg in 6 months with no much physical activities and no change at all in her diet. After several hardest days (40) of my life I lost 5kg and now on day 71, am down 8kg. I have to add that I have been weight training and not eating bread.

I never started my sugar stoppage for weight loss. I really did it because I got to a stage when my health started to suffer and I was out of control.  I needed an intervention and the opportunity to kick my own ass. My waist had gotten so big I was asked to participate in a commercial audition for an organization and believe it I was literally struggling to tie my shoelaces in the morning without a respirator. I was on thyroid medication and Nexium for gastro oesophageal reflux, I fought hard to sleep, I had no energy and by 3 o’clock in the afternoon wanted to take a nap, I always got colds and flu, I got muscle cramps and injuries and I felt all round crappy.

Today because a decision to change my behaviors I feel 100% healthier, I have stopped all of my medications, I sleep well, have more energy than ever before and I have lost 8 kg in fat. Not bad for just stopping and looking out for sugar. The most important and significant change is the fact that I have taken back control of my life from my drug of choice, beautiful, deadly, Florida icing – sugar.

Relapse

Unfortunately I have found that one of the only ways to beat an addiction is to be placed in situations of temptation again and again and having to say no. Every time you are tempted and you say no, you take back the power. You take the power away from the addiction one temptation at a time. You will find, like I did, that the universe will, with love and kindness, put you into situations of mass temptation the exact day and week you decide to take back your power. It is perfectly designed because you cannot take back your power unless you are tempted. Taking yourself out of a situation does not allow you to exercise personal control. It’s the hardest most satisfying ride you will ever take. I challenge you to be and obtain your superpower of self-control and you will have the best of your like I did.

What is your feeling of that confession? As you reflect about it, you will not find it to be smooth all the way and so you will need to seek for help from the experts like talking to Dr. Akoury of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center will help you achieve optimal weight loss if sugar brings obesity to your life. At this facility we focus on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE. Doctor Akoury is also an addiction professional of over two decades and you will be able to get all inclusive professional attention on both addiction and Obesity.

Addictiveness of Sugar  – The White Addictive Poison

 

 

 

 

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Best Addiction Treatment

July 23, 2014

Best Addiction Treatment – Food Addiction

Addiction

Best addiction treatment. Food addiction is real and the earliest we acknowledge this the better for recovery

It is common knowledge that on a daily basis we have to eat to get the energy we need for the day’s activities. The fact that we eat periodically may not look like being addicted to food but before I get to solutions of food addiction, I want to help you understand how food becomes addictive. How do you begin your day? Probably when you wake up you purpose to do your work and eat responsibly and healthy food and you start with one healthy breakfast at home and on your way you navigate through mouthwatering bakery goodies which are tempting and you finally make it to work ready for the day’s assignment only to be received by your stressful boss laying on your table a new project deadline that is practically impossible. Minutes later yourself holding meat pie in your hand consuming down sugary anesthetics and desiring for more. By the time you leave our moment of eating and the truth of what you’ve done begins to sink in, the subsequent feelings of shame and guilt fuel your stress levels more and you’re already plotting your next food fix then you wonder. Why do I keep yielding to these cravings? Where’s my self-control and willpower? My friend this is just your brain being addicted to food.

The feeling of denial will follow and encourage yourself that you are not and that you only love sweet food once in a while but the bottom line is that food addiction is factual and realistic. It affects so many people and this is what the food processors ride on when producing their products for the market. Production of addictive food is a marketing tool for these organizations and that is why their ingredients is a perfect combination of salty, sweet, and savory to ensure you keep reaching for more. The moment you find yourself losing your willpower and desiring for more and more then you are not just in love with these food stuff but you are now addicted to them and that is what we want to address. To start us off let’s look at some of the ways of beating food addiction:

Best Addiction Treatment – Take the test

Taking the test would mean that you make a self-evaluation of your relationship with food with an aim of ascertaining whether you’re eating habit is a healthy one. Experts are in agreement that the many overweight or obese have some level of food addiction even though anyone of any age bracket or size can have this issue of food addiction.

Best Addiction Treatment – Know your staples from your treats

Our brains are rigged to seek out the delicious reward of natural carbs like berries from a bush or veggies from the ground. We savor healthy fats from avocados, olive oil, and fish and lean meats. Our brains drive us to forage around to find these foods so that we have quick energy (from carbs) and long-lasting fuel (from fat). These natural whole foods have sustained us since the dawn of time. Our brains were acclimated to the taste of these rewards. Every now and again, we’d savor a treat that contained more natural sugar (grapes) or fat (dairy or meat). This mix of staples and treats became our natural balance of healthy nutrients.  Flash-forward, and now we have manufacturers creating hyper-palatable foods full of sugar, fat, and salt. And because they are ubiquitous, cheap, and easily accessible, fewer people cook. Grab and go is now the way to go.

