Mike Collins delves into the topic of sugar addiction and its profound effects on physical and mental health. He explains that sugar acts as a psychoactive drug, manipulating the brain's reward system in much the same way as alcohol or nicotine. This means that sugar creates strong emotional and physical dependencies, making it difficult for people to quit despite their best efforts. He also emphasizes that sugar addiction is real, with science backing its impact on brain chemistry, and that it should be taken seriously as a substance use disorder.
Collins stresses that eliminating sugar from the diet can help reverse diabetes and other chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Through years of research and personal experience, he has found that sugar abstinence for at least 90 days is critical to recovery. He encourages people to engage in peer recovery communities for support, noting the importance of changing social behaviors and emotional coping mechanisms to break the sugar addiction cycle.
