We have all heard that cigarettes are addictive but do you know that sugar is too? Sugar actually causes a biochemical change in the brain that makes it one of the most addictive substances out there. Research using PET (live brain activity) scans after ingesting sugar detects equal brain activity from dopamine release to what occurs with cocaine and heroin use!
This increased brain activity is caused by the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for the following functions in the body:
- movement
- memory
- pleasurable reward
- behavior and cognition
- attention
- inhibition of prolactin production
- sleep
- mood
- learning
When the body, specifically the brain is exposed to increased amounts of dopamine (i.e., from too much sugar intake) the brain creates more receptors to accommodate the extra neurotransmitter.
When we stop feeding the brain dopamine, it goes through withdrawal causing the following symptoms:
- headache and migraine
- depression
- fatigue with excess yawning
- dizziness
- nausea
- anxiety, nervousness
For many people these withdrawal symptoms are associated with extreme sugar cravings…guess why? Because the brain is craving dopamine!