Sugar addiction is a debated topic, with some claiming to experience mental highs and lows and withdrawal symptoms. While not as severe as drug addiction, sugar dependence can include mood swings, depression, and physical illness. Researchers have not yet found conclusive evidence that sugar is biologically addictive, but many who are dependent on sugar have a psychological relationship with it and experience withdrawal symptoms. To be classified as biologically addictive, sugar would need to exhibit three characteristics, which have not been officially confirmed in research.
In popular culture, many people claim to be addicted to sugar and the term is used quite often, along with testimony of mental highs and lows and withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms tend to be much milder than more serious addictions, such as nicotine or alcohol, and can include mood swings, depression, or physical illness. Additionally, a significant part of the struggle for those who appear to be addicted to sugar can be psychological, as mental addictions can often be just as compelling as biological addictions. It remains to be debated whether people can be biologically addicted to sugar in the same way that they are to drugs. In general, researchers have not yet conclusively found that sugar creates the characteristics necessary to classify it as biologically addictive, and those who appear to be addicted to sugar can be more accurately characterized as sugar dependent.
In general, those who seem to be addicted to sugar testify to a constant sweet tooth. Specifically, many of these people may taste something that contains sugar and feel compelled to finish more than they know they need or are reasonably able to eat. On a daily basis, sugar dependent people may experience mood swings throughout the day as their insulin level ebbs and flows. Fatigue, sleepiness, or depression are typical lows, while high energy or feeling euphoric are commonly testified highs. However, in severe sugar dependence, the highs become less prominent, and people will often need to consume sugar simply to avoid the lows.
Sugar withdrawal symptoms are some of the clearest indications of being addicted to sugar. Mood swings and irritability can, for some, be accompanied by headaches, nausea, and fatigue. In many cases, sugar withdrawal is the natural result of casually abstaining from sugar for a period of time due to other circumstances. Many in this situation will eat the sweets even more after this withdrawal period, and this is another sign of possible sugar addiction.
Like those with more severe addictions, many who are dependent on sugar have a psychological relationship with it. It is common for people who are dependent on sugar to turn to sweets when feeling depressed or stressed. Dependence can also manifest in the use of sugar as a means of self-reward, such as completing certain tasks or achievements throughout the day. Especially in cases where binge eating is involved, an individual’s psychological dependence on sugar may also be related to an eating disorder. Additionally, many testify that feeding cravings only leads to bigger cravings, which is another classic symptom of addiction or dependence on a product.
While some researchers have performed experiments on rats that appear to support sugar dependence, for sugar to be classified as biologically addictive in the same way as drugs, scientists would need to be able to perform double-blind reproducible experiments that assert three characteristics. First, people must experience a change in brain chemistry and behavior as a result of the sugar. Second, withdrawal must be accompanied by additional changes in brain chemistry. Third, the withdrawal sequelae must be accompanied by signs of craving and relapse. While these features have not been officially confirmed in research, many laymen attest to similar experiences.
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