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Sugar addiction: pushing the drug-sugar analogy to the limit.
Ahmed SH1, Guillem K, Vandaele Y.
Author information
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW:
To review research that tests the validity of the analogy between addictive drugs, like cocaine, and hyperpalatable foods, notably those high in added sugar (i.e., sucrose).
RECENT FINDINGS:
Available evidence in humans shows that sugar and sweetness can induce reward and craving that are comparable in magnitude to those induced by addictive drugs. Although this evidence is limited by the inherent difficulty of comparing different types of rewards and psychological experiences in humans, it is nevertheless supported by recent experimental research on sugar and sweet reward in laboratory rats. Overall, this research has revealed that sugar and sweet reward can not only substitute to addictive drugs, like cocaine, but can even be more rewarding and attractive. At the neurobiological level, the neural substrates of sugar and sweet reward appear to be more robust than those of cocaine (i.e., more resistant to functional failures), possibly reflecting past selective evolutionary pressures for seeking and taking foods high in sugar and calories.
SUMMARY:
The biological robustness in the neural substrates of sugar and sweet reward may be sufficient to explain why many people can have difficultly to control the consumption of foods high in sugar when continuously exposed to them.
I've actually made the analogy between sugar and drugs before, myself. If you look a the way sugar is marketed, in all its forms, the two are strikingly similar.
1) sugar is often marketed to get children hooked on the taste from an early age thru brightly colored packaging on cereal boxes, fruit juices, sodas, candy bars etc. And children are also often targeted by drug dealers at an early age.
2) candy, junk food, cakes, sodas/liqeurs (mixed with alcohol) are always associated with good times, fun, partying and celebration in our culture, with little to no emphasis on the negative consequences of consuming them. Drug use is often a mainstay of party, celebratory environments.
3) sugar products are relatively cheap and easily accessible. Illegal drugs are still easily obtainable. The only thing that makes illegal drugs even somewhat inconvenient to find is the fact that theyre actually illegal.
4) Sugar can ravage your entire body. Drugs can ravage your entire body.
5) sugar can be highly addictive. Drugs can be highly addictive.
I mean, people can do whatever they want to, obviously. But the reality is that sugar as it is marketed and sold in our culture today (added sugars, refined sugars, hidden sugars, fake sugars, high carb foods, etc) is not much better than crack.
Last edited by soletaire; 05-05-2017 at 06:47 AM..
I've actually made the analogy between sugar and drugs before, myself. If you look a the way sugar is marketed, in all its forms, the two are strikingly similar.
1) sugar is often marketed to get children hooked on the taste from an early age thru brightly colored packaging on cereal boxes, fruit juices, sodas, candy bars etc. And children are also often targeted by drug dealers at an early age.
2) candy, junk food, cakes, sodas/liqeurs (mixed with alcohol) are always associated with good times, fun, partying and celebration in our culture, with little to no emphasis on the negative consequences of consuming them. Drug use is often a mainstay of party, celebratory environments.
3) sugar products are relatively cheap and easily accessible. Illegal drugs are still easily obtainable. The only thing that makes illegal drugs even somewhat inconvenient to find is the fact that theyre actually illegal.
4) Sugar can ravage your entire body. Drugs can ravage your entire body.
5) sugar can be highly addictive. Drugs can be highly addictive.
I mean, people can do whatever they want to, obviously. But the reality is that sugar as it is marketed and sold in our culture today (added sugars, refined sugars, hidden sugars fake sugars etc) is not much better than crack.
Well thankfully, I've never done illicit drugs, so I can't comment on their respective addictive properties.
I will say that I can reduce or eliminate by sugar intake far easier than trying to stop a heroin or crack addiction. And I've done that, when i was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. My consumption of sugar IMMEDIATELY decreased. Can't say the same for a crack addict.
Every human being has their vice - if it isn't sugar, then it's salt. Anything eaten in excess with give you health problems.
Sugar can be consumed moderately. I get most of my sugar from natural sources, but I do enjoy several things throughout the day that contain sucrose. Variety is the spice of life, and life's too short (for me at least) to deny myself of something I like.
6) There are many people who say that drugs are harmless in moderation...
yet another similarity..lol
Well I'm not one of those people....
Sorry, I don't believe that sugar is similar to drugs. I don't believe the euphoria brought on by eating a twinkie is the same as that initial high attained by drugs. I also don't believe I could wean myself off drugs the same way as I would sugar. When I was diagnosed with diabetes, i reduced my sugar intake dramatically in about a day. Can't say the results would be the same if I was in the throes of a drug addiction.
Most importantly, I wouldn't kill someone to get my Twix fix .
Sorry, I don't believe that sugar is similar to drugs. I don't believe the euphoria brought on by eating a twinkie is the same as that initial high attained by drugs. I also don't believe I could wean myself off drugs the same way as I would sugar. When I was diagnosed with diabetes, i reduced my sugar intake dramatically in about a day. Can't say the results would be the same if I was in the throes of a drug addiction.
Most importantly, I wouldn't kill someone to get my Twix fix .
And I wouldn't dare accuse you of being one of those people...but as the study posted by the previous poster suggests, sugar addiction is a real issue for some; and on a chemical level...not just mentally. But we all handle addiction differently, and we're all free to disbelieve whatever we choose. I'll side with the science on this one, for now, myself.
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.. had to take it
