Hello! Today I want to present you my summary of very interesting article ;) 

The article entitled “How Sugar Addiction Works” written by Melanie Radzicki  McManus presents the problem of addiction to sugar.  At the beginning, the author underlines that the average people’s daily caloric intake of sugar is upper that should be. In general, the best amount of sugar totals less than 5 percent, but  in Portugal, for example, in children’s diet the amount of extra sugars represents 25% of kids’ daily calories.  This omnipresence of added sugar is due to the fact that these sugars are added during food processing to give them a better taste.

Next, the author passes on a reflection if it is possible to be addicted to sweets. As in the case of other addictions, people who adore sweets do not control the consumption. Also,  when we eat sweets, huge amounts of dopamine are emitted. It is released into the bloodstream, resulting in stimulation of “reward center”.  This multiplies the feeling of pleasure and this is another common trait with other addictions. On the other hand, one team of scientists claimed that people can be addicted to eating but not to the chemical substances contained in food - but it does not change the fact that sugar has bad impact on health.

In recent years addition of sugar into food has become very popular. It was due to the change in dietary habits and the resignation of fats in 1980. But as we know, fat gives flavor to dishes, so the food industry had to replace it with something. They switched to sugar. Consequently,  sugar consumption increased. It is worth to remind here what is the repercussion of the spike-and-crash syndrome. This phenomenon causes a “loosening” of blood sugar levels which means rapid rise and fall of glucose levels. Unluckily, then our body demands more sugar and so on.

Fortunately, there is the light at the end of the tunnel. The Food and Drug Administration want to include added sugars on the “nutrition facts” label. It may signify interest in this problem.

The article ends with a reflection on how to wean from eating sweets. For example, we can gradually reduce the number of teaspoons of sugar added to coffee or we can begin to exercise (it affects the brain and then it is more resistant to sight of sweets).