MY SUGAR FREE LIFE
ARE YOU ADDICTED TO SUGAR?
While refined or processed sugar is not a problem for everyone, answering yes to any of the following statements could be an indicator that sugar is not supporting you in a healthy lifestyle.
- You have intense cravings or urges for sugary foods.
- You find yourself going out of you way to buy your favourite sweet treat.
- You find it impossible to cut back despite frequent attempts to reduce your sugar intake.
- Your tolerance to sugar has increased and you need more sugar to experience the same level of satisfaction.
- You experience physical symptoms like headaches, irritability, mood swings or fatigue if you reduce the amount of sugar you normally eat.
- You find it difficult to focus or concentrate without a sugar boost.
- You suffer from insomnia or disrupted sleep patterns which could be linked to eating sugar close to bedtime.
- You have inexplicably gained weight especially around the abdominal area despite efforts to maintain a healthy diet.
- You have frequent cavities or other dental problems associated with excessive sugar consumption.
- You experience sudden energy crashes between meals when your sugar levels drop.
- You have skin issues like acne or premature aging linked to high sugar consumption.
- Your hormones are out of balance.
- You hide wrappers and packets from others so that they don’t know how much or what you are eating.
- You lose control, finding it difficult to stop eating once you start or finding it difficult to reduce your sugar intake even when you plan to do so.
- You continue to eat sugar even though you know it is having a negative impact on your health.
- You find yourself avoiding social situations where sugary foods are not available or where they are available, and you are worried that you might lose control.
- You hide wrappers and packets from others so that they don’t know how much or what you are eating.
- You lose control, finding it difficult to stop eating once you start or finding it difficult to reduce your sugar intake even when you plan to do so.
- You continue to eat sugar even though you know it is having a negative impact on your health.
- You find yourself avoiding social situations where sugary foods are not available or where they are available, and you are worried that you might lose control.
- You make eating sugary foods a priority over work, family, or daily tasks.
- You use sugar to cope with stress or emotional issues.
- You use sugar as a reward or to comfort yourself.
- Your consumption of sugar has been increasing over months or years.
- You have lost interest in healthier foods.
- You find yourself thinking about and planning the next time you can have sugary food.
- You have difficulty recognising when you are full even when you feel physically full.
- You have become more sensitive to sugar over time.
- Your immune system is weakened, and you experience frequent illnesses or infections.
- You suffer from joint pain or inflammation that is associated with excessive sugar consumption.
- You crave sugary foods when you are stressed, using sugar as coping mechanism.
Please note that I am not a medical professional and self-diagnosis is not a substitute for professional advice. Here are some signs that suggest you might have a sugar addiction. If you recognise many of these signs it might be helpful to seek advice from a professional healthcare practitioner.