{"id":1659,"date":"2014-01-10T18:31:16","date_gmt":"2014-01-11T02:31:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.everywomanover29.com\/blog\/?p=1659"},"modified":"2016-05-31T13:18:49","modified_gmt":"2016-05-31T20:18:49","slug":"no-sugar-or-sugar-in-moderation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.everywomanover29.com\/blog\/no-sugar-or-sugar-in-moderation\/","title":{"rendered":"No sugar or sugar in moderation? I say NO sugar!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Delicious<\/p>\n

More and more research is supporting the fact that sugar and carbs are as addicting as drugs<\/b> and as difficult to quit for some people. I came across this quote the other day: \u201cStressed spelled backwards is desserts<\/b>. Coincidence? I think not!\u201d and it\u2019s perfect. We crave sugar because we are stressed, sad, looking for pleasure<\/b> and for energy and motivation<\/b>. And we self-medicate<\/b> with it in the same way as drugs, caffeine and tobacco.<\/p>\n

This paper called Obesity: The emerging neurobiology of calorie addiction<\/b> was published just a few days ago:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe increased availability and consumption of highly palatable foods<\/b> is the major factor behind the rise of obesity and type 2 diabetes in developed countries.\u201d <\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cProgress has been made in recent years in understanding the neurobiological underpinnings for this preference\u201d <\/i>for sucrose: \u201csucrose activates dopamine neurons<\/b> in a region of the brain called the striatum, and the resulting release of dopamine is associated with pleasure.<\/b>\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cMoreover, the repeated consumption<\/b> of high levels of sucrose can create a cycle of continued overconsumption<\/b>\u2014even compulsive eating<\/b>\u2014in order to recapture the initial feelings of pleasure<\/b>. This is similar in many ways to drug abuse or addiction<\/b>, and also involves some of the same signalling pathways within the body\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

This dopamine\/pleasure mechanism is just one way that leads to sugar addiction. This Oct 2013 paper in Nutrition<\/i>, Neurobiologic basis of craving for carbohydrates<\/b><\/a>\u00a0says this:<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a relationship between emotional disorders<\/b>, obesity<\/b>, and craving for carbohydrates<\/b>\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cResearch on the basis of carbohydrate craving is varied<\/b>, but may be grouped into five main areas: the serotonergic<\/b> system, palatability and hedonic response<\/b> <\/i>[i.e. pleasure], the motivational system<\/b>, stress<\/b> response systems, and gene-environment<\/b> interaction\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Last week I posed this question on my facebook page<\/a>: \u201cno sugar or sugar in moderation? what’s your vote? I say NO sugar<\/b>! Do you think that’s too harsh and too unrealistic<\/b>?\u201d I was referring to ANY sweetener other than fresh fruit.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the comments my tribe offered:<\/p>\n