By Briana Hayes
Staff Writer

With Halloween upon us, the candy craze closely follows. But for some people, the need for sugar is an all-year event. How do you know if you are addicted to sugar? How can you stop it?

Sugar has the ability to cause addict-like effects by affecting the feel-good hormones in the brain. There is also the fact that most people who consume large amounts of sugar do so through a pattern.

This pattern of avoiding and binging creates a sense of feeling satisfied as you shove copious amounts of sugar down your throat but then a too full feeling not too long after. Sugar fuels every cell in the brain. When you overload on sugary foods, it may alter the parts of the brain that control how much you eat.

Sugar is a simple carbohydrate that provides quick energy and, unfortunately, a rather annoying low. Sugar will turn to glucose in the blood stream. This causes a spike in blood sugar. Other items that contain natural sugar like fruit, vegetables, and dairy products also spike your blood sugar. However, these items have other components, such as fiber and protein to slow down the effects of the sugar. Candy, syrup, and soda don’t.

Some signs that may explain a sugar addiction are eating more sugary foods than you planned, feeling bad if you didn’t consume your daily cookie or donut “fix,” or craving sugar.

These signs come with symptoms that are parallel to withdrawal from drugs. Low blood sugar symptoms include nervousness, shakiness, or even a cold sweat. These symptoms occur when the glucose moves out of your blood and into cells and results in that sugar low.

In addition to the candy, donuts, and soda, specific starches can result in a sugar low if not eaten with healthier food. Complex carbohydrates such as pretzels, pasta, and potatoes are the biggest culprits. Because these carbohydrates are highly refined they make you crash just like that candy corn.

Some people consider honey, brown sugar, and cane juice to be healthier versions of sugar. However, the truth is that sugar is sugar. While they may have more nutrients, they still have the same effect on your body.

In order to make your sugar addiction stop, some people try detox diets. This limits your intake of dairy, fruits, and basically all food that contains higher sugar content. These diets rarely work and people usually revert back to their normal ways.

The best way to do it is to slowly reduce your sugar intake over time. It takes about two weeks to form a habit so it will take time to adjust. Try taking one sugary food out of your diet week by week. Slowly, your need for sugar will disappear as well.

The good thing about sugar addiction is that there are pretty good vices to replace the food you are ridding your diet of. Naturally sweet foods like berries, fruit, and yogurt are still healthy for you and provide that little bit of sweetness that your taste buds desire.

Hunger is dangerous, though, in kicking this addiction. When you’re hungry you will need your willpower to avoid sugar. Protein is an easy way to allow you to stay fuller for longer. Nuts, beans, seeds, and lean meats will not make your blood sugar levels spike as well.

If you think you are alone, the truth of it is that you aren’t. Most of the United States consume 19 teaspoons of added sugar per day. The daily recommended amount is actually no more than six teaspoons for women daily. That’s 100 calories.

During Halloween time, candy is found everywhere. Tis the season for chocolate bars, sugary sweets and pumpkin muffins, so try to limit yourself.