Sugar takes your brain on an addictive joyride that can make it hard to resist. This excerpt from Julie Daniluk’s new book, “Becoming Sugar-Free: How to Break Up With Inflammatory Sugars and Embrace a Naturally Sweet Life,” explains exactly what happens when you get eat that chocolate lava cake.
Why Do We Love Sugar?
Did you know that children do not develop a taste for salt until four months of age, but our taste for sweets happens the minute we are born? It turns out that sugar is a type of temporary analgesic; a 2005 study showed that children can keep their hands in cold water for longer if they have a sweet in their mouth.Sugar is so seductive that scientists have recently revealed through brain scans that when we eat sugar, our brain lights up in a way similar to when we ingest strong drugs such as cocaine. Many mind-altering substances, including OxyContin, ecstasy, heroin, alcohol, and marijuana, over-activate the dopamine reward system. Dopamine, our major reward hormone, tells us things like, “Great job, do it again, you’re successful, you’re awesome.” It’s released when we do things we enjoy, such as getting together with friends, winning an award, being successful at work, and so on. It’s also released when we consume sugar.
