Sugar: More addictive than cocaine?

Most of us are unaware of how much sugar is in our diet everyday.  If we think about sugar in our foods we generally think about added sugar that we sprinkle on to things, or eating lots of desserts and chocolate bars.  The truth is that sugar is hidden in loads of foods that we would never think could contain it. 

Look on labels for these names which all represent sugar in a product: 

Honey

Dextrose

Fructose

Corn syrup

High-fructose corn syrup

Sorbitol

Fruit juice concentrate

Galactose

Lactose

Polydextrose

Mannitol

Sorbitol

Xylitol

Maltodextrin

Turbinado sugar

 

Foods such as bread, pasta sauces, pizzas, canned soups and even powdered soups contain sugar.  A lot of the foods we consider savoury such as crisps are actually full of hidden sugars and are increasing our addiction to sugar without us even being aware.

It has been found that refined sugar is even more addictive than cocaine. A recent study conducted found that if rats were given a choice between sugar water and cocaine then 94% them would choose sugar. Even rats that had been addicted to cocaine switched to the sugar once it was an option.

http://www.plosone.org/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0000698

Sugar cravings are physically pulling people out of the house and to the shop to buy foods which make them crave even more sugar.  This overload of sugary foods is one of the main reasons we have an epidemic of diabetes and obesity in the western world.  Although having said this, it is not just westerners who are susceptible to sugar addiction.  Living in Thailand I realise that the nation is heavily addicted to sugar.  Spoonfulls of sugar are ladled into every dish, sugary drinks are consumed all day. 

So, keep an eye on your sugar intake, including alcoholic drinks.  It could be what is causing your energy slumps and keeping perfect health away.

Josie