Sugar Addiction Quiz
Just about every addiction has its handy questionaire that you will likely lie on the first time through. An astronaut’s wife took a similar alcoholism quiz in Cosmopolitan and when she finally stopped lying, she checked herself into rehab. In the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon, the actress playing this woman depicted her as taking the quiz with a double rum and cola or other similar drink in hand. I will submit to you that if you take this quiz while eating a donut that you are addicted and don’t have to finish the quiz. Get help now! For the rest of you, this quiz is worded so that the answer that shows your healthy lifestyle is True and there are twelve questions. Push Print Current Page on your computer and do this in pencil at home.
1. I don’t eat refined sugar every day…………………………………………………………TRUE………………………FALSE
2. I can go more than a day without eating some kind of sugar-containing food…….TRUE………………………FALSE
3. I never have cravings for sugar, coffee, chocolate, peanut butter or alcohol………TRUE………………………FALSE
4. I’ve never hidden sweets around the house so I can eat them later…………………..TRUE………………………FALSE
5. I can stop after eating one bite of pastry or one piece of candy………………………TRUE………………………FALSE
6. There are times when I have no sugar around the house……………………………….TRUE………………………FALSE
7. I can have sweets in the house without eating them……………………………………..TRUE………………………FALSE
8. I can go at least 3 hours without eating without shakes, fatigue or bad moods…….TRUE………………………FALSE
9. I do not eat something sweet after every meal…………………………………………….TRUE……………………..FALSE
10. I rarely drink coffee or eat donuts or sweet rolls for breakfast……………………….TRUE……………………..FALSE
11. I can go more than an hour after waking without eating……………………………….TRUE……………………..FALSE
12. I don’t drink sweetened soft drinks every day…………………………………………….TRUE……………………..FALSE
For the record, if you answered four of these questions FALSE then stop lying and seek help for your sugar addiction.
If you answered between 1 and 3 questions as FALSE then you may develop an addiction later, unless you lied.
Zero FALSE answers means you don’t have a problem, unless you lied. Come on, fess up!
I showed the best that i could without lieng. good test
i had 5 TRUE so am not as bad as i had thought. i know the more sugar i eat, the more i want. sugar is really all i want; i have a hard time eating real food, and rarely overeat. i always have room for sweets.
Same here, I have a hard time not craving chocolate. I try to limit myself to 1 sweetened coffee and 1 hot chocolate a day and one dessert, but it doesn’t always work.
Hi,
Good questionnaire which I answered about 8 false. So now I’m identified, what is the answer from here…I can’t see it
thanks
Melinda
all false…now what?
I am positively a sugar addict. At times I cannot control the urge of having something sweet. On the other hand, I am constantly trying to avoid them and interchange regular sugar for artifical. But, I still do not have the courage to say NO to chocolate or vanilla ice cream. Therefore, I ACCEPT BEING A CARB ADDICT. Now, how could you help me help myself?
We provide a number of books with information about sugar. We sell them in the store. You can also get most of them at your library. We sell a test kit that helps reveal whether you’re in homeostasis. And we usually recommend support groups like OA or Food Addicts in recovery. But, you’re right, we can provide the information and plan but you will make it happen.
To jaklizard:
Thanks for mentioning about OA (Overeaters Anonymous) and FA (Food Addicts Anonymous). I have found CEA HOW (Compulsive Eaters Anonymous, Honesty, Openmindedness and Willingness) to be VERY positive, strong and clear group of people who does this no-sugar, flour, alcohol, three meals a day and nothing in between food plan with tremendous support around. People who think they have a problem with sugar and flour, processed foods, binge eating, etc should definitely check them out. Thanks!
I used to be a sugar addict, and now the only thing I still crave is espresso.
I have tried almost everything, but it seems impossible to stop drinking coffee. I have no problems to be without sugar though. I don’t eat lot of fruits either, because I have noticed that I feel much better without eating them.
I took the quiz and actually had 6 Trues, which was a surprise! I am in my second week of giving up sugar and it is not easy! But I will succeed.
I read your list of “Why Sugar is Ruining Your Health” and wonder how many of these negativities affected me as a child and are continuing to do so as an adult.
I commend you on what you are doing to help make us healthy individuals!
