 You are what you eat remember a Popeye eating spinach for strength or bucks bunny munching on carrots for good vision What about sugar? That's sneaky ingredient hiding in our favorite treats. It's in everything from ice cream to salad dressing. In this video We'll take you to a party and show you how sugar affects your brain. Brace yourself for a sweet ride This brain is on fire. If you enjoy partying and nightclubs chances are you've encountered a bouncer or two and If they've ever stopped you to search your bag for entering you might have felt a tingle of anxiety This feeling is similar to the way high sugar intake can also cause anxiety But why does this happen? Just as a bouncer's job is to keep out any unwanted guests your immune system is designed to keep harmful substances out of the body When threats show up it can trigger inflammation in the brain Which acts like an alarm system alerting your immune system to fight off any infection or injury when you consume too much sugar It's like inviting an unwanted guest to the club overwhelming the bouncer with work and potentially damaging the club Similarly in your brain the unwanted guests are cytokines Chemicals that can cause chronic inflammation and damage which can affect the production of important chemicals like serotonin and dopamine Which play a crucial role in your mental health? A 2014 study in the journal depression and anxiety Suggest that chronic activation of this immune response may lead to depressive and anxious symptoms in vulnerable individuals So even though we sometimes reach for a chocolate when we're sad it seems like it actually keeps our brains from helping us feel better Candy crush Okay, the bouncer lets you in and you've been dancing for hours feeling energized and having a great time But suddenly you start to feel exhausted and your body just can't keep up with it beat anymore Just like a partygoer who has been dancing for hours and suddenly feels drained Consuming high amounts of sugar can also lead to feelings of fatigue When you eat sugary foods your body breaks down the sugar into glucose as sanford health staff explains it This glucose then triggers your body to produce insulin Insulin takes the glucose and stores it in your cells to be used later for energy Think of it like when you store leftover cake in the fridge to eat later when you're hungry However, when there's too much glucose in your bloodstream the body releases too much insulin Which then causes a rapid drop in blood sugar levels leading to fatigue and exhaustion Feeling fatigued and drained can make it challenging to enjoy social events and hobbies And it may even impact your ability to concentrate and perform your best in school or work But let's get back to the party for now Only two more Maybe three sugar is addictive a 2013 study published in current opinion in clinical nutrition and metabolic care Explains that our brains are naturally wired to find and eat foods that are high in sugar and calories Which makes sense because we need energy to survive This is also why sugar activates parts of our brains that react to pleasurable feelings of reward This in turn releases dopamine, which makes us feel happy and content This same process is responsible not only for a sugar high, but also drug addiction In fact, the same study found that sugar can be even more attractive and rewarding than cocaine It's pretty scary stuff, but don't worry. We've got some tips on how to cut back on sugar without getting FOMO Healthier choices Food and science writer Rachel Muller-Gorman says that over time your perception of sweetness intensity changes That's why experts usually recommend you start this journey slowly For example, if you like adding sugar to your coffee or tea Gradually add a little bit less over time That way you'll still be able to taste the sweetness, but your taste buds will require less and less Next try eliminating at least a little bit of unnecessary sugar you take in daily nutritionist Renata Micah Poor eatingwell.com said that eliminating sugary drinks is a good first step Since sweetened beverages can often be the largest source of sugar in your diet She believes that just by choosing a glass of water with a squeeze of lime or orange for flavor You can dramatically reduce your sugar intake for that day Finally, Michael Danzinger-MD from WebMD recommends trying to incorporate some healthier alternatives in your diet Like fruits to sweeten your meals since they contain fructose, a completely natural type of sugar You could also try swapping cereal for oatmeal with applesauce in the morning Check out the description box for more resources if you'd like to dive into more ideas Were you as amazed as us to discover the staggering impact that sugar has on our brains? We hope this video has given you some food for thought Unintended If you're feeling inspired to make some positive changes We encourage you to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments Remember taking care of your health doesn't have to be a sacrifice. It can be a delicious adventure