026. Is sugar addictive?

In this solo episode, I talk about different points of view on whether sugar is an addictive substance. I have my opinion, but what do other sources say about the addictive nature of sugar?In my opinion, it's not the plant itself that's the problem. It's what's been done to it: the refining and processing and concentrating of the original plant to make its essence into a potent powder, sugar and flour alike. Scientific studies have shown that rats and mice choose sugar over cocaine. Do we humans really behave the same as lab rats?And what about people who have an "addictive personality"? Is that really a thing? It's no secret that all those hyper-palatable processed foods make us want more and more - they affect our taste and our brain so fast that they can literally hook us. How? Listen to the episode!I also talk about cravings, leptin resistance, and how sugar and flour affect the dopamine receptors in the brain and hijack impulse control. So why isn't sugar recognized yet by the DSM-5 as an addictive substance, whereas caffeine is? And what happens when you don't eat sugar and flour? How does our behaviour and our relationship with our food and with ourselves change? I've lived it for the last 6 years: it's a wonderful sense of peace and freedom. This is what the Life After Sugar Program is all about. Find out more here: https://aftersugarclub.com/program1/.To rate and review this podcast: scroll down in your podcast player on your phone and click on the stars. To leave a review, scroll down a little more and click on "Write a Review". Once you’ve finished, select “Send” or “Save” in the top-right corner. If you’ve never left a podcast review before, enter a nickname. Your nickname will be displayed on your review. After selecting a nickname, tap OK. Your review may not be immediately visible, but it should be posted soon. Thank you! - NettaDisclaimer: Information provided by Life After Sugar is not designed to and does not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual. This is general information for educational purposes only. The information provided is not a substitute for medical or professional care. Life After Sugar is not liable or responsible for any advice, information, services or product you obtain through Life After Sugar. You should always seek the advice of your physician or mental health professional before taking any action in response to any information on the Life After Sugar website or programs. Any action on your part in response to the information provided in the Life After Sugar website or programs is at your own risk.