Best Addiction Treatment – Rein in your reward center

When hyper-palatable race with natural foods your brain’s reward center, which secretes the pleasure chemical dopamine, gets hijacked. Insulin levels increases and drive you to desire for more and more. Suddenly, that bowl of fresh berries can’t compete with the über rewards of a Pop-Tart or a chocolate-coated breakfast bar. Occasional treat like birthday dessert, also leads to a dopamine rush, but then your brain settles down to more normal levels of dopamine. But when you can get your hands on hyper-palatable foods daily seven days a week and you start the day with that sugary, fatty, salty pastry and Grande sugary coffee drink, you end up with an endless appetite for more.

Best Addiction Treatment – Recognize the False Fix

After constant exposure and consumption of these hyper-palatables and let us call them False Fixes in The Hunger Fix, your brain essentially changes. The brain cannot stand this level of hyper-stimulation. It then reduces the number of dopamine receptors so that you no longer experience it as overstimulation and that is what is good about it however the bad news is that by doing this, your typical serving of food is no longer as rewarding. You find yourself not feeling as pleased and satisfied. The end result of this is that you end up with second and third and fourth portions, packing on weight along the way.

Besides this your reward center is being hijacked that is the brain’s CEO which is the prefrontal cortex (tap your forehead and that’s where the PFC is located), is becoming spoiled and impaired. The PFC can no longer help you rein in impulses or stay focused and vigilant which is why when one is in fully in addictive mode, moderation is a moot point.

Best Addiction Treatment – Know your enemy (False fix food)

Make a list all of your False Fix foods that you know will lead you to feel out of control and overeat. As you prepare to detox, look around you and take stock of all persons, places, and things that trigger your food addiction. This isn’t just about substituting False Fix foods for Healthy Fixes it’s also about scrutinizing your entire lifestyle so that you can make fresh healthier choices to support your recovery. It is important to note that you will not be able to change everything in one go and so you will gradually start with small but powerful steps to ensure sustainability of long-term success.

While doing all these you must appreciate that food addiction is real and the faster you make this acknowledgement the better because it is only when you do so is when you will have the ability to reverse the damage and reclaim your healthy, natural relationship with food. Remember I did not promise you that the journey will be easy and therefore careful selection of professionals to help you overcome will be necessary. For instance at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care ware addiction treatment is focus on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE will be very ideal for all your addiction related problems.

Best Addiction Treatment – Food Addiction

 

 

 

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Sugar Addictions; the Psychology behind Sugar Addictions

June 10, 2014

Psychology behind Sugar Addictions-Drug Addiction

Sugar addictions

Sugar hides itself between cookies, cakes, sodas because these are what we use daily, be careful of sugar addictions

Who doesn’t like sweet things? This is a question whose answer would probably be the same across the divide in our global society today. I am almost attempted to believe that you have a positive answer to my introduction. But all the same we all need sugar to make our food staff much tasty and we can find sugar nearly everywhere in our homes, supermarkets, social places and even in the religious setups. You may be wondering how sugar finds its way nearly in all places, to help you on that, sugar hides itself between cookies, cakes, sodas and other foods you may be thinking of. Now all this food stuff is found everywhere and that is how we are surrounded with sugar which in itself is an addictive substance.

Food molecules enter the body in three different ways that is through fats, carbohydrates and protein. Of this sugar is categorized as carbohydrates which are composed of hydrogen, carbon and oxygen. Sugar is relatively a simple molecule and it is easier to break down in the body intestinal system. This element sugar can be found in many different forms today. This forms can include anything from simple white cane sugar (what we usually use in baked goods) to the more exotic sugars like agave nectar or molasses. All of these substances contain the same mixture of simple sugars, which are glucose, fructose, and sucrose. These three types of sugars can be mixed and matched in order to create a unique combination.

Saying that sugar is addictive then what is addiction? It is something that causes psychological dependence, addiction can be classified as dependence which is characterized by compulsive, sometimes uncontrollable, behaviors that occur at the expense of other activities and intensify with repeated access. Looking at addiction in relation to sugar would mean that consumption of sugar consistently and without any form of control can cause injure the operations of daily activities.

