The Sugar Addiction

I grew up playing the game “Candyland”, and I dreamed of finding the golden ticket and living in Willie Wonka’s factory. I was also given a Gatorade after every sporting event I ever played in so what could be so bad about sugar? Sugar, real and artificial, can be found in almost every product we consume and although sugar is a simple carbohydrate that the body uses for energy, its impact on our body is far from simple. The consumption of sugar has been linked to a host of chronic health problems, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The addictive nature of sugar is also a significant problem that leads to the other detrimental effects listed above. Sugar has also been useful to help preserve goods, fuel fermentation, balance acidity, and add flavor to other foods. Whether it’s cereal, spaghetti sauce, or yogurt, sugar is everywhere and has become unavoidable in our daily diets. As Americans, we have become accustomed to the sweet addictive taste of sugar, and our dependence on excessive amounts of sugar in its different forms has become alarming to many health experts. In analyzing preference and dependency with sugar, I will trace the addictive nature and major risks sugar has placed on society.

Sugar addiction is a problem that has been in our society for many years. In today's world this type of addiction is being composed into drinks. Sugary drinks are found everywhere from local stores, to in home refrigerators. Sodas, juices, and energy drinks, all fall under unhealthy remedies to thirst. Sugar addiction can only restrain us from accomplishing healthy goals in life. Sugary drinks can lead to harming one's body. Over the past few years, many cities and states have considered taxing sodas and other sugary beverages. Sugary drinks must be tax due to its unhealthy components and addiction.

Now let's talk about sugar. It’s in just about everything we eat. On average the american citizen consumes 19.5 teaspoons per day, that adds up 66 pounds per year, for one person! That is a clear display of our addiction to sugar as human beings. Studies have shown that through brain scans it has been found that sugar affects the brain similarly to the way certain drugs do. In an article I read called “Sugar is a ‘Drug’ and Here’s How We’re Hooked” the author explained how studies supported that sugar consumption can lead to neurochemical and behavioral transformations that resembles substance abuse. The dangers of sugar have gotten so serious that research released by the American Heart Association shows that there are about 180,000 deaths

Sugar is not addictive like cocaine. The reason why we like sweet things is because mother's milk is sweet. If our ancestors didn’t have a “taste” for sweets, they would be dead. We are genetically inclined to like and enjoy sweet foods.

In the article, “Sugar ‘Not Addictive’ says Edinburgh University Study” by Edinburgh, Edinburgh university scientists have found that the brain doesn’t respond to nutrients the same way as it does when a person is on active drugs. This is significant because this means that there is no evidence that people are addicted to certain chemical substances, such as sugar. Although sugar isn’t addictive, their research has found that people

Defining a sugar-addiction is similar to identifying an addiction to other substances. Addiction to substances similar to heroin, cocaine, alcohol, and cigarettes are defined by a pattern within a twelve month period. Three out of seven symptoms: increased tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, using the substance more than intended, an inability to control the use of the substance, expending effort to obtain the substance, replacing important activities with the use of the substance, and continuing to use the substance despite its negative consequences could indicate addiction of the substance (Tufts University 4). Sugar-addiction is a complex issue, when it comes from sugar, since it is a substance that is in countless foods that are eaten.

Throughout the years America has started to blame sugar for obesity, heart disease, etc. To an extent we can blame sugar. When someone eats too much or eats the processed chemical filled sugar it could have a negative impact on that person's health. For example: “[..] Chemical makeup enters the bloodstream more quickly than plain sugar.” (Richards). Processed sugar enters into the body and bloodstream much faster than natural sugar does. Which causes too much sugar build up in our bloodstream makes the insulin work harder to process it all out. Until the insulin does its job the sugar just floats around in the blood. We as people can blame sugar for all of our issues when a person eats too much sugar. “I do not support unbelievable amount of GMO high fructose corn syrup” (Konie). That is when heart disease and obesity come into play, when you personally consume too much.

Alan Levinovitz builds his argument that the dangers of sugar consumption may be overstated, and that there is a need to reconsider the best way to deal with the issue of sugar consumption in the U.S by using examples and facts. He also uses logical reasoning to develop his ideas and connect his claims to his evidence. Lastly, he uses persuasive techniques, which are particular words that appeal to his’ readers emotions to give power to the ideas put forth. With these tactics, the author will attempt to persuade the audience.

A balanced healthy diet contains adequate amounts of all the necessary nutrients required to maintain energy, strength and a healthy immune system. It has rich nutritional values that lead to a healthy lifestyle without any developmental problems and risks of obesity. Obesity is an abnormal accumulation of body fat, usually 20% or over an individual’s ideal body weight (TheFreeDictionary.com, 2016). This increases the risk of diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Obesity is proven to cause 35 million deaths each year globally. According to Sharon Labi (Bodyandsoul.com.au, 2016), an average Australian consumes 41.79kg of sugar a year. As such, it holds blame as the primary reason for obesity.

Attention: Are you a sugarholic? Do you eat refined sugar everyday? Can you go more than one day without eating some type of sugar containing food? Have you ever hidden candy in your home in an effort not to share them with anyone? If you have you are not alone; I am guilty of my own questions. Sugar addiction is the most prevalent, widely practiced and legally accepted addiction in our society. Through my research I have found several books written on the sugar addiction

Yes it makes me think about my eating a lot. I used to eat sugar all the time, sugar was mine main source of food. At the end of the summer I started wanting to treat my body better so I stopped eating sugar for about a month. At first it was so hard. The part of the article where it talked about “sugar withdrawals” really stood out for me because ti went threw the same thing with out a constant supply of sugar I felt like something was missing. The biggest take away for me is that sugar is ok to have every once and awhile but it's never good to have a whole butch at one time. I also think it's crazy how they found out by doing a test on rats and I hope they never test it out on humans because I don't think it would end every well for the people

Sugar is, and has always been, unavoidable; conversely, sugar has not always been toxic. Naturally abundant and technically enhanced, this substance has followed in the footsteps of tobacco and alcohol, becoming just as unhealthy and ultimately lethal. And, without the implementation of government

Research by Prof. Selena Bartlet from Queensland University of Technology, shows drug used to treat nicotine addiction could be used to treat sugar addiction. Pointing that sugar addiction should be treated as drug abuse. The research stated that excess sugar consumption elevate dopamine levels in the reward and pleasure ventral cortex of the brain, in a similar way to many drug of abuse including tobacco, cocaine and morphine.

What makes the article interesting is how much sugar is consumed every day. I watch eat carefully but to know that there is your daily limit of sugar in breakfast alone is surprising. I a lot of the time choose sugar free items if i'm trying to be healthy, but to know if you decide to have a treat it is sometimes triple your sugar limit. A soda can contain almost 4 times your limit, and the surprising part is some people have multiple sodas a day. On average a person consumes 95 pounds of sugar a year, by the end of the day most people consume over 28 teaspoons of sugar. This makes me want to watch what I eat a little more than I have.

Sugar is linked to obesity. Obesity is a cause of diabetes. Therefore some people believe sugar is not the cause of diabetes, obesity is. ¨However sugar primes the body for obesity which cause diabetes.¨according to webmd.com. A study in prev.com shows,¨One study found that for every extra 150 calories from sugar available per person each day, diabetes prevalence rises by 1.1%.¨ For example eating too much sugar can cause obesity, when obesity occurs, there is a large chance for diabetes. Sugar does not cause diabetes but it is a leading