Sugar is one of the foods preferred by most people. It is used in dishes, desserts or to sweeten coffee or tea every morning. It is a common ingredient in our kitchens and tables that generates energy and well-being. But what happens when we do not consume it rationally?
“Sugar brings a pleasant effect in the body, specifically in the brain,” explains psychologist Camila Reitich. “The serotonin that is produced after its consumption is related to brain reward responses and that is why we feel satisfaction. Depressed or anxious people look for the energy that sugar produces, trying to get out of that state”.
The problem does not arise from consuming a little or a moderate amount of sugar, but when the person turns to sugar as a sentimental relief and abuses the product. In the long run, this can lead to health complications, just as it would happen with the excessive consumption of any other food.
Some signs of “emotional hunger” are:
– Sudden appearance.
– A craving for specific foods, usually sweet or high in fat.
– You don’t stop eating when you are full.
– You only think about a certain taste or texture (mental craving).
– You end up feeling guilty or ashamed.
The best example of a person consuming sugar emotionally and not rationally is when they eat ice cream or desserts compulsively after a love breakup or after a particularly stressful experience.
Someone who consumes sugar rationally does so at the indicated times, following a balanced diet and without seeking to change his or her mood. In this sense, Reitich concludes that people with “emotional hunger” should attend therapy to eliminate the use of food as a palliative.
Let us always remember that sugar is essential for brain functions and provides energy to the body, therefore, it is not advisable to eradicate its consumption, but it is important to follow the recommendations of specialists regarding its use.
Source: Esto es azúcar