Because of genetics, we have a general inclination towards sugar. Sugar is processed in the body as complex carbohydrates, to provide large amounts of energy quickly. A lot of the foods that benefit us, like fruits and honey, are also made of sugar. Sugarcane, in its pure form, is also filled with fibers and helps prevent various diseases.

However, what has happened is that sugar gets too synthesized by its mode of production, so much so that all its nutritional value had been stripped away and only the flavor remains. It seems that when sugar is ingested in these larger concentrations, our inclination towards it becomes full blown addiction.

There is still some debate over whether it is even accurate to call this an addiction. After all, we are not all addicted, although sugar is ubiquitous in everyday foods. Studies have been able to demonstrate that sugar stimulates the same neurochemicals activated by other addictive substances, such as drugs.

If you are a sugar addict, overcoming sugar addiction is as much psychological as it is genetic. You may be using food to manage mood or anxiety disorders, which makes it as bad for the mind as it is for the body. On the other hand, if you are just impulsive, you may be able to conquer it when you train your emotional self-regulation. The psychological treatment you should get is based on the degree of your addiction.

On the other hand, there are a lot of things you can do to your diet. Simply limiting the amount of sugar you consume daily will have a huge effect on your health. You should confirm if sugar is hiding in your food under a different name, such as high fructose corn syrup. Take advantage of the variety of sugars substitutes available, like sorbitol, xylitol and sucralose. You can also replace sugar with unrefined sweeteners like honey and agave.

Overcoming sugar addiction is not yet an exact science, but for people who have it, it really is too difficult to handle. People who have not been addicted simply would not know how easy it is to be controlled by it. It is imperative that a qualified medical professional who wants to help you to you help assess and manage your recovery from addiction.