Sugar Addiction
Sugar addiction is REAL. Did you know there are 56 different names for sugar in the processed foods you are eating and feeding your family? Shockingly, over 68% of barcoded food products sold in the US contain added sweeteners—even if they are labeled as “natural” or “healthy.” It’s not just SUGAR listed on the label these days. Manufacturers hide sugar with names like ethyl maltol or sorghum syrup, so consumers don’t know they are eating it.
Manufacturers increase our sugar addiction
Why would they do this? Simple, to keep you buying more of their products as they help you grow your addiction to sugar and processed foods. Science says that consuming fructose, the main sugar found in processed foods, increases your hunger and desire for food more than glucose, the main type of sugar found in starchy foods like sweet potatoes and fruit. Additionally, excessive fructose consumption may cause resistance to leptin, an important hormone that regulates hunger and tells your body to stop eating.
So what does this look like in your body and behaviorally?
- You eat processed food with hidden sugar content.
- Your pancreas doesn’t properly release leptin, your satiety hormone.
- You’re not satisfied and often hungry minutes later.
- You eat more processed food to feel full again.
- Ultimately, you buy more of the processed foods and repeat the cycle.
Why does this matter in the long run?
Sugar causes lifestyle diseases like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver, cancer, and obesity. To reduce your risk of dying from one of the diseases above, reduce your processed food and sugar intake right now.
What can you do right now to combat sugar addiction?
Start by skipping five processed items and replace those foods with whole foods like cucumbers, apples, and celery. Add natural nut butter to create snacks that fuel your body and improve your organ function. You can use fuel to heal. It is the first and most important step to living a healthier lifestyle. As your coach, I encourage you to start right now. If you want more info on how to avoid sugar and processed foods, here is another blog to help you live well starting right now.