Please tell me if sugar is addictive?

Question

I am hooked on eating spoonful of sugar and I cant resisit. I eat almost 5-6 spoonful per day. How bad is it? What is the harm? How do I get off? Please serious advice only.

Answer 1

In medical terms, a substance is addictive if it:

• induces a pleasant state or relieves distress,
• causes long-term chemical changes in the brain,
• leads to adaptive changes in the brain that trigger tolerance, physical dependence and uncontrollable cravings,
• causes dependence, so that abstaining is difficult and creates severe physical and mental reactions.
girl eating chocolate

Does sugar fit this profile?

Jan Ulbrecht, associate professor in biobehavioral health and medicine in the College of Health and Human Development, thinks not. "Since the human body does not become physically dependent on sugar the way it does on opiates like morphine and heroin, sugar is not addictive," he argues.

"Despite the anecdotal reports of people who claim to be addicted to sugar, and seemingly endless websites devoted to sugar addiction," says Cynthia Bartok, associate director for the Center for Childhood Obesity Research in Penn State's College of Health and Human Development, "modern science has not yet validated that idea." In medical terms, a substance is addictive if it:

• induces a pleasant state or relieves distress,
• causes long-term chemical changes in the brain,
• leads to adaptive changes in the brain that trigger tolerance, physical dependence and uncontrollable cravings,
• causes dependence, so that abstaining is difficult and creates severe physical and mental reactions.
girl eating chocolate

Shutterstock

Does sugar fit this profile?

Jan Ulbrecht, associate professor in biobehavioral health and medicine in the College of Health and Human Development, thinks not. "Since the human body does not become physically dependent on sugar the way it does on opiates like morphine and heroin, sugar is not addictive," he argues.

"Despite the anecdotal reports of people who claim to be addicted to sugar, and seemingly endless websites devoted to sugar addiction," says Cynthia Bartok, associate director for the Center for Childhood Obesity Research in Penn State's College of Health and Human Development, "modern science has not yet validated that idea."

Answer 2

Sugar can absolutely be addictive and the danger is that your blood sugar levels will continue to fluctuate. Best thing to do is start eating slower release carbs like wheats and protiens to keep your bllod sugar levels more even. To wean yourself off the spoons of sugar start by taking less per spoonfull then less spoonfulls per day and if you just can't break the habit try forcing yourself to drink a large glass of water before you can have more sugar. This might curb the craving a little.

Answer 3

Sugar is just as addictive as anything else. Salt is addictive too. Sugar causes cavitives, not to mention stomach problems and acne; let's not forget "diabetes" (a blood illness). It takes WILL POWER to break any and all addictions! I used to eat sugar by the spoonfuls, and salt out of the palm of my hand; I used to drink daiquiris daily as well. If you want to stop it, you will.

Answer 4

Sugar= carbs also, what exactly do you crave? The best sugar if you need some is in fruit ("fructose") Sugar in maple or beets is also okay. Candy-like sugars cause tooth decay, headaches & obesity you should really just switch the sugars you eat instead of cutting them out all together <3 Melanie myspace.com/thatspoiledbella

Answer 5

Yes, it is addictive and fattening besides rotting your teeth. Aren't you nervous?