Put Down That Soda and Take Back Your Memory
By Sandy Schroeder
The body runs on sugar, also known as glucose, but that can lead to trouble when we overload the system in a process which can ultimately lead to sugar addiction.
EasyHealthOptions.com reports the body needs glucose for energy, but too much sugar can reduce our memory skills, impacting the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain that controls short-term memory. Scientists say excess sugar consumption can limit the formation of new neurons in the hippocampus, and create inflammation, overstimulating the immune system.
How Sugar Addiction Happens
The brain is naturally geared to want sugar, but as we eat more sugar, a tolerance develops, and we have to eat more to get the same effects. Now we can go from just enjoying a few pastries to becoming caught in a pattern of food addiction.
How to Turn Things Around
If you want to sharpen your brain and strengthen your memory, consider stepping back from sugar by exercising and eating foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as nuts, salmon, sardines, or herring.
I had a vivid experience with this some time ago, when I started making baked treat bars with sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips and shredded coconut. They were quick, easy, loaded with sugar, and deliciously addictive. I soon found myself making more and more batches and not gaining any weight. When I checked in with my doctor, he pinned it as sugar addiction and recommended making the switch to omega-3 foods such as nuts, or fatty fish. I did and soon lost the taste for excess sugar.
More Ways to Fight Sugar Addiction
Here are more ways to break the addictive sugar cycle.
Substitute fresh fruits - Wean yourself away from cookies and donuts with the sweetness and natural fiber of berries, bananas, oranges, apples and grapes.
Go for walks - Boost your spirits and let go of your cravings.
Stay hydrated - Thirst can be misread as the need for a sugar fix.
Call a friend - Catch up on the latest and skip the urge to indulge in a sugared treat.
Take a hot shower - Afterwards you may find the cravings have disappeared.
If all of your efforts to reduce sugar consumption are not working, see your doctor to sort out the issues and do an overview of your health.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Euless, Tex.