BY: SHAWNTAE HARRIS
Walking into a food store can be torturous, especially for a sugar lover. Walking through your grocery store, the sweet goods conveniently situated at the end of every aisle make it almost impossible not to buy. And to make the temptation even harder to resist, these cheap, sugary goods are almost always less expensive than the leafy greens or fresh fruit you know you should be eating. It’s hard to beat an addiction when it tastes so good.
The company Crave Crush wants to help. They have created a mint lozenge that helps alleviate sugar cravings within seconds. This dissolving pill acts like a nicotine patch, except this pill saves you from sugar.
Crave Crush made the pill with Gymnema, which is a natural plant. This native forest plant, found in southern and central India, is commonly used to reduce blood sugar. Gymnema has been known to temporarily interfere with the ability to taste sweetness.
“Crave Crush reduces consumption of high-sugar foods,” said Dr. Eric Stice, a neuroscientist at the Oregon Research Institute and expert on obesity and eating disorders, in a statement. “The idea that you can reduce the desire for sugar, in seconds, by suppressing sweet taste is groundbreaking.”
How the sugar pill works
The sugar cravings begin with the taste buds erupting at the thought of anything sweet. The tasty cupcake in your mouth sends triggers to the brain. The brain reacts and automatically wants more. And, that craving lasts for a whole 30 minutes.
The FDA-approved pill soothes the cravings of sugar and sugar substitutes. It can be taken multiple times a day. But, it is also made with sorbitol, mint and zinc, so it is limited to 40 times a day.
It’s hard to break-up with sugar when it’s so addicting
In a Princeton study, it was revealed that sugar is just as addictive as cocaine. This test was done on rats that were given cocaine, but, as soon as the researcher added sugar they all switched. The rats’ dopamine levels dropped, which resulted in withdrawals and relapsing. Dopamine is the chemical in the brain that allows for nerve impulses associated with addiction. When dopamine is released it brings a pleasurable high.
“Humans are biologically drawn to sugar, as it helps the body to store fat,” according to WBUR. Making us function better during the winter months.
“They [government] need to start subsidizing healthy foods. We shouldn’t be able to eat a Snickers bar for cheaper than we can eat an apple,” said James DiNicolantonio to WBUR. Just like drugs, people can experience sugar withdrawals. People should limit their intake of sugar to prevent diabetes, not stop it completely.
Gymnema is not proven to cure or help diabetes
Claims have been made stating Gymnema is a natural treatment for diabetes, but nothing has been proven. Some research says this plant can help reduce blood pressure and repair the beta cells that produce insulin.
In America alone, 9.3 per cent of the population (29.1 million) has diabetes. So, Crave Crush is a solution for lowering the desire to eat another chocolate bar.
Crave Crush is available on the CraveCrush website as well as in premium pharmacies throughout New York City.
