Addiction is mostly associated with willpower and control power, and there are various prejudices in society about addiction. Some of these prejudices are that addiction is related to weakness of will. But literature reviews, that is, scientific research, show that reducing addiction to just lack of willpower greatly simplifies the issue of addiction. However, addiction is examined through psychological and neurobiological processes; It is a complex process that includes components such as tolerance and withdrawal. The American Psychiatric Association defines addiction as "a complex condition and a brain disease characterized by compulsive substance use despite harmful consequences." In addition, dividing it into two as substance addiction and behavioral addictions is a more accurate explanation of the concept of addiction. While we can give examples of substance addiction such as alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine, marijuana, cocaine, opiates, marijuana; We can give examples of behavioral addictions such as shopping, internet, sex and gambling addictions.
Let's continue with the knowledge that both substance use disorders and behavioral addictions increase the likelihood of comorbid mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety or other pre-existing problems.
Substance use and behavioral addictions are complex conditions that affect the brain's reward, reinforcement, motivation and memory systems. They are characterized by impaired control over use, which can be summarized as social disruption and craving, which include disruption of daily activities and relationships. Recurring substance use or behavioral addiction is typically detrimental to relationships as well as work or school commitments.
So let's talk about sugar addiction, as sugar acts as an addictive agent and is addictive. It reveals neurobiological changes similar to those seen in addiction.
Today, sugar has been refined, that is, processed, into a chemical-like substance. As a matter of fact, when sugar cane is crushed, its liquid content is filtered, boiled into a syrup and shaken, and all vitamins, minerals and molasses are removed, it becomes pure. becomes white crystal. This extraction and purification process is similar to other addictive white crystals, namely cocaine from the coca leaf and opium from the poppy seed/bark. Therefore, it is the refining of sugar that contributes significantly to its addictive properties.
The easily absorbable and "pure" white crystalline form of sugar puts it in a state that causes metabolic harm:
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Habit-forming, just like alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, nicotine, tea, coffee and chocolate
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Addictive Inducing reward and desire comparable to drugs, even creating a perception of reward greater than cocaine
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Alternating mood, inducing reward and pleasure, causing sugar seeking
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Producing psychoactive effects similar to drugs
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Features such as stimulating desire similar to cocaine, sex and cigarettes are the factors that shed light on the addictive feature of sugar.
Studies conducted on humans have revealed that sugar and the sweet sensation trigger the reward and craving system as much as addictive substances. Although this finding is limited by the inherent difficulty in comparing different types of rewards and psychological experiences in humans, it is nevertheless supported by recent experimental research on sugar and sweet reward in laboratory mice. At the neurobiological level, individuals' perception of sugar and sweet reward appears to be higher than that of cocaine.
Sugar and sweetness can induce reward and craving in humans at least comparable to that caused by addictive drugs. Studies conducted on animals reveal that the reward perception of sugar and sweets can not only replace cocaine, but may even be more rewarding and attractive than cocaine in animals.
In both animals and humans, evidence in the literature demonstrates brain neurochemistry. It shows that there are important parallels and overlaps between drugs of abuse (we can also call them narcotics) and sugar in terms of behavior and behavior.
But today's research shows that By looking at it, we cannot directly conclude that sugar is an addictive substance. Additional research using more valid psychophysical and behavioral methods in humans is needed to more directly compare addictive drugs and sugar.
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