Sugar Can Kill You: Let’s Explore This Fact Rachel Devine
Years ago, we were told that fat causes heart disease. Now we are learning that sugar is the culprit in many diseases, and excessive sugar can indeed kill you. Not only that, but sugar is highly addictive. It’s hard to get off sugar, but once you do, your life will become much healthier and I would think you would live a longer life. However, you want to have a good quality of life in your old age and one way to do that is to get off sugar.
Let’s dive into this further.
Sugar, carbs, and inflammation
When we consume excessive sugar, often in the form of soda, candy, baked goods, and other processed treats, our blood glucose spikes sharply, initiating an inflammatory stress response. Chronic inflammation triggered by a high-sugar diet leads to markers like C-reactive protein and arterial damage implicated in arthritis, chronic pain, heart disease, and other aging issues.
6 teaspoons or over 24 grams per day is considered excess sugar intake. As an example, 4 Oreo cookies have 26 grams of sugar. A can of coke has 39 grams of sugar.
The spike in insulin from excess sugar also triggers visceral fat formation around the organs. This visceral fat triggers the release of cytokines, nitric oxide, and other inflammatory signaling compounds. Additionally, a diet high in simple sugars causes specific gut alterations that promote leaky gut disease, allowing inflammatory antigens to escape into the bloodstream.
Over months and years, chronic systemic and localized inflammation sparked by sugar metabolism gradually degrades joint tissues and the cardiovascular system, leading to inflammatory conditions like arthritis, gout, atherosclerotic heart disease, and painful diabetic complications. This can also cause joint deterioration to the point of needing knee or hip replacement surgery.
Reducing intake of added and refined sugars in favor of anti-inflammatory whole foods high in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants provides the best defense against inflammation and associated degenerative issues exacerbated by sugar-generated free radical cascades.
The Brain on Sugar
Eating foods high in sugar triggers the release of dopamine and opioids in the brain's reward system, creating temporary pleasure and relief, much like using alcohol or other addictive substances.
Some people use sugar when feeling down, like the proverbial ice cream after a breakup.
With chronic sugar consumption, the brain starts requiring higher sugar intake to achieve the same "high," reflecting building tolerance, a hallmark of addictive disorders.
Shared Addiction Mechanisms
Animal studies show rats experiencing sugar withdrawal react strongly when sugar is reintroduced after abstinence, similar to the restored drug supply for addicted individuals.
Binging on high-sugar foods triggers effects on dopamine D2 receptors in the brain that parallel changes caused by drug abuse, according to scientists.
Signaling cascades induced by excessive sugar intake ultimately reinforce addictive consumption habits through reward neurotransmitter dysfunction and dysregulated motivation pathways.
While sugar alone doesn't contain intoxicating compounds like recreational drugs, the brain essentially processes them via a similar addiction infrastructure as drugs of abuse. This creates very real dependence and withdrawal symptoms that perpetuate sugar cravings and substance addiction alike. Reducing consumption treats the root cause.
The root cause of sugar addiction
I believe the root cause of any addiction comes from our childhood. When we don’t get our fundamental needs met in childhood, we grow up to be needy adults with a void within. Some of us fill that void with food, alcohol, drugs, and other addictions. In order to break the cycle of addiction, I believe we need to focus on our inner child and what transpired in childhood. I believe the solution is to fill the void with a healthy filler rather than an unhealthy one like sugar. One healthy filler is exercise because it generates endorphins, the ‘feel good’ chemical similar to what is transmitted with addictions.
Another way to fill the void is with self-care and self-love. The wounded inner child, who may not have gotten their fundamental needs met, is yearning for love. Sit and meditate on a time in your childhood when you could have used some good parenting. Go back to that time and tell your inner child how much you love him or her. This is a powerful way to fill some of the wounded inner child void. However, please note that there are layers of neglection from our childhood, and this would be unpeeling one layer of many, so you will have to be diligent in continuing to do this.
Journaling is another way to get to the root of the problem and come to terms with emotions and feelings. Just write each day what you are feeling, especially when you crave sugar. You may find that you need a hug or some love rather than a deadly substance.
In closing, remember that you have the power within to stop using sugar. Once you make your mind up, you can supplement the processed sugar with other healthy foods, like fruit, homemade healthy desserts, sugar-free shakes, and so much more. You owe it to yourself to be healthy. In my world, giving up sugar was easy because I am now pain-free from any inflammatory consequences of eating processed sugar and I feel awesome.
Rachel Devine’s new book, Discover the Power of the Secret Within: Healing Your Inner Child to Manifest Your Dreams, is on Amazon now and will help you come to terms with the wounded inner child. You will find more solutions to addictions as well as other issues that stem from the inner child.
Devine Intervention: Inner Healing Center