I am in the process of becoming sugar free, and I have noticed after about a week of vastly reduced sugar intake, ( i’m still getting small amounts in my processed cereals, which I intend to replace with healthy bin items at the grocer, when my sugared cereal runs out) something amazing! My psoriasis which has been getting progressively worse the last few years ( i am 56) is clearing !Amazing, I had read on the internet that sugar is a trigger for psoriasis, now I believe it. I have new hope that I won’t have to be embarressed for the rest of my life with this condition. I would like to know why my dematologist never mentioned this to me, it makes you wonder if the medical establishment has a vested interest in keeping us in the dark, so as to reap more finacial rewards from our ignorance. I dont trust western medicine and its practitioners. Our western diet kills people prematurely.
I am studying to be an addiction counselor. However, nowhere in University or college has sugar been considered an addictive product. Yet, being a sugar addict, I know it is. I have noticed that “drug/alcohol” addicts tend to go for sugar when they “get clean”. And let’s not forget donuts/cookies at the AA meetings. Test: 9 out of 12 NOTE: I am researching this topic for a class project… I plan on educating at least some future addiction counselors on sugar
addiction.
I recently took the test and “flunked”, lol. Good news is I
have rid my diet of processed foods and sugar and I feel great. I
had no idea of just how far reaching the ill efffects of sugar were
on my body. Thank you for the website. I have told many people
about it.
My doctor told me about your site and I have enjoyed it. I totally flunked this test. I did without sugar in the month of January and felt so wonderful, I KNOW that I can change my whole eating habit for ever. Thank you and I will be telling others about your website.
I always have sugar around the house; I use it to make syrup for my hummingbird feeder- but I never use any of it for myself. And although I get an occasional craving for peanut butter, I use the natural kind which contains no added sugar or added anything else. I do eat fruit nearly every day;does fruit count as a food that contains sugar?
We can’t comment on humming birds. Fruit is good when you’re healthy but otherwise no.
Hi Nancy,
I’ve been writing a three part post on my blog about sugar detox. During my research I came across your blog and your article on “146 Things Sugar is Doing to Your Body”.
Truly an amazing article. I’ve included a link in my postback to your article. I truly hope people take the time to click on the link and read what you’ve written…it’s life changing.
Thank you
Micah
Your passion and hard work are evident in all the good information. Would like to hear it with a little more love in your voice on radio.
I want to thank you for your compilation of all the things sugar can do to harm the body.
I am grateful to be off refined sugar since 1/03/2011. I feel increased stability of energy levels and the big bonus! no joint pain.
I have paid attention to avoiding white sugar since 1965. My Mom had crippling arthrites and I read sugar aggravaited her condition so I always avoided it to prevent my demise. I had 6False. #3 because of coffee and I have dark chocolate some times. #4 because of holidays. #6 for baking cookies for my husband rather than buy, I cut back on the sugar and I will eat a few. #8 must have food with coffee. #10 coffee but never donuts or sweet rolls. #11 once again coffee–no sugar
When sugar is called for I replace it with 100% pure maple syrup.
I was buying TLC bars for the 4o’clock slump. My right hand became very sore, thought it was from over working it. Read the bar ingredients and found corn syrup..gave those babies up.
I was raised with sugar as a reward. In adult life, I think I’ve dodged the bullet, to some degree, due to my overall
healthy lifestyle. No fast foods, when I do purchase packaged, minimally processed foods only. I fast at least
three times annually, don’t smoke and do exercise regularly.
So what’s wrong with my picture? I sugar load probably 4 or 5 times a year. Quarter lb or so of mindless candy. Binge
can last for a few days, then I’m so disgusted and feel so awful that I resolve to clean up my act.
Now in my 50’s, this game isn’t working so well. I am contending with definite joint and ligament issues. Interestingly, none of the research steered towards sugar.
I decided to keep a diary of everything that goes into my
mouth, since I know the connection. Then I heard the Saturday a.m. kgo program!
I’m going to reassess those ‘healthy’ sweetners too.
How about xylotol?
I’ll stay in touch. Obtaining the latest book. Thank you,
in time I hope.
Short answer: no xylitol. No nothing except Stevia and that only after you break the active phases of your addiction.
Thank you for your story.
I know I am a sugar addict. I have sent years in OA been to 2 treatment centers had gastric bypass surgery and have lost the same 100 lb many, many times. Now my body is telling me stop or suffer a slow painful death. So here I go again. This time with the focus on healing my body not fixing my waistline. 30 years of trying that has not worked for me.
