Is Sugar More Addictive Than Cocaine?

July 29, 2008

_http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/08/06/is-sugar-more-a

ddictive-than-cocaine.aspx_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/08/06/is-sugar-more-add\

ictive-than-cocaine.aspx)

According to a new research study, refined sugar is far more addictive than

cocaine -- one of the most addictive and harmful substances currently known.

An astonishing 94 percent of rats who were allowed to choose

mutually-exclusively between sugar water and cocaine, chose sugar. Even rats

who were

addicted to cocaine quickly switched their preference to sugar, once it was

offered

as a choice. The rats were also more willing to work for sugar than for

cocaine.

The researchers speculate that the sweet receptors (two protein receptors

located on the tongue), which evolved in ancestral times when the diet was very

low in sugar, have not adapted to modern timesâ€™ high-sugar consumption.

Therefore, the abnormally high stimulation of these receptors by our

sugar-rich diets generates excessive reward signals in the brain, which have

the

potential to override normal self-control mechanisms, and thus lead to

addiction.

Additionally, their research found that thereâ€™s also a cross-tolerance and a

cross-dependence between sugars and addictive drugs. As an example, animals

with a long history of sugar consumption actually became tolerant

(desensitized) to the analgesic effects of morphine.

_PLoS ONE_

(http://www.plosone.org/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info:doi/10.1371/\

journal.pone.0000698) (Free Full-Text Article)

_http://www.plosone.org/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10

..1371%2Fjournal.pone.0000698_

(http://www.plosone.org/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info:doi/10.1371/\

journal.pone.0000698)

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Refined sugar was almost nonexistent in the diet of most people until very

recently. Today, the over-consumption of sugar not only contributes to, but

drives the current obesity epidemic.

Reducing your sugar intake should be on the top of your list, regardless of

whether youâ€™re currently overweight or not. Why? Because itâ€™s been proven

over and over that sugar increases your insulin levels, which can lead to:

* High blood pressure and high cholesterol

* Heart disease

* Diabetes

* Weight gain

* Premature aging, and more

In fact, because sugar is bad for your health in so many ways, I created an

entire list outlining _100-Plus Ways in Which Sugar Can Damage Your Health_

(http://www.mercola.com/article/sugar/dangers-of-sugar.aspx) !

Now having pointed out the dangers of sugar, does that mean you should never

eat sugar? Certainly not. While it clearly tends to decrease your health,

sugar in moderation is likely not going to cause any significant damage. What

do I mean by moderation? Well, something on the order of five pounds a year.

This is considerably less than the amount the average American consumes

which is closer to 175 pounds per year.

Another better use of sugar is anytime you want to use artificial

sweeteners. After researching this area for many years and writing a book, _S_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/08/06/www.sweetdeceptio\

n.com/%

20) _weet Deception,_ (http://www.sweetdeception.com/) on the topic, I am

absolutely convinced that sugar is a healthier and much safer option than

using these poisons. However, ideally you would not use either, but if you have

a

choice between sugar and chemical options always go with the real deal.

Controlling your _insulin levels_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2001/07/14/insulin-part-one.\

aspx) is one of the most important

things you can do to optimize your overall health, and avoiding sugar is

essential to doing this.

Keep in mind that refined sugar is not the only culprit. Starch, in the form

of _grains and potatoes_ (http://www.mercola.com/article/insulin.aspx) ,

should also be limited within your diet in order to lose weight and feel

better.

Following my _nutrition plan_

(http://www.mercola.com/nutritionplan/beginner.aspx) is a simple way to

automatically reduce your intake of grains and

sugars.

Just as this study confirms, sugar is highly addictive. Fortunately, energy

psychology tools like the _Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)_

(http://www.mercola.com/Forms/eftcourse2.aspx)

_http://www.mercola.com/Forms/eftcourse2.aspx_

(http://www.mercola.com/Forms/eftcourse2.aspx) can be enormously

helpful in kicking the sugar habit. You can use EFT to successfully treat a

wide

variety of emotional stresses, including the food cravings related to sugar.

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