This is from Dr. Ruby’s blog and another example of how important her message is to get out to the public.
Sugar is like an addictive drug
No this is not a picture of cocaine…. but according to the latest research it may as well be. Sugar is one of the main causes of Diabesity and is killing more Americans than any addictive drug. A neuroscientist from the Oregon Research Institute has been using brain imaging to measure the brain’s response to sugar. “Sugar activates the brain similar to the way cocaine reacts” (Dr Eric Stice). Sugar stimulates the primitive neurochemicals in the brain. Foods high in sugar trigger a release of a morphine-like substance which makes us “feel good”. The body develops a tolerance to sugar (just like addictive drugs) so overtime you will need more and more sugar to to satisfy your cravings. Even more bad news, processed foods, white flour and salt have a similar addictive potential. Remember the commercial – “Bet you just can’t eat one”. And the food industry knows it!
When we think about sugar we only think about candy or “sweets”, but what most of us do not realize is that there are hidden sugars in our foods. In fact, because of it’s addictive properties, sugar is actually added to our foods to make us crave them. On top of stimulating our brain, when we eat sugar, our pancreas sends out a surge of insulin, which in turn rapidly drops our blood sugar and makes us feel bad and at the same time, wanting more of the same food, creating a viscious cycle. Sugary drinks are the worst because they rapidly absorb and create a much more profound insulin surge. Hard to believe that something that taste so good is so bad for us.
The average American consumes…
- 130 lbs of sugar a year
- 34 tsp of sugar per day (by the average child)
- 54 gallons of sugary soda per year
Should sugar be considered a controlled substance?
The latest argument posed by researchers submitting the United Nations report suggests that sugars in all forms is as dangerous to our health as a controlled substance like alcohol. Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric endocrinologist, argues that our bodies process sugar very much like the way it processes alcohol and other poisons.
“ Evidence is mounting that sugar is the primary factor causing not just obesity, but also chronic and lethal disease. Sugar is toxic to your body, acting as a poison all by itself” Dr. Robert Lustig
Sugar causes inflammation which is the underlying cause of most chronic disease, including many forms of cancer
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association linked sugar intake to chronic illness. To read the rest of this article click here http://drlauraruby.com/inflammation-and-chronic-disease/is-your-sweet-tooth-killing-you/