Also, I can’t have Stevia it REALLY makes me crave sugar more so than eating candy.
I have been without sugar for almost 2 months. I feel better than I have in years. I am a diabetic, but the amount of medicine I take has dropped dramatically. All my answers above were “true.” But what I have figured out is that I am responsible for ME. Nobody else really cares one way or another about ME. Don’t I love myself enough to discipline ME and put the right things into my body? I hear folks say that they “deserve” something sweet. Well, I deserve to NOT have something sweet. I deserve to eat what is right and feel good too, because I am the only one responsible for ME. How about you?
I answered all false. Im about 20 years old, but ever since i was really young i have not been able to go more then an hour without sugar. I go through withdrawal. I get the shakes, i get the sweats, and I have horrible mood swings and head achs. As im messageing right now i have a migrane so bad and i know its because i havent had any sugar in the last 2 hours. Believe me when i say it really hurts bad. I dont know how i can give up sugar when it causes me this much pain to even attempt. However, I know i will have to soon. It runs in my family to develope diabeates on both my mothers and fathers sides of the family. We are all prone to heart attack, bad blood pressure, arthrites etc. I am not morbidly obease but i would be a ton skinner if I cut out my sugar intake. I walk enough to keep me at least moderatly over the over weight line. I hope i can do it. I try all the time and i wont give up yet.
Keep it up!
Nancy Appleton Books
I ralely appreciate this post. I have been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thank you again!
I know I am addicted to sugar, but I simply cannot stop eating carbs. I am trying, but I just feel hungry all the time, and then end up eating a ton all at once. It scares me. As a ballet dancer my body needs to be in excellent condition, and I feel this one issue is what is stopping that. *Sigh* Any suggestions?
Sharon, do yourself a favor and quit the Sugars and the processed foods. I have had to give all ot them up to get my life back. Food addictions have caused me to have RA symptons. I decided that I would not be crippled and gave up my food addictions in order to get healthy. We all have choices … Do NOT wait until it is to late for you. Best of luck… and just keep thinking how much damage you do to your body and your brain when you eat non nutritional foods.
26 months ago I would have done very badly on this test. Today after putting all sweeteners and wheat out of my diet I have to say I passed, zero false answers. I don’t have any sweeteners, I don’t use any sweeteners. I don’t eat fast food or processed food.
I’ve lost 155 pounds and all the health problems that went along with the weight. I feel great. I’m keeping the weight off going on 3 years now.
Thank you for your efforts to warn people about sugar. I tell my story on my blog.
When I decided to go off of sugar about 3 years ago I was introduced to a supplement called Gymnema. It was a Godsend for losing the taste for sweets! I’ve used Gymnema in capsule and tablet forms by a variety of companies. The most effective was the liquid Gymnema put out by a company called Standard Process (found in many chiropractors offices). I placed the liquid in a glass 2 oz. spray bottle I picked up at the health food store and any time I got the urge for sweets I’d spray my mouth twice.
Gymnema is an Indian herb whose name means “destroyer of sugar”. It didn’t matter what sweet I put into my mouth after spraying, it never tasted good afterwards. As a matter of fact, I had a lot of fun with my friends. I’d offer them some candy (if they wanted to break their sugar habit) and they could eat all they wanted, they just had to try my spray first :). They get 2 shots of the spray and then get the candy. I’d always giggle after watching them spew their candy out of their mouth after one bite!
Note: It is a bitter herb, soooo, it did take discipline to spray. The effects of the spray last between 30 minutes – 2 hours depending on the person. I can attest the results were well worth it.
Hope this helps.
We used to sell a similar gum, but we’d thrown in with a supplier that couldn’t keep us supplied with current expiration dates and we gave back too many refunds on perfectly good gum. We are aware of gymnema and that for a great majority of people it makes sugar and other carbs taste like cardboard. I’m sure the commenter meant to provide a link – http://www.standardprocess.com/display/router.aspx – to assist people needing help.
G.N. Jacobs for Nancy Appleton
its worse than i thought… i have 9 false and 3 true.
