How often do you see people rewarding themselves with something sweet, especially after a particularly stressful day or to celebrate a birthday or a special success?
Probably every now and then.
You might even get worried sometimes as to how much you can consume all at once without even realising it.
Some people use sugary foods in ways that aren’t healthy, even though it may not be an actual addiction.
But is it really an addiction?
Short answer is YES!
Rewarding ourselves with something sweet every time we feel sad, or achieve something releases dopamine in our brain.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is a part of the “reward circuit” associated with addictive behaviour.
When a certain behaviour causes an excess release of dopamine, you feel a pleasurable “high” that you are inclined to re-experience and repeat the behaviour.
When you repeat that behaviour more and more, your brain adapts to release less dopamine.
The only way to feel the same “high” as before is to repeat the behaviour in increasing amounts and frequency.
Sugar activates the opiate receptors in our brain and affects the reward centre, which leads to compulsive behaviour.
We tend to keep on eating despite the negative consequences like weight gain, headaches, hormone imbalances, etc.
Repeated cycles of eating sweet hardwire our brains to crave more and more sugar.
So is there a way around this?
Yes.
1. Eat more protein. Protein is great for satiety
2. Get enough sleep. This is essential for reducing your cortisol levels and recovery in general.
3. Manage stress levels. Indulge in activities which can trigger your dopamine in the right way. Like pursuing your favourite hobby.
4. Don’t starve yourself. Starving yourself creates blood sugar imbalances and hence increases your cravings even more
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