Signs you have a sugar addiction – Prevent Pre-diabetes

Do you crave a sweet treat after a meal?

One of the fastest ways to develop diabetes and increase your risk of developing heart disease is to consume sugar in abundance. Sugar addiction is a serious problem because our brains can develop a craving for it, just like a drug addict. Think about it. From we were infants we have been getting sugar into our bodies in one form or another . . . either from or mother’s milk or some pre-made formula. Over the years our appetite for the sweet stuff increases to the point where it will become a problem, if we are not careful. The unfortunate result of this addiction is that it becomes difficult to break the craving and hence to better our health.

Here are some ways to tell if you are addicted

You crave sugar after eating a meal. Restaurants know this so they will usually offer the dessert menu when you finish your meals.
Hiding a sweet treat for later. I am guilty of this. We don’t hide a piece of chicken for later but we’ll do so with a candy bar.
You need more than two spoons of sugar in your morning beverage.
You deny that you have a problem . . . ‘everyone else is doing it so why not me’.
You feel guilty after eating a sugary snack.
You feel tired after eating.
Like drug addicts, your tolerance increases over time causing you to need more to satisfy your craving.
Sugar can become a source of emotional comfort. If you just went through a break-up, lost your job, or found out that you have a serious health problem then you reach for your comfort food.
Some of us have an addictive personality and this makes us an easy victim of the sweet stuff.
We go out of our way to satisfy our sweet tooth.
We are susceptible to marketing tactics.
We want sugar even when we are not hungry.
We give it to our kids out of habit because it’s what we grew up on.
When you come to the realization of what sugar is doing to you and make an attempt to cut back, you will have withdrawal symptoms similar to a drug addict. These can include headaches, feeling mentally drained, wanting more sugar, achy feeling in your body, and even nausea and bloating. This makes it necessary to cut back slowly.

Food manufacturers know that as a people we are addicted to sugar so they will include it in many of the things we eat. It then becomes incumbent on us to recognize it in the foods we eat.

How to break the sugar habit

Breaking the sugar habit will take a conscious effort on your part. Here are some steps you can take to help you get out of this vicious cycle.

Recognize that you have an addiction. Unless you know this you won’t take action.
Start a food journal. This will highlight all the foods you eat during the day.
Become a label reader. Sugar is hidden/disguised in many products you consume.
Seek out the guidance of a dietitian who can establish a proper diet for you.
Do a detox. Cleansing your body is a great way to start the healing process.
Eat organic whenever possible including meats, dairy, and veggies.
Learn to manage you daily stresses.
Visit with your healthcare provider who can give you proper medical advice.

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