Your Brain on Sugar: Dr. Nicole Avena on a Not-So-Sweet Problem

11/15/22 • 48 min

Baggage Check: Mental Health Talk and Advice

We all know that sugar isn't exactly the tip-top of nutrition. But when it comes to mental health, how does it truly affect our mood and behavior? Is sugar addiction real? And if we want to make genuine changes in our intake of it, where do we start-- and why is it so hard? Today we're joined by Dr. Nicole Avena, a neuroscientist at Princeton University whose groundbreaking research on sugar's effects on the brain raises serious questions about what we're up against, psychologically, in a world where sugar is everywhere.

For more information on Dr. Nicole Avena, her research, and her upcoming book, check out her website and follow her on Twitter.

Follow Baggage Check on Instagram @baggagecheckpodcast and send us your questions!

https://baggagecheckpodcast.com

https://detoxyourthoughts.com

Cover art by Danielle Merity

Music by Jordan Cooper

For more information on Dr. Nicole Avena, her research, and her upcoming book, check out her website and follow her on Twitter.

Follow Baggage Check on Instagram @baggagecheckpodcast and send us your questions!

https://baggagecheckpodcast.com

https://detoxyourthoughts.com

Cover art by Danielle Merity

Music by Jordan Cooper

Previous Episode

Listener Q&A: I Always Want More. How Can I Overcome Jealousy?

Today, we're getting real about jealousy. Dr. Andrea takes a question from a listener who feels like she's never really happy for the successes of friends and family, and she can't ever stop comparing herself to others. She hates that she feels this way, and yet she can't really figure out where it came from. While jealousy hits all of us from time to time, for others it's a constant struggle. How do the seeds of envy get planted? When you have an otherwise happy life, why might you constantly want more? If you've ever wished you could be a little more secure with what you have, this episode is for you.

https://baggagecheckpodcast.com

https://detoxyourthoughts.com

Cover art by Danielle Merity

Music by Jordan Cooper

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Follow Baggage Check on Instagram @baggagecheckpodcast and send us your questions!

https://baggagecheckpodcast.com

https://detoxyourthoughts.com

Cover art by Danielle Merity

Music by Jordan Cooper

Baggage Check: Mental Health Talk and Advice - Your Brain on Sugar: Dr. Nicole Avena on a Not-So-Sweet Problem

Transcript

Dr. Andrea Bonior: When you think of sugar, what comes to mind? Is it calories or maybe tooth decay? Is it the pure bliss of a chocolate mousse? What if we looked at sugar in a totally different way altogether without judgment, and instead just got real about how it affects the brain and plays a role in our mental health? Today we are talking with Princeton neuroscientist Dr. Nicole Avena, whose, uh, groundbreaking research helped change our understanding of the connection between sugar mood a