Episode 136: Understanding Sugar Addiction, Dopamine-Sensitivity and ADHD with Dr Nicole Avena
Dopamine sensitivity and sugar addiction are familiar traits of ADHD. Perhaps using sugar to self-medicate, re-energise, or dopamine-seek may be a pattern you relate to?
If so, you're going to want to listen to this week's episode of The ADHD Women's Wellbeing, with guest Dr. Nicole Avena, an Associate Professor of Neuroscience at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, and a Visiting Professor of Health Psychology at Princeton University.
Nicole is a research neuroscientist and nutrition, diet, and addiction expert. Her research focuses on nutrition during early life and pregnancy and women’s health. She has done groundbreaking work developing models to characterize food addiction and the dangers of excess sugar intake.
Dr Avena's latest book, Sugarless, covers the latest science on sugar addiction and how to overcome it. She has the #2 most watched TED-ED Health talk, How Sugar Affects Your Brain, with over 17 million views and counting.
On this episode of The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast, Dr Avena and Kate talk about:
The link between sugar addiction and dopamine-seeking brains
The effects of dopamine released by sugar consumption on the brain
Why you might find it challenging to cut out sugar
How processed sugar affects ADHD children
How sugar affects your body and your health
Parenting and teaching our kids nutritional choices and consuming processed sugar
Having a susceptible dopamine system
Managing a sugar addiction, binges and regaining control
Our busy society doesn't lend itself to healthy eating
ADHD and female social expectations
Implementing small incremental changes to help reduce sugar addiction
Showing ourselves compassion when consuming sugar
Understanding sugar addiction compared to other addictions
Learning to bring in more balance when consuming sugary foods
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