"Sugar Addiction is Real – Here's What's Behind the Science and How to Quit " - Abby Haglage
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average percent of daily calories from sugar in America is 14 percent, with the leading sources being sugary sodas, cakes and cookies. On top of weight gain, this overconsumption can cause irreparable damage, putting you at higher risk of type II diabetes, heart disease, depression, anxiety, memory loss, and even reduced brain volume. “My lab started publishing rat studies on this topic about 15 years ago, and we have seen more and more studies validate the types of behaviors and emotional experiences when it comes to their relationship with sugar,” said Nicole Avena-Blanchard, PhD, assistant professor of pharmacological sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “Our studies show that there are neurochemical changes in the brain that occur when we overeat sugar that are similar to what is seen with addictions to drugs, like alcohol or morphine.”
— Nicole Avena-Blanchard, PhD, Assistant Professor, Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai