Sweet Addiction

Research suggests that simple sugars like sucrose and fructose have a potent calming effect on distressed newborn infants. Sugar ingestion has an effect similar to morphine in animal models. This is a natural part of our physiology. There is lactose, a simple sugar, in mother's milk. Unfortunately, food processors have taken advantage of this opioid effect of sugars by spiking processed foods with sugars to increase sales of their products.

Administration of opiate antagonists to bulimics and binge eaters decreases food consumption. This suggests that simply reducing the sugars in foods can decrease overall food consumption and promote weight loss.

Smith, Barbara, Ph.D., Sweet Addictions,The Nutrition Report, March 1994;12(3).