Sugar addicts unite

Instead of snacking on sugary treats, teens should eat foods that contain more protein and vitamins.

Last 5 stories in Features

• National NCAA soccer champ joins staff - January 24, 2012
• Shoneisha Myers joins English Department - November 3, 2011
• Tami Ranado - October 12, 2011
• Rodgers opens auditions to all students - September 1, 2011
• Give me a break--before college - May 2, 2011

Other stories that might interest you...

• Sweet new restaurant makes smooth transition
• Senior dropout rates decreasing
• Student stress underestimated by parents
• A “big” problem overcomes America
• Scary books make readers want more

April 12, 2010 • written by Jessica Ferrell  
Filed under Features

Sugar addiction, though not as life-threatening as alcohol addiction, is a very prominent problem among teenagers.

Candy, soda, cake, cookies, ice cream–you name it–seem to be the snack of choice for teens.

“In my house, you eat what you want to eat,” senior Charlotte Joure said. “Even though I’ve stayed at a steady 100-pound weight, I was always used to having a high sugar intake and that continued into my high school years. I have sugar at every meal and at every snack.”

This habitual sweet tooth, however, is not sweet after so many years. Teenagers burn more carbohydrates than adults because they are so active. But once they get out of high school and college, the results of the addiction begin to appear–obesity and diabetes, for example.

“We reach for the quick-burn sugar instead of an apple or granola,” Culinary Arts teacher Marsha Johnson said.

According to Johnson, sugar creates a roller coaster for those who consume it. As it enters directly into the blood stream, a rush of energy occurs. However, that energy is quickly lost.

Johnson recommends that kids stay away from sugary sodas, energy drinks, and even chocolate milk and stick with water. Instead of choosing processed or high calorie snacks, she suggests yogurts, whole grain products, nuts, and fruit.

“It’s just those choices, and those choices can take years off your life. It’s like smoking. They’re just lifestyle choices,” Johnson said.

Just like any other addiction, there are withdrawal symptoms. With a sugar withdrawal, blood sugar drops creating weakness and jitters.

“When I stop eating sugar, I get physically sick. My blood sugar will drop, and I’ll get headaches. Then I’ll get woozy, and eventually I’ll get sick,” Joure said.

But slowly decreasing the amount of sugar consumed in a daily diet can, in turn, create a healthy future. Risks for diabetes, obesity, and even simple cavities drop, and it could even add years to a person’s life.