What if I was to tell you that every single day, supermarkets get away with selling a slow acting poison in nearly 100% of their products? This disease-causing substance has been proven to be more addictive than cocaine and is linked to diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
Once ingested, this everyday toxin goes right to the liver (much like alcohol) and causes large deposits of ‘bad’ fat around the vital organs and even within the liver its self. Do you worry about the effects of sugar on your health?
Wait, is sugar really that deadly?
I am being slightly hyperbolic to grab your attention (did it work?), but everything I have said is true. Excess sugar is killing us. The human body was not designed to handle the ever-increasing amount we consume, and the symptoms are showing. The 1st world is plagued with obesity and its related illnesses, especially the younger generations. So why do food companies add so much sugar to everything?
Sugar is more addictive than cocaine
Studies show that lab rats will choose sugar water over cocaine water. Food manufacturers know this and use as much sugar as is palatable into nearly everything. The call this the bliss point. This causes us to eat more, therefore buying more. Even vegetable soups get this treatment.
Below you can see how this box of chocolates has less sugar than a can of soup!
The human brain is a strange machine that was wired haphazardly by evolution. When we perform certain actions, our brain rewards us with a wonderful cocktail of hormones. Although we developed this response to help use survive and breed, we have created ways to fool these systems for pleasure and profit.
Gambling, sex, drugs and even Facebook all have the power to sink their hooks into our brains and cause addictive behaviours. Sugar is no different. In fact, sugar may be the most insidious of all. By taking regular doses of the sweet stuff, we prime the body to expect it at every meal. If you have sugar in your tea there is a good chance that hearing the kettle boil triggers your cravings.
Hunger vs cravings – Does sugar cause over eating?
One of the symptoms of addiction is withdrawal. What would happen if you were to go cold turkey on sugar? I often give my clients a ‘sugar detox’ challenge to find out. It takes roughly 3 days for them to feel TERRIBLE. People will become irritable, tired and complain of headaches and even the shakes!
This is why sudden changes in diet can be so challenging. Health foods are often extra sweet to compensate for their low fat or calorie content. Everyday you are surrounded with adverts, smells and packaging designed to tempt you. This would be like trying to quit tobacco whist just having a few drags on a ciggy every 4 hours; Whilst everyone around you smoked all day. And you see fag packs and adverts everywhere.
Why you should reduce your sugar intake
You don’t have to go sugar free, (although many find this helpful at first) but reducing your intake will bring dramatic results very quickly. Here’s a list of some of the benefits:
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- Reduced hunger (and better weight loss)
- Less energy drops before/after meals
- Increased mental clarity causing a more stable mood
- An improved pallet for foods that aren’t crazy sweet
- Exercise will cause more fat loss and muscle growth
- Improvements to your skin
- Better long term dental health, of course
- A smug sense of self satisfaction
Get started by tracking your daily sugar intake, then reducing it. Best of luck, thank me later!
