What’s More Addictive? Crack or Sugar?

HEALTH | DIET | FOOD | HABITS

Sugar; It’s a Sweet Sweet Drug

I had my fair share of sugary treats growing up in the US, but I never quite understood the dangers of having too much sugar until much later in life.

Nowadays, we’ve practically become a meme: Americans are fat and unhealthy - thanks in no small part to sugar, in all its forms.

I was in for a surprise while doing extended research for his post. After reading mounds of articles about all the damaging effects of sugar, I couldn’t fathom how this stuff is still legal.

I mean, it seems at least as bad for you as other illegal drugs…

Consider one recent metastudy that identified a whopping 45 different negative effects from consuming too much sugar.¹

That’s too many to list here, but I’ve included a general overview of some of the more worrying effects below:

• Obesity and Weight Gain - Most people already know this but it’s so relevant to our current world. Just consider Post Malone who recently lost 65 lbs just by cutting out soda!²

• Weakened Immune System - Too much sugar can impair your white blood cells and one study showed 75 grams of sugar can weaken the immune system for 5 hours.³

• A Host of Diseases - Cancer, Diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Heart Disease, Fatty Liver Disease - you name it. Sugar can cause all kinds of life-threatening illnesses.

• Teeth and Skin Problems - Not surprisingly, sugar causes cavities, but it can also wreak havoc on your skin with acne and faster skin aging.

• Mental Issues - Sugar can cause mood swings, stress, anxiousness, and memory problems. It even greatly increases the risk of depression!⁴

I think all those things (and more that I haven’t mentioned) are already bad enough, but what makes sugar even more dangerous is how addictive it can be.

In fact, studies have shown that sugar can be just as addictive as cocaine!⁵ 

Interestingly, cocaine and sugar both release the addictive and feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine into our brains, and both have been found to have similar withdrawal symptoms.

How to Break Free from Sugar's Grip

Hopefully, everything above has rewired the way you think about sugar, or at least reminded you of its dangers.

But what can you do other than willpower-ing yourself not to reach for that extra Oreo? Well, everything in moderation of course but here are a few more practical tips as well:

• Avoid processed foods - This is obvious but what’s not so obvious are some ‘low-fat' and 'diet' labeled foods that actually contain hidden sugars.

• Check food labels - Look out for sugar and sweeteners, some of which might have names such as (fructose) corn syrup, agave nectar, dextrose, and sucrose.

• Prepare your own meals - You’ll be more aware, buy healthier ingredients, and naturally care more as well.

• Hydration and exercise - drinking water helps minimize sugar cravings and exercising helps to manage energy levels

• Eat whole foods - Vegetables are a given, but protein-rich snacks are also great. Finally, opt for fresh fruits over sugary drinks and desserts.

• Get quality sleep - This can help reduce your sugar intake.

The fight against sugar is a monumental challenge for many not only because it is ubiquitous and addictive, but it’s also often disguised in forms that aren't immediately identifiable as sugar.

But, as long as you remain conscious of your own sugar intake, and make small changes to cut down, that’s already a huge step towards a healthier and happier life!

TECHNOLOGY | TROUBLESHOOTING

Tech Troubles? Learn the “Art of Reset”

Here’s another annoying first-world problem: Technology when it doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do. Maybe your phone or computer crawls to a halt or it’s acting up.

What’s an easy way to fix most of these issues? Well, tech gurus will almost always ask you the same thing: "Have you tried turning it off and back on?"

It seems too simple to believe but this trick of “resetting” your device can help solve most tech issues.

While this might seem like common knowledge, I still encounter people who still don’t know this basic rule of troubleshooting.

By the way, any form of ‘resetting’ works whether it’s a hardware or a software issue:

• Turn your device off and back on

• Restart your device

• Unplug and replug your device

• Quit and relaunch your app or software

• Uninstall and reinstall your app or software

• Disconnect your internet (wifi or network 5g, etc.) and reconnect or turn off and on

• For more serious issues, you can attempt a full or “factory” reset of your device, but make sure you have a backup first in case!

Think about it: our everyday devices - however miraculous they may be - are complex systems juggling countless tasks and processes all at the same time.

So, it's no surprise that minor issues can cause our devices to slow down, freeze, or run into other frustrating issues every now and then.

By “resetting” your device or software, you're basically giving it a fresh start so it can re-run its processes in the correct order.

Of course, this isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. For example, if there's any physical damage or hardware problems, a restart won't do much to help.

But if your device is just being slow, an application is stuck, or it’s just not working as it should, resetting your hardware or software is always a good place to start.

Give it a try the next time your device gives you problems - It might even save you a trip to the repair shop 😉.

And there you have it, folks—another week, another set of eye-openers. From rethinking that extra spoonful of sugar to mastering the art of the tech 'reset,' we're all about empowering you to make smarter choices.

Got a burning question or a life hack you swear by? Hit us up at [email protected].

Also, help us share Idle Impact with a few people you care about for some great rewards!

Until next week, keep questioning the status quo!

- Kevin and the Idle Impact Team

Dive Deeper with recommended reads:

• Dangers of Sugar

  • Here’s the study if you’re interested in reading all 45 different negative effects of eating too much sugar.

  • A balanced view about sugar’s addictiveness

Footnotes

1. Dietary sugar consumption and health: umbrella review

2. Post Malone on Losing 65 Pounds, Says He Cut Out Soda

3. Dietary sugars inhibit biologic functions of the pattern recognition molecule, mannose-binding lectin

4. Negative Effects of Sugar on the Brain

5. Sugar addiction: pushing the drug-sugar analogy to the limit & The Nucleus Accumbens: Mechanisms of Addiction across Drug Classes Reflect the Importance of Glutamate Homeostasis