The hardest part of dealing with a problem is first admitting that you have one. When people think of addiction, the first substances that come to their minds are alcohol, marijuana and cocaine, notably some of the most popular abused drugs in the nation. But what about those addictions that are more commonly ignored and looked over? In a study published in Obesity Research, doctor’s discovered that sugar is becoming a more dangerous and addictive dependence in the lives’ of many Americans. People with a genetic disposition for addiction are more likely to develop the cravings and desire to abuse substances such as sugar and caffeine. But the problem is that many people don’t actually realize they are addicted to these everyday substances.

Take for example my mother. Last summer, my mother accompanied me on the long journey out to California. About 4 days into the vacation, my mother began to get more and more irritated with little things. She also developed a severe headache, which lasted for hours throughout the day. My mother thought nothing of it, assuming it was the sun or hot temperatures and she continued about her activities. On the last day of her trip, she woke up realizing what had been causing her the irritation and headaches. My mother had not had a cup of coffee in over 6 days. The departure from the caffeine caused her to experience withdrawal symptoms from a drug that she had been including in her everyday life for the past 25 years.

For sugar addicts, the same situation is very possible. The delightful taste of sweetness found in sugar has been linked to the main cause of dependence. Because of the great taste that sugar brings, more people are susceptible to binging on the substance, which triggers a release of dopamine in the brain. This imbalance of chemicals has been found to bring on the dependence of the substance. Not only does sugar pose a dependence problem, but it also causes many health problems as well. High doses of sugar as a child is the main cause of diabetes onset later in life. Let’s not forget about the possibility of obesity. Although family insurance helps those dealing with these issues, the physical risks that they bring on a person’s healthy living are immense.

The question that lies is this; Can sugar be considered a harmful drug? Although it may not require a stint in rehab, sugar is still a powerful addiction that can cause harm to a person’s physical and emotional well being. So the next time you are standing in line at the grocery store and you go to reach for that Snicker’s Bar, you may want to think again. After all, your health is far more important than your sweet tooth.

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Tags: BCBSNC, Group Health, Health, Healthy Eating, Healthy Living //