How Sugar Affects Body, Mind, And Overall Health

Overconsumption Of Sugar Can Lead To Intense Cravings

When sugar hits the tongue, it activates the sweet receptors, which send a signal from the tongue to the cerebral cortex and thus creates and releases a rush of feel-good hormones like serotonin and dopamine. From the cerebral cortex, the signal activates the brain’s reward system, a series of electrical and chemical pathways, across different parts of the brain that encourage us to eat more sweets.

Eating a lot of sweets, or over-activating the reward system, causes loss of control, temptation, cravings, and increased tolerance to sugar. Ultimately, it can lead to sugar addiction.

Now that you know that sugar leads to cravings and addiction, keep reading to learn how sugar can contribute to anxiety and depression.