Sugar! Huge Addiction

    The definition of addiction is:  the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity.  

     Who has an addiction?  None of us are exempt.  Weather it's pornography, alcohol, cigarettes, food, tanning, exercise!  There are a ton of addictions out there.  I work at a hospital, and a patient that I worked with was addicted to keeping a oximeter prob (measures the amount of oxygen in your system) on her finger.  Also keeps track of heart rate, and she would not take it off.  She was obsessed or "addicted".  

     So why are there things we are addicted to?  Wait!!!  I forgot to tell you, that my addiction is SUGAR!  I continue to try to rid myself of the stuff.  Why are we addicted?  What causes us to crave these things?  One word.  Our brain!  Actually that is two, but you get the picture.  

     Our brain produces a chemical called dopamine.  It's the feel good hormone.  When we are addicted to something, weather it be alcohol, drugs, sex, or food that hormone is triggered.  It's the feel good hormone, or reward and pleasure center of the brain.  

     When I eat sugar that dopamine is released.  It's a reward for me, and the more I eat the more I want.  This past year Americans have eaten more sugar than ever before, 160 pounds to be exact per person per year. Think about it though sugar is in everything!  From ketchup to bread, potato chips, canned soups etc.  It's hard to get away from sugar and the industry knows that if they put it in everything, you will buy more of their products.  Why, because it's addicting and you will end up buying more and more.   

     However, there is one way to rid yourself of sugar.  Learn to read labels.  Sugar has a lot of names, 56 to be exact.  For a listing of these sugars check out this link    https://www.thecandidadiet.com/56-names-sugar-eating-realize/  Truly blows my mind.  So here is the thing.  We all need to educate ourselves to reading labels.  The two most important things I look for when buying a processed food are oil, and sugar.  

     What exactly does sugar do to our bodies?  Whenever I have a nutritional question, I head over to nutritionfacts.org.  Dr. Gregor can answer almost any question you have about nutrition.  Here is a video about sugar, and how it affects our bodies.  None of it is good.  https://nutritionfacts.org/video/how-much-added-sugar-is-too-much/  Nutrition Facts.org has a whole slew of videos about sugar.  

     What about natural sugars in fruits?  This brings me into another subject.  Eating a Whole Foods Plant Based Diet is one of the best ways to nourish our bodies.  If we just eat the whole food, and steer clear of processed foods, we can overcome so many adverse affects from sugar. 

     Why is it so hard to give up?  Well here comes the dopamine thing again.  It makes us feel good!  Right this minute, I'm trying so hard to rid myself of sugar.  I haven't succeeded very well.  There was one week where I didn't have any.  Then I went to work, and the nurses had brought all kinds of junk food.  I guess I need to stay out of the break room.  

     If anyone has any ideas on how to get rid of a sugar addiction, I would appreciate feedback on this article, and if you could comment below so that everyone in this discussion can benefit.  

     Have an awesome week with NO sugar!   

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