Is it possible to be addicted to candy

Sugar withdrawal symptoms include fatigue, a headache, irritability, nervousness and feeling down or depressed. Sugar withdrawal may also come with intense cravings, leading you to hop right back on the sweet train. So maybe now you've accepted that sugar addiction isn't a hoax, or even admitted that you have at least a small addiction to sugar I know I do -- but if it's so dangerously addictive, why are sugary foods so commonplace? One reason that we eat so many sugary items is because of the global rise in sugar-rich fast food consumption.

Not only is the fast food economy growing, but the portions are too -- an analysis of serving sizes at 10 popular US fast food restaurants showed that entrees, sides and desserts increased significantly in size and calories from to Almost all fast food meals , including everything from a cheeseburger to a Chipotle burrito bowl, contain a surprisingly high amount of sugar.

But even if you cook for yourself most of the time, it's still harder than you think to completely avoid sugar. For starters, food with added sugar is easy on the wallet -- one comprehensive study found that grains and sugar food groups were cheaper than vegetables and fruits per calorie.

No matter where you shop -- at a 7-Eleven or Whole Foods -- almost all of the processed foods on the shelves contain added sugar. Sugar is added to food for several different reasons , including the fact that it simply tastes good, and sweetened foods have an almost universal appeal.

Sugar also preserves food, like jam and jelly, helps bread rise, acts as a bulking agent in baked goods and balances the acidity of food that contains tomato or vinegar -- like ketchup or BBQ sauce.

So, even if you try to avoid obvious culprits such as donuts and ice cream, sugar is lurking in more of your staple groceries than you may think. Foods often labeled "healthy" such as fruit-flavored yogurt, granola, dried fruit and canned soup all contain a significant amount of added sugar. Two hundred years ago , the average American ate two pounds of sugar per year -- today, we're up to pounds per year.

How did that much added sugar get into our diet in the first place? One reason is that it releases dopamine in the area of your brain associated with motivation and reward. In simple terms, it makes you feel good. Yes, the same thing happens when you take addictive drugs, but it can also happen when you exercise or have sex.

Margaret Westwater, a researcher at Cambridge University and the lead author of a review of existing studies on sugar addiction—which have been done primarily on rodents, not humans—explains that addiction is a disease with three phases: substance bingeing, substance-seeking behavior and habitual substance use, and withdrawal.

The DSM-5 defines it similarly but instead uses the experiences of certain symptoms as its criteria, including substance cravings and failing to fulfill daily roles because of substance use. Westwater explains that while some people report powerful cravings for sweet foods, the evidence suggests that this is because of taste and other sensory preferences that are encoded in our brains—a preference that evolved in humans long ago when energy-dense foods helped protect against famine and one that is reinforced by the fact that sugar tastes good.

Truly addictive substances, on the other hand, have post-ingestive effects on brain chemistry that are both acute an immediate change in how we feel and chronic characterized by obsessive substance seeking and needing an ever growing dose. The withdrawal symptoms are thought to be factors of individual sensitivity to sugar as well as the dopamine system readjusting to a sugar-free existence.

The temporary drop in dopamine levels are thought to cause many of the psychological symptoms including cravings, particularly as our environment is filled with sweet temptations that you now have to resist.

Cutting sugar from your diet may not be easy, as so many processed or convenience foods have added sugars hidden in their ingredients.

Switching from sugar to a sweetener Stevia, aspartame, sucralose can cut down on calories, but it is still feeding the sweet addiction. Physically, quitting sugar in your diet can help with weight loss , may reduce acne , improve sleep and moods , and could stop those 3pm slumps at work and school. And if you do reduce sugar consumption, sugary foods that were previously eaten to excess can taste overpoweringly sweet due to a recalibration of your sweetness sensation, enough to discourage over-consumption!

Festival of Social Science — Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire. Edition: Available editions United Kingdom. Become an author Sign up as a reader Sign in. Sugar activates the same brain system as drugs such as nicotine and cocaine, meaning consuming it is a behaviour we want to repeat.

Treatment Center Locator. Don't See Your Insurance? With just 30 days at a rehab center, you can get clean and sober, start therapy, join a support group, and learn ways to manage your cravings. From cupcakes to pies to iced coffee drinks, sugar is found in many foods and is almost impossible to avoid.

Emotional or psychological dependence on sugary foods and drinks, also known as sugar addiction, is a very real cause for concern among health officials in America. Processed foods and refined grains create additional sugar in the body once the body metabolizes the food. Sugar in moderation is not harmful; however, many overdo it. A recent study suggests Americans eat far too much sugar. Learn More.

Sugar consumption can create a short-term high and a spark of energy in the body. Some studies have suggested that sugar is as addictive as Cocaine. People often enjoy the dopamine release that sugar brings. But due to the addictive nature of sugar, long-term health effects like obesity and diabetes are a risk of sugar overindulgence. Similar to other compulsions or behavioral addictions , sugar addiction is a special risk for people with low moods, anxiety, and stress.

Additionally, people who suffer from constant tiredness may reach for carb-rich sugary foods for a boost. Sugar releases endorphins in the body and combines with other chemicals in the body, resulting in a surge of energy.

Once someone mentally connects sugar with help providing energy, they may become dependent on it usually inadvertently. People may begin to crave sugar to balance irritability, emotional lows, and other conditions.

At this point there is often little control over dietary habits, and a sugar addiction has developed. Unlike many other substance use disorders or behavioral compulsions, sugar addiction is often easy to spot.

The clearest signs of sugar addiction involve consumption of large amounts of food or drinks laden with sugar. The individual may eat constantly, eat to combat boredom, and become hyper and crash. They may even talk about craving sugar after stressful or irritating life experiences.