When we think about sugar, we can probably correlate that it isn’t great for our long-term health. However, have you ever taken into consideration how it affects you daily? You must understand how sugar affects you physiologically and psychologically, as when we begin to understand the mechanics around it all – it’s easier to inhibit positive change.
When sugar is consumed, it fuels every cell in the brain and directly gives you a dopamine hit (dopamine is directly responsible for making you feel pleasure & satisfaction. Therefore, once you consume it, your body and mind feel a sense of pleasure. The brain then becomes hardwired to associate the sugar with pleasure, and low and behold – every time you feel you need a sense of pleasure, whether it be because you are looking to decrease stress, looking for a sense of motivation or just because you’re bored. Suddenly, your mind is constantly searching for that top-up of dopamine through the form of a sugary treat. When you hear us tell you that cravings genuinely are not your fault, we mean it.
So not only do we have the brain searching for the sugar, but what happens when we consume sugar is what we like to call the beginning of the “blood sugar roller coaster”. Blood sugar, otherwise known as glucose, is the primary sugar in your blood. It comes from your food and is your body’s primary energy source. Your blood carries glucose to all of your body’s cells for energy and is the primary driver among individuals with diabetes.
The blood sugar rollercoaster occurs when we eat certain types of foods. Either carbohydrates, proteins or fats. These will all affect our blood sugar levels depending on how we digest each macronutrient individually. However, it is understood that eating a high amount of carbohydrates or carbohydrates on their own will create an initial feel-good endorphin (hello, dopamine) and initiate the blood sugar spike. However, what comes with an initial spike is often a rapid drop—leaving our bodies searching for another spike, where possible, to regain its energy. Ever felt it was particularly challenging to feel satisfied after one lolly or hungry an hour after breakfast? This is why.
There’s no doubt that sugar is addictive; I can safely assume that at one stage or another, you have experienced this. However, understanding how the sugar itself is affecting you physiologically and psychologically can help when it comes to working on this need for sugar long term. Awareness is the first and most crucial step in initiating change!
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