Psychology behind Sugar Addictions-Signs of Sugar Addictions

For one to be diagnosed with a sugar addictions, most likely the psychologists and doctors would look at three different signs:

  • Bingeing
  • Withdrawal
  • Craving

Anyone of these symptoms can be an indicator of initial stages of an addiction but all the three combined together points to a serious dependence on a certain substance. Ordinarily we would think of alcohol and other drugs as addictive substances, but for sure sugar is a very real addiction too. The consumption of sugar increases the serotonin levels in the body which is a calming and mood elevating neurotransmitter. Serotonin is an anti-depressant and regulates pain levels and sleep cycle. When sugar levels increase, serotonin levels rise and individuals can feel better about themselves both physically and mentally. Many times we think of cookies and ice cream as comfort food, so this could be one reason why some people have a hard time staying away from these sweets.

Ingesting sugar can also increase dopamine levels. Studies have proven that addictive substances like cocaine and heroin cause elevated extracellular dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens. This same process occurs when foods rich in sugar are ingested. It has also been found that the dopamine receptors are critical for people to experience pleasure for normal life events like watching movies, exercising, or reading books. A deficiency in this receptor can lead to depression, so many times those who are deficient in the dopamine receptors may turn to drugs or sugar for pleasure. A deficiency in the receptor has also been linked to a variety of disorders like alcoholism, bulimia, or binge eating.

Psychology behind Sugar Addictions-Effects of Sugar on the brain

Intermittent sugar access can also act through the opioids in the brain.  The changes in the opioid systems of the brain caused by eating sugar lead to the addiction-like signs of withdrawal. “Intermittent, excessive intake of sugar can have dopaminergic, cholinergic, and opioid effects that are similar to psycho-stimulants and opiates, albeit smaller in magnitude” (Avena, 2008). Even though the effects of sugar on neurochemicals are mild, it can lead to a dependency or addiction over time.

In addition to the neurochemical reasons for sugar addictions, there is also an area in the brain that shows signs of sugar addictions. In a study where participants consumed sugar and brain activity was analyzed, it was found that the orbitofrontal cortex was active after sugar consumption. The orbitofrontal cortex is an area in the front of the brain where human’s process rewards. This means that eating sugar is a rewarding activity, so we are likely to continue to eat sugar in order to feel reward and pleasure.

Psychology behind Sugar Addictions-Who is affected the most by sugar addictions

Those at risk for sugar addictions include:

  • Those with bulimia, binge eating disorder, obesity, alcohol dependent, smokers and those with chronic pain. This is because sugar addiction is comparative to these disorders, and many times these disorders may occur congruently with sugar addictions.
  • Healthy, normal weight individuals, by definition, do not suffer from food addiction; however, overweight and obese individuals could meet clinical criteria. The reason for sugar addictions is not because sugar tastes good, but rather it is in the way it is consumed with alternating binging and restricting.

Environmental factors can also trigger sugar addictions for example watching a commercial about candy, smelling cinnamon rolls come out of the oven, or simply being around sugar can cause someone to start eating it uncontrollably.  Eating sugar can also become a learned response by simply eating sugar when hungry, bored, or tired so that someone craves it whenever they feel this way. Overtime it will be a habit to simply reach out and eat sugar when these cues arise.

Psychology behind Sugar Addictions-Summary-Why is Sugar Addictive?

Sugar addictions, or sugar dependence, is based off the three basic stages of bingeing, withdrawal, and craving. Sugar can cause the neurochemicals dopamine, tryptophan, and serotonin to increase. All of these are involved with pleasure, reward, and pain tolerance that can make sugar irresistible. These neurochemicals are also released with other drugs of addiction, which links sugar addictions to any other addiction. Finally sugar is addictive because:

  • We Feel Better When We Eat It. Eating sugar increases the serotonin levels in the body, which is a calming and mood elevating neurotransmitter. Serotonin plays an important part in regulating pain levels and sleep cycles, and it is an anti-depressant. When sugar levels increase, serotonin levels rise and individuals can feel better about themselves both physically and mentally.
  • It’s as Addictive as Drugs like Cocaine. Ingesting sugar can also increase dopamine levels, which also happens when someone ingests cocaine or other addictive drugs. This can cause a binge and withdrawal cycle and lead to a dependence on the substance.
  • The Brain thinks it Is Rewarding. The orbitofrontal cortex is an area in the front of the brain where humans process rewards, and this is activated when someone consumes sugar. Therefore, sugar is seen as rewarding to the body.

We can never conclude without offering an avenue for help in case you or your loved ones are suffering from sugar addiction. The over two decades experience of doctor Akoury in helping people suffering from addiction is an experience you would want to be part of. She is also the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center where emphasis is made on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) as a means of treating addiction to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE. This is a resource you would not want to miss.

Psychology behind Sugar Addictions-Drug Addiction

 

 

 

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