Sugar is one of the most common and widely consumed substances in the world. It can be found in many foods and drinks, from fruits and vegetables to cakes and sodas. But did you know that sugar can also be addictive, and even more rewarding than cocaine?
A study published in PLOS ONE in 2007 showed that most rats (94%) chose water sweetened with saccharin, a calorie-free sweetener, over cocaine, even when they were already addicted to cocaine or given higher doses of cocaine. The authors of the study suggested that this shows that intense sweetness can be more rewarding than cocaine, and that this may be due to an innate hypersensitivity to sweet taste in mammals.
“Our findings clearly demonstrate that intense sweetness can surpass cocaine reward, even in drug-sensitized and -addicted individuals,” the authors wrote. “We speculate that the addictive potential of intense sweetness results from an inborn hypersensitivity to sweet tastants. In most mammals, including rats and humans, sweet receptors evolved in ancestral environments poor in sugars and are thus not adapted to high concentrations of sweet tastants.”
The study also warned that overconsumption of sugar-rich foods may trigger a supranormal reward signal in the brain, leading to addiction and obesity. “The supranormal stimulation of these receptors by sugar-rich diets, such as those now widely available in modern societies, would generate a supranormal reward signal in the brain, with the potential to override self-control mechanisms and thus to lead to addiction,” the authors explained.
This may sound like a far-fetched scenario, but there are real-life examples of people who have struggled with sugar addiction and its consequences. For instance, a man who drank eight bottles of Lucozade a day for nearly 30 years said it was harder to give up than cocaine, and that he suffered from withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, nausea and mood swings.
“I was drinking eight bottles of Lucozade a day for nearly 30 years. I was addicted. It was harder to give up than cocaine. I had withdrawal symptoms like headaches, nausea and mood swings,” the man said.
Similarly, a woman who had a 30-year energy drink addiction that caused a stroke scare said cocaine was easier to give up, and that she needed a wake-up call to quit her habit.
“I needed a wake-up call. I was drinking 12 cans of energy drink a day for 30 years. It was easier to give up cocaine than energy drinks. I had a stroke scare and I knew I had to stop,” the woman said.
These stories show how sugar addiction can be a serious problem that affects not only physical health but also mental well-being. Sugar addiction can be hard to overcome, but it is not impossible. There are ways to reduce sugar intake and cravings, such as eating more protein and fiber, drinking more water, avoiding artificial sweeteners, and seeking professional help if needed.
Sugar addiction is not a myth. It is a reality that many people face every day. Sugar can be more powerful than cocaine, but it can also be controlled. The choice is yours.
Relevant articles:
– Intense Sweetness Surpasses Cocaine Reward, PLOS ONE, August 1, 2007
– ‘I drank eight bottles of Lucozade a day for nearly 30 years – it is harder to give up than cocaine’, MSN, September 15, 2023
– Food Can Be Literally Addictive, New Evidence Suggests, Scientific American, September 11, 2023