Sugar addiction – is it real? Does this white substance really rival the addictive nature of drugs and alcohol? And can we do anything about it?
According to eminent endocrinologist Dr Robert Lustig the food industry is intentionally working on ‘hacking’ our brains to foster addiction to junk foods and sugar by manipulating our brain chemicals. Though there are two opposing camps of thought on this, there is a growing consensus that like other substances open to abuse, sugar and junk food are addictive in nature.
This theory is all to do with the dopamine and serotonin see- saw. Dopamine is the reward brain chemical that tells us we want more. Any substance or behaviour that releases dopamine in the extreme, has the potential lead to addiction. Serotonin is the brain chemical that tells us we don’t need any more but too little of it may lead to low mood and depression.
The constant supply of dopamine can keep our brains in the continual pursuit of happiness because it destroys our ability to feel happy. Couple that with low serotonin levels leading to low mood and this can set the stage for the onset of addictive behaviours.
But what is the connection between these chemicals and sugar? Sugar stimulates a dopamine release in the brain. Eating sugar or ‘white’ carbs such as pasta or white bread causes our blood glucose to spike and our pancreas to release insulin dropping our blood sugar levels right down – this is why we crave as we want more of that reward. When serotonin levels are low, we crave carbohydrates and sugar to help lift our serotonin levels and make us feel happy.
Over the last 40 years, sugar has become ever more present in our daily lives. Stationary shops, petrol stations and even fashion stores, display sugary products at checkout points convincing us that we need that chocolate bar when clearly that’s not what we entered the shop for. Vending machines in offices, hospitals and schools are crammed full of junk food products.
We are constantly bombarded with advertising on social media and TV. Most junk food meals come with a sugary soda drink (significantly upping the sugar content of the meal).
This combined with chronic stress in our daily lives, when we are yearning for a fix, for something to make us feel better, a reward for getting through the day creates the perfect storm.
The government has been actively attempting to tackle the media contribution to our nations unhealthy eating habits. In 2018, the sugar tax was introduced to reduce sugar in fizzy soda drinks and in August this year, a ban on advertising junk foods before 9pm was introduced in PM Johnson’s fight against obesity. This may go a short way to help but in no way addresses the many complex components involved with sugar and junk food addiction, compulsive eating and obesity.