# Sugar is addictive Sugar is the result of a heavy refinement process: for 1 tonne of raw sugar cane, about 104 grams of sugar can be extracted.[^1] This means that sugar is **ten times more potent** than its original material. For reference, coca leaves contain between 0.23% and 0.96% cocaine,[^2] and yet a 2007 experiment found that *rats chose sweetened water over cocaine in 94% of cases*.[^3] Sugar has repeatedly shown to be an addictive substance, eliciting symptoms such as binging, craving, tolerance, withdrawal, reward and opioid-like effects. In addition, it promotes the release of insulin, which blocks leptin signalling; leptin being the hormone regulating hunger. Actionable advice: [[Learn to differentiate hunger from sugar craving]]. --- ## 📚 References - [[@whativelearnedFoodIndustrySecret2016|Food Industry's Secret Weapon (WHY Sugar is addictive & in 80% of Food)]] - [[@whativelearnedHowQuitSugar2016|HOW to quit Sugar & Unhealthy Habits]] [^1]: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugarcane#Ethanol> [^2]: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca> [^3]: Lenoir, Magalie, et al. [‘Intense Sweetness Surpasses Cocaine Reward’.](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0000698) *PLOS ONE*, vol. 2, no. 8, Public Library of Science, Aug. 2007, p. e698. *PLoS Journals*.