Man Up And Ditch That Sugar

Sugar is the sweetest drug out there and you might just be having sugar addiction without even knowing it.

While most people get a craving for something sweet every once in a while, especially after a good meal, if you notice that you are having a chronic sweet tooth and you simply must eat chocolate or other candies on a daily basis, you might just have a problem.

If you don’t find a way to cut down on this sweet drug, excessive sugar intake can lead to serious health issues. Think type 2 diabetes, blood pressure, stroke, dementia. There is also the risk of gaining weight and your teeth going bad.

Finding The Limit

So, how much sugar is too much sugar? The American Heart Association suggests a maximum of 9 teaspoons of sugar on a daily basis for men. To put things into perspective, this the equivalent of one and a half 12-ounce can of non-diet soda.

A research conducted back in 2009 by the American Heart Association, found that an average adult American consumes around 22 teaspoons of added sugar daily basis, which is more than twice the recommended limit. The AHA says the main culprit is mostly non-diet soda or soft drinks in general.

The Drug Indeed

According to Nicole Avena, PhD, a food addiction researcher and assistant professor of neuroscience at Princeton University, says sugar addiction is a real thing.

“Sugar addiction is a real phenomenon. Research indicates that changes to brain chemicals after sugar consumption are similar to changes seen after drug use, and constantly overeating sugar leads to addiction and obesity.”

Nicole warns that, aside from the obvious culprit – sweet snacks like candy and soda, the ‘invisible’ added sugar in processed foods is also the real deal. Think ketchup, salad dressing, pasta, bread, etc.