You know you eat too much sugar when you wake up every morning promising yourself, today, you’ll cut right down on the sweet stuff. But by the time afternoon rolls around, all you can think about is that chocolate bar or piece of cake, and the urge for sugar is so strong you give in to it.
Researchers have found that overdoing sugar may lead to changes in the brain similar to those seen in people who regularly use drugs such as cocaine and heroin. When we eat carbohydrates, including sugar, they stimulate the release of the brain chemical serotonin, which makes us feel good. Our bodies get used to having lots of serotonin and can end up craving glucose to keep the levels high.
When we eat too much sugar, combined with the glucose we get from other carbohydrates in our diet – such as bread, pasta and cereals – we can end up with glucose overload. And that can lead to all sorts of serious health problems, including diabetes.
Cutting down on sugar makes sense but if you’ve overindulged for some time, it is not as easy as simply deciding to stop eating it. Here are some tips to help.
Feature image: Julie Crespel/ bauersyndication.com.au
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