WHY is soda so addicting? Has anyone figured it out?

I hate it when people make sweeping statements with scary capitalized words in them.

Sugar is not addictive like all illegal drugs. Sugar does not cause physical addiction like heroin, for example. However, sugar is psychologically addictive for the same reason that cocaine is psychologically addictive. Not all people are susceptible to the dopamine reward cycle addiction that both sugar and cocaine create. So, naturally, those folks who don't experience that sort of addiction think it's a bunch of poppycock.

But, seriously, don't compare sugar addiction to heroin addiction. Nobody ever prescribed methadone to a recovering sugar addict.

Sugar triggers dopamine release in the brain. Dopamine creates a sense of euphoria and is usually linked to rewarding behavior. Your brain wants more of the euphoria reward. Cocaine is another chemical that acts on the brain's dopamine system and creates the same sort of euphoria reward addiction cycle.

Comparing sugar to cocaine?

:noway:

SUGAR IS just as ADDICTIVE as any drug that is ILLEGAL, so it's not just soda you can be addicted to its anything with SUGAR! Sugar really is a toxic to our systems.
Don't even get me started on diet soda.

Just for fun... ?
What's wrong with diet soda.....?!

She said not to get her started. WHY ARE YOU SUCH A BULLY?

I just can't HALP myself!

But, seriously, don't compare sugar addiction to heroin addiction. Nobody ever prescribed methadone to a recovering sugar addict.

This thread makes me so happy.

We are hot wired to want the things that were not readily available a hundred years ago or more.
Those things include fat, salt, and sugar. None of these things were easy to get until "modern times" so our bodies want it whenever we can get it.

Uhhhhhh, I hate to go down a rabbit hole, but that's not really right.

Fat was quite readily available. The typical person in most pre-industrial cultures ate a lot of fat in the form of milk, cheese, cream and yogurt. It was a staple of the diet and was one of the few ways that the poorer folks in those cultures got enough calories. Modern hunter-gatherer societies use milk the same way today. See, for example, the Masai.

What wasn't commonly available historically was enough carbs and sugar to make up 50% or so of the regular daily diet.

For me, saying sugar is addictive is a cop-out and an excuse to not use self control.

I crave sugar sometimes. I either feed that craving or move past it. I also crave brussel sprouts sometimes - are they addictive too?

Using food to control your emotions or to comfort yourself is a real thing and something many of us have to overcome. I think people wrongly label this as food addiction. Yes, people use food for the wrong reasons but I don't believe food is addicting in the same way drugs or nicotine are. Has anyone here ever sucked **** for a chocolate bar?

^QFT^

Mmmmm.... bubbles.... But I have managed to stop. I drink two glasses of chocolate milk, then water for the rest of the day. If I get sick, though, I am going back to my precious bubbles. I have a bottle of Big Red in the pantry for such an occasion.

SUGAR IS just as ADDICTIVE as any drug that is ILLEGAL, so it's not just soda you can be addicted to its anything with SUGAR! Sugar really is a toxic to our systems.
Don't even get me started on diet soda.

Just for fun... ?
What's wrong with diet soda.....?!

She said not to get her started. WHY ARE YOU SUCH A BULLY?

I just can't HALP myself!

It sounds like you're addicted to bullying.

:flowerforyou:

Because of the carbonation.

Everyone loves bubbles.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: This is PERFECT...hahahaha

lol this thread got funny

For me, it's not the caffeine or the sugar... the zero-cal flavored carbonation waters work just as well. It seems like a psychological addiction... like I associate it with freedom, good times... anyone relate to this? Is this breakable?

This is totally, totally, totally crazy - I expect this to get made fun of, but discussion is what we're here for - I thought about training myself to hate it by smelling something reeeeallly repulsive every time I drink it - like, vomit-inducing repulsive (not just kind of gross). Thoughts?

Interesting technique... will you try it and let us know how it works?
haha... I'm going to keep drinking my diet soda every now and then, though... but I'm still interested!