What is sugar?
Sugars are simple carbohydrates that occur naturally in all types of fruit and vegetables and in many other food products. When we talk about sugar, we usually mean saccharose or sucrose derived from sugar beet or sugar cane.
From a chemical point of view, sucrose is a combination of two smaller carbohydrates, glucose (or dextrose) and fructose (or fruit sugar). Maple sugar or syrup, derived from the sugar maple, also contains mainly sucrose and a little glucose.
Now comes the big question...
Can you get addicted to sugar?
A number of experiments on rats would show that sugar, like tobacco and alcohol, has an addictive effect. That this also applies to humans has not been demonstrated. Professor Schaafsma: 'We haven't found any scientific evidence for addiction to sugar. But sugar can affect the serotonin level in the brain.
Serotonin provides a sense of well-being and could also dispel unpleasant feelings. So that's a good thing. However, anyone who goes crazy and uses a lot more energy than he needs may become overweight. In this context, I would rather talk about compensation than addiction'.
So while some experts and medical professionals may not call sugar craving a direct addiction, what is clear and undeniable is that sugar will affect your brain chemistry...
Sugar alters brain chemistry after only 12 days
Written by Ana Sandoiu on January 18, 2020 - Fact checked by Isabel Godfrey
New research in pigs finds that sugar intake alters the reward-processing circuitry of the brain in a similar way to addictive drugs.
Whenever we learn something new or experience something pleasurable, our brain's reward system becomes activated. With the help of natural brain chemicals, several brain areas communicate with each other to help us learn and repeat behaviors that improve our knowledge and well-being.
Relying heavily on the neurotransmitter dopamine, the reward system helps explain several quintessential human experiences, such as falling in love, sexual pleasure, and enjoying time with friends.
However, certain substances, such as drugs, hijack the brain's reward system, “artificially” activating it. Telling the brain to repeat pleasure-seeking behavior constantly is the mechanism behind addiction.
Further reading: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327512
So who is right, is sugar really an addiction or not?
Maybe it doesn't really matter who is right or wrong in this case. A better question might be, if we really need to consume as much as we do. On your next trip to the local supermarket, take a minute to check out some lables on common foods you buy. You might be surprised to find out that an astounding high percentage of processed foods contain sugar.
While there is still no direct link between diabetes type 2 and sugar consumption (Most medical professionals agree that sugar alone does not result in diabetes.), in our opinion it is better to be safe than sorry. There are too many other health risks associated with sugar intake to ignore.