12 false, if only there was sugar rehab, i’m killing myself i hate sugar but i cant stop email me if you wanna talk.. keeleyiddon@mail.com
Actually, there are various types of sugar and food rehab that are just a few keystrokes away on a search engine. The type most likely to help you, now, is a 12-step style program like AA. Usually, these programs work because you’ll meet people in similar situations and by forming a temporary community, you’ll become accountable to the group. The big group is Overeaters Anonymous, but some people swear by Food Addicts in Recovery, or Food Addicts Anonymous. And if you will forgive the shameless plug, if you haven’t read one of our books please do so. Most good libraries will have one. I’m partial myself to Suicide by Sugar, but any should help.
9 false… uh oh. I don’t really know what happened. I used to be a vegan in college and somehow working in the world just got me terribly off track.
I work in film & tv and often times pull 14 to 16 hour days. Recently I’ve had a lot of stomach issues (pain mostly, unable to eat, pain associated with eating, etc) and saw a physician. He was dismissive and I got the “oh, a girl with a stomach ache” eye roll… but he did say I have gastritis. Now.. healthy friends of mine have been riding me to change my eating for the past year, and I’ve ignored them. Typically because I’m so active, I eat whatever I am craving just to get the calories. Like I said, this bottom feeder philosophy of eating has probably been my mantra for the past year or so.
This approach has resulted in a lot of Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies breakfasts with double caramel sauce 4 shot iced espresso drinks every morning. And, more surprisingly, this approach has caused weight loss. I’ve always been small, and as a vegan I was 105 – 110 (i’m 5’0 tall and slender framed). But now I’m as low as 97. This disgusts and worries me… I don’t like looking at myself without clothes on. I’m starting to realize that I’ve been depriving my body of nutrients in favor of giving in to sugar cravings. I’ll eat 1/2 a tub of frosting at 5:00 cause I’m ravenous and then loose interest in dinner because it doesn’t have 60g sugar per serving. Really fucked up stuff… incredibly embarrassing too…. I’ve gotten to a point where every food bothers my stomach because of the gastritis. Last week I tried to do soups and whole foods, thinking I’d fall back into my healthy lifestyle of yesteryear easily; not so.
It has become apparent that I’m in the grips of the sugar monster, and he’s holding on tight… I guess it’s also worth mentioning that I’ve been sober from alcohol for 1.5 years. I suppose the increased sugar consumption correlated with that, but I’ve always had a major sweet tooth (not drinking gave me an excuse to reward it more and more, and here we are).
Any thoughts?
Other than read one of the doctor’s books (which should be in any good library), get help through a food related 12-step program (Overeaters Anonymous, Food Addicts in Recovery, Food Addicts Anonymous) and generally do what you need to do to get sugar out of your diet? Can’t think of any.
G.N. Jacobs for Nancy Appleton
Ok, addicted to sugar, so now what?
You do your best to eat less sugar. Some go to a 12-step group (OA and others). Some discuss this in therapy. In most of the doctor’s books there are a few tips like smaller plates at buffets or the Half as Much as Yesterday Rule. Beating sugar is hard, but can be done.
I’m a skinny person who does not eat a lot of sugar, but I’m hungry when I wake up. I don’t see what’s wrong with eating after having slept and not eaten for 9 hours.
I have been on the sugar roller coaster for all my life. Sugar was used as a reward when I was coming up and I have tended to do the same thing with my own children. I have kicked the sugar habit (basically too many carbs, white bread, chips, candy, cake etc.) several times in my life. I have always allowed fruit and vanilla yogurt. Each time I have kicked the habit I have lost weight and looked great. I do really well and then somehow, I get right back where I started but only worse. I have hypoglycemia which is what started me on this journey. I have noticed with age (I am presently 52) that each time I return to sweets, I gain a little more weight than before and I also have a binge that is unbelievable. This is to the point that I don’t even want to go home because I know how sugar affects my patience with my family and my attitude. As I am getting older, I seem to be less able to handle the sugar and, even with exercise (I do bootcamp three to four times a week) I am continuing to gain weight. I have tried all kinds of herbs that are suppose to curb my sugar cravings but nothing has worked. I need real help but am not sure how to go about getting it. I don’t know where to start. Any advice is appreciated.
Hi,
As for sugar busting herbs, we used to sell a gum with the active ingredient Gymnemma. It had about an 80-percent success rate in making carbs taste like cardboard. Assuming you haven’t already tried it a Google search will lead you to the current products on the market.
