At some point in our lives, we have all had a sweet tooth. Do you know that craving that won't leave until you eat a cookie or bowl of ice cream? It might surprise you to learn that excess sugar in the brain can temporarily impair our memory, cognition, and self-control. This can lead to increased sugar cravings. When you consume too much sugar, it can negatively impact the rest of your body. Specifically, your central nervous system may be affected. Check out these 3 ways that your daily sugar intake can affect your nervous system.
Sugar Cravings Increase
It is by nature that sugar is addictive, causing those who consume it to crave it until they overindulge. In the same way opioids stimulate brain pathways, sugar activates opiate receptors when eaten. It releases dopamine (the feel-good hormone) which can be considered as a positive reinforcement for eating it, thereby, increasing your sugar cravings.
Affects Memory and Learning
You may feel fatigued, tired and irritable when you consume too much sugar. Furthermore, a high-fructose diet can undermine memory retention and the ability to learn. A high sugar level can cause you to experience sleep disturbances and energy spikes that will lead to over-exhaustion.
Links to Depression and Anxiety
Sugar crashes occur when high blood sugar levels in your body suddenly plummet and crash after consuming sugar. Having sudden blood sugar drops can worsen your mood, increase your level of anxiety, and increase your level of stress. Depression and anxiety-like behavior are frequently associated with a high-sugar diet.
By addressing the source of your misalignments, we at Healthy Life Chiropractic help optimize your nervous system and brain function. In this process, your diet is evaluated and it is determined if a high-sugar diet may be negatively impacting the rest of your body, especially your brain. For more information, contact your local Newnan chiropractor today!