Sugar is Deadly: 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.
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. Why not try giving up sugar for a week and see how you feel?
Rachel Devine book, Discover the Power of the Secret Within: Healing Your Inner Child to Manifest Your Dreams, is on Amazon and will help you come to terms with the wounded inner child and the relationship to addictions.
Devine Intervention: Inner Healing Center
Life coaching available FREE consultation.
This blog was originally introduced in 2023.
Are you Addicted to the News? Rachel Devine
Whether you see the glass half full or half empty, leaning right, left, or center, the news is filled with sensationalized information that is detrimental to your health. Furthermore, the effects of watching the news daily can impact your life in various ways.
I was talking to my girlfriend recently about an incident in the news and found myself saying again, “I have to stop watching the news.” And she replied, “You always say that, and you keep watching.” This time I replied, “Maybe I am addicted to the news!” The addiction is similar to potato chips, it’s hard to stop eating them. I have to keep them out of the house so I am not tempted. The news feels the same way in a bizarre twist.
So I decided to explore this very credible notion of being addicted to the news, and I found this fascinating information in my research:
Whether you see the glass half full or half empty, leaning right, left, or center, the news is filled with sensationalized information that is detrimental to your health. Furthermore, the effects of watching the news daily can impact your life in various ways.
I was talking to my girlfriend recently about an incident in the news and found myself saying again, “I have to stop watching the news.” And she replied, “You always say that, and you keep watching.” This time I replied, “Maybe I am addicted to the news!” The addiction is similar to potato chips, it’s hard to stop eating them. I have to keep them out of the house so I am not tempted. The news feels the same way in a bizarre twist.
So I decided to explore this very credible notion of being addicted to the news, and I found this fascinating information in my research:
Physical Reasons for News Addiction:
Dopamine release: The brain's reward system releases dopamine when we encounter novel or exciting information, which is often found in the news. This creates a pleasurable sensation, reinforcing the behavior of seeking out news. Over time, this can lead to a cycle where individuals constantly seek this "information high."
Cortisol spikes: stressful or alarming news triggers the release of cortisol, the body's primary stress hormone. While this is initially meant to prepare us for potential threats, chronic exposure to stress-inducing news can lead to elevated cortisol levels. This can create a feedback loop where individuals feel compelled to check the news to alleviate anxiety, only to encounter more stress-inducing information.
Adrenaline rush: Breaking news and dramatic stories can trigger the release of adrenaline, causing an increased heart rate, heightened alertness, and a surge of energy. This physiological "high" can be addictive, leading people to seek out more dramatic news stories for the rush.
Habituation: Regular news consumption can become a deeply ingrained habit. The brain begins to expect and crave the neurochemical responses associated with news consumption, leading to automatic behavior patterns such as checking news apps or websites at specific times or in specific situations.
Desensitization: Prolonged exposure to intense news can lead to desensitization, where individuals require increasingly dramatic or sensational news to achieve the same emotional response, similar to drug tolerance.
Interesting Facts on News Attraction:
Negativity bias: Humans have an inherent tendency to pay more attention to negative information. This evolutionary trait helped our ancestors survive by staying alert to potential threats. News outlets often capitalize on this bias by emphasizing negative stories, which grab and hold our attention more effectively.
Fear of missing out (FOMO): The anxiety associated with potentially missing important information drives compulsive news checking. Social media and 24/7 news cycles exacerbate this feeling, creating a constant stream of "must-know" information.
Cognitive biases: Confirmation bias leads people to seek out news that confirms their existing beliefs, creating echo chambers. The availability heuristic causes people to overestimate the importance or frequency of events that are easily recalled, often due to recent or dramatic news coverage.
Intermittent reinforcement: The unpredictable nature of news cycles mirrors the psychological principles behind addictive gambling behaviors. The possibility of encountering important or exciting news at any moment keeps people checking compulsively.
Social currency: Being well-informed provides social value in conversations and professional settings. This external motivation encourages continued news consumption to maintain one's status as a knowledgeable individual.
Uncertainty reduction: News consumption can be driven by a desire to reduce uncertainty about the world, providing a sense of control in chaotic times.
To break the habit of excessive news consumption, here are some scientifically supported strategies:
Set specific time limits. Allocate a fixed amount of time each day for news consumption. Research suggests that habit formation takes an average of 66 days, though it can vary from 18 to 254 days depending on the individual and the complexity of the habit.
Practice mindfulness: Being aware of your news consumption patterns can help reduce automatic behaviors. Mindfulness techniques have been shown to aid in breaking addictive habits.
Replace the habit: substitute news watching with a healthier activity. This strategy, known as habit substitution, can be effective in breaking unwanted habits. Turn on a gameshow or comedy.
Use apps or browser extensions. Tools that limit access to news sites can help reduce consumption. Technology-based interventions have shown promise for habit modification.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques: CBT can help identify and change thought patterns that lead to compulsive news watching.
Gradual reduction: Slowly decrease news consumption over time. This approach, often used in addiction treatment, can be less jarring than going "cold turkey."
Improve sleep hygiene: Avoid news before bedtime. Better sleep has been linked to improved willpower and habit control.
Social support: Inform friends and family about your goal. Social support has been shown to significantly improve the success rate of behavior change.
Just think of all the other things you could be doing instead of watching the news or any television show for that matter. It’s nice to zone out every now and then from the world with a good game show, but watching the news doesn’t really help one zone out. Actually, it plugs you into the sorry state of the world.
The moral to this blog is that watching too much news is detrimental to our well-being and is addictive! Furthermore, to go one step further, the news has a major influence on our decisions in elections, community and other areas. Most opinion news stations seem to have an agenda and a political viewpoint. As for me, I am going to start out by limiting my news watching to 30 minutes a day, and take it from there.
Devine intervention - Inner Healing Center website
Free 30 minute coaching is available