But, your repeated cycle may take more than just this herb. You will likely need to start attending some kind of 12-step program where you meet with others like you and crowdsource your willpower to the group. You have OA and several others plus Jenny Craig and Weightwatchers use similar group share techniques in between the sales pitch for their special food. Google will help you find the right meeting.
The doctor and I discuss this in the books, so we recommend reading one if you haven’t already. Good libraries should have them or click through to our store page. Stay on Food Plan Three as long as possible.
Sometimes the right life coach can also help by giving you a daily structure with accountability. It’s an expensive service. Additionally, traditional therapy can help.
Lastly, realize that your yo-yo cycle is not unique. Sugar is the toughest addiction to break. As long as you keep at it, don’t worry too much about your many days off the wagon.
G.N. Jacobs for Nancy Appleton
This quiz definitely made me take a closer look at how much sugar I actually eat. Its easy to not think about it when so many things have sugar in them. One of the biggest things that struck me was the part about craving peanut butter. That’s definitely one of my favorite comfort foods which obviously doesn’t help in reducing my sugar intake.
Thanks for the quiz
Hello! I love this site, thank you for your passion to inform people of the truth about sugar. I have sent this list to countless people over the past 6 years. I just posted it again on FB. 🙂 I see that you recommend the faith based 12 step OA program for people who are seeking help. Have you taken a look at Smart Recovery? Its a free on-line and/or face to face 4 point program that helps people with addictions and mal-adaptive behaviors using CBT and REBT philosophy & techniques. It teaches people how to; Build & maintain motivation to abstain, cope with urges, manage their thoughts, feelings and behaviors and live a balanced life. I’ve tried AA and OA and I found the Smart Recovery message board, their tools/techniques and its community of people have help me more than anything I have ever tried. http://smartrecovery.org/
Thank you very much for writing this article. I had to laugh at myself when I read “if you take this quiz while eating a donut that you are addicted and don’t have to finish the quiz.”. I was eating a LARGE slice of German chocolate cake and it was 10:45 in the morning. I was eating it after eating a broccoli salad. I’m a vegetation struggling with a sugar addiction and my sugar cravens increased after I stopped eating meat. I got work to do. Thanks for caring.
the only question that was true was that I don’t leave sweets lieing around the house, because I generally eat them before they make inside or eat them after a couple of hours. though some of them I haven’t actually tested or tried like the time frame before my fatigue sets in or if I am actually capablew of functioning for an hour without eating.
i had 4 true and 8 false
If we answered four or more False wouldn’t that mean we aren’t lying??
Lol I was answering false to like all the questions. I have a sugar addiction. If you have a sugar addiction you are most likely to answer False to almost every single question listed here.
For example number one, answers false because I do eat refined sugar everyday. Two, false because I can’t go more than a day without junk. Three, false, I do have cravings for those everyday. Four, false, I have hidden foods to eat later. Five, false, I can’t stop eating junk after one bite. I need to finish it all. Six, is true because sometimes I don’t have junk so I go crazy and then go buy some sugary foods. Seven, false, I can’t have sweets in the house without eating them. I’ll devour it in five minutes. Eight, is true because I can go three or more hours without fatigue and shit but that’s because I most likely had junk to by then. Nine, false, junk is my meals.(mostly). Ten, false, I always have junk for breakfast. Eleven, true&false. Twelve, true, because I would rather have actual food.
See look, false in like every question answer. I’m telling the truth so how is answering false lying? Lol makes no sense. All I know is I have a sugar addiction that I’m gonna take care of once and for all.
Why look up a test to take if you are gonna lie in answering? Haha obviously you don’t care to find an “answer” whether you could have whatever you are taking for a test.
Omg people are dumb.
10 false – 10. I was 11 or 12 three years ago. At least I see why I’m having trouble stopping.
Unfortunately, I’m a sugar junkie. I understand that I cannot enjoy sugar anymore. I’m a maniac when it comes to sugar, hence I had to stop. I’m 52 days without sugar already and keep pushing.
Stop abusing sugar, it’s very bad – but these words mean nothing to a sugar junkie like myself. It’s delicious – that’s what I used to answer. I couldn’t live a day without it. Do you see yourself in these words? If you do – then it’s time to stop!
4 false answers but a lot of health problems that go directly back to sugar. Have been trying to eliminate sugar but life keeps getting in the way. Am trying again as I have just linked sugar to my leg cramps!
Pretty good post.I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts.
https://blog.mindvalley.com/sugar-addiction