Question by fatimahanif: Please tell me if sugar is addictive?
I am hooked on eating spoonful of sugar and I cant resisit. I eat almost 5-6 spoonful per day. How bad is it? What is the harm? How do I get off? Please serious advice only.

Best answer:

Answer by BeachSaint
In medical terms, a substance is addictive if it:

• induces a pleasant state or relieves distress,
• causes long-term chemical changes in the brain,
• leads to adaptive changes in the brain that trigger tolerance, physical dependence and uncontrollable cravings,
• causes dependence, so that abstaining is difficult and creates severe physical and mental reactions.
girl eating chocolate

Does sugar fit this profile?

Jan Ulbrecht, associate professor in biobehavioral health and medicine in the College of Health and Human Development, thinks not. “Since the human body does not become physically dependent on sugar the way it does on opiates like morphine and heroin, sugar is not addictive,” he argues.

“Despite the anecdotal reports of people who claim to be addicted to sugar, and seemingly endless websites devoted to sugar addiction,” says Cynthia Bartok, associate director for the Center for Childhood Obesity Research in Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development, “modern science has not yet validated that idea.” In medical terms, a substance is addictive if it:

• induces a pleasant state or relieves distress,
• causes long-term chemical changes in the brain,
• leads to adaptive changes in the brain that trigger tolerance, physical dependence and uncontrollable cravings,
• causes dependence, so that abstaining is difficult and creates severe physical and mental reactions.
girl eating chocolate

Shutterstock

Does sugar fit this profile?

Jan Ulbrecht, associate professor in biobehavioral health and medicine in the College of Health and Human Development, thinks not. “Since the human body does not become physically dependent on sugar the way it does on opiates like morphine and heroin, sugar is not addictive,” he argues.

“Despite the anecdotal reports of people who claim to be addicted to sugar, and seemingly endless websites devoted to sugar addiction,” says Cynthia Bartok, associate director for the Center for Childhood Obesity Research in Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development, “modern science has not yet validated that idea.”

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Vt. Health Dept.: More data, then more treatment centers
The governor called for more opiate treatment in Vermont to help addicts during his State of the State address. But now a report by the Health Department says slow down. Health officials say Vermont's expansion of services are still being rolled out …
Read more on WCAX

NH police say 1 dead of overdose; heroin use growth 'alarming'
Mara said a bag of heroin sells for about $ 10 and gives high similar to prescription pain opiates that sell for $ 30 or more per tablet. Mara said evidence of the spike in … It's also reflected in the crime wave spurred by heroin addiction. "In July …
Read more on Bennington Banner

Anti-drug task force members raid Orange home, arrest 2 on heroin charges; DA …
ORANGE – Members of the Northwestern District Attorney's Anti-Crime Force raided a Maynard Street home Thursday, arresting a man and woman on heroin charges, while Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan called addiction to the drug a "crisis" in …
Read more on MassLive.com

More Opiates Addiction Information…

3 Responses to “Please Tell Me if Sugar Is Addictive?”