The Effects of Sugar on Your Brain

Have you ever wondered why you can eat one taste of a sweet, and all the sudden, you need more? In this video, Nicole AVena does a great job of showing you why.

When you eat something loaded with sugar, your taste buds, your gut and your brain all take notice. This activation of your reward system is not unlike how bodies process addictive substances such as alcohol or nicotine -- an overload of sugar spikes dopamine levels and leaves you craving more.


You can start today by taking these simple steps to minimize your sugar intake (listed in order of importance):

1. Soft drinks: Sugar-sweetened and Artificially sweetened beverages are simply not good for you and should be avoided.
2. Fruit juices: This may surprise you, but fruit juices are high in sugars, sometimes as much as a soft drink! Dilute juices with water when drinking them.
3. Candies and sweets
4. Baked goods: Cookies, cakes, etc. These tend to be very high in sugar and refined carbohydrates.
5. Fruits canned in syrup: Choose fresh fruits instead.
6. Low-Fat or Diet Foods: Foods that have had the fat removed from them are often very high in sugar.
7. Dried fruits: Avoid dried fruits as much as possible.
8. Drink water instead of soda or juices and don’t add sugar to your coffee or tea. Instead of sugar in recipes, you can try things like stevia, cinnamon, nutmeg, almond extract, vanilla, ginger or lemon.

You can eat an endless variety of amazing foods without increasing your sugar intake.