That Sugar Detox Headache is Your Brain Asking For More

Here’s a scary fact. When scientists took MRI images of the brains of people consuming sugar and highly addictive drugs like cocaine, the same pleasure centers in the brain started lighting up. Sugar and gluten stimulate those same receptors, and so that is why the best opiod clinics will focus on eliminating those from the diet. Sounds pretty, scary, doesn’t it? But what does it actually mean to your brain and your overall health?

In fact, many of those living with addiction are likely to have underlying acidosis. This is where the pH of the body is too acidic. Being overly acidic causes inflammation inside our stomach and GI track, near our heart and brain, and it causes an increase of various chronic health conditions. Drinking your alkaline water in the morning during this challenge, which is water that is left overnight with lemon slices in it, can be a good beverage option to help as you are working through this overwhelming brain chemistry. You can also use raw apple cider vinegar in your water and do the same, let it sit in the water overnight, stir in the morning and drink. If you are doing intermittent fasting, I have found that both of these items in the morning actually enhance the effects of your fast.

Sugar is truly addictive. That means that it will alter your brain chemistry and over time you start to crave more and more sugar. The urge for your next sweet fix comes more frequently and you need to consume it in larger quantities and like any other drug, it comes with some pretty scary side effects. Not being able to fit into your favorite pair of jeans because of your "seasonal" sugar addiction is going to be the least of your problems.

Yes, there will be weight gain, but with it, and particularly because this weight gain is brought on by consuming too much sugar, you’ll increase your risk of developing Type II Diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and with it, an increased risk of stroke. Add to that the extra stress the added weight puts on your joints and tendons and how much harder it is to get enough oxygen pumping through your body, it’s no wonder you feel crappy as you put on weight. All these various health conditions are referred to as metabolic syndrome and it’s just one of the things you can look forward to as you continue to feed your sugar addiction.

But like with a cocaine addiction, harming your body and compromising your health doesn’t really matter all that much when you’re faced with a box of donuts. That’s a serious problem. Then, as with any highly addictive drug, there will be unpleasant withdrawal symptoms as you start to wean your body off of sugar. Don’t believe me? Give it a try.

Cut out all added sugar for a couple of days. No more soda, no more sugar in your coffee, no candy, no cookies, no donuts. That’s just the beginning.  You’ll also want to avoid all foods with added sugars like bread, most salad dressings, ketchup etc. Cut all those foods out and don’t eat anything without checking the label for added sugars. See how you feel after a few hours.

It will start with a little headache and then the headaches will begin.  You’ll start craving something sweet. We’re talking serious cravings. Next, that little headache will start to grow into a full blown pounding head along with joint aches. You may also experience some nausea and don’t be surprised to experience mood swings, too.  Some people will even have flu like symptoms and start to shake a day into their sugar detox.

Doesn't that sound a lot like the withdrawal symptoms of a “serious” drug addiction? That’s because sugar addiction is just that. A serious addiction.

However researchers have shown that overconsumption of highly palatable foods (high fat and high sugar) enhances opioids in the brain. Opioid system dysregulation has been observed in both genetic and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced models of obesity.  So that means that even though very high fat can replace the sugar in your craving brain, too high fat long term isn't great for you either. There is a balancing act of micronutrients and macronutrients that so many factors play into.

When was the last time you went keto? Did you fall back into sugar when you stopped eating high high fat? When was the last time you did a sugar detox? Was is completely miserable?



So today I want you to make sure you eat enough olives, olive oil, avocado, any of those healthy monounsaturated fats and see if it makes a difference.