5 Addictions that Threaten Your Body's Natural Balance

Our bodies crave balance, and proper nutrition is very important for optimal health and well-being. When it comes to food, alcohol and other substances, some people go overboard, and this can lead to addiction.

An addiction is an obsession, compulsion, or excessive physical or psychological dependence. It is a state in which over time, the body relies on something for functioning. If that substance or activity is removed, it can cause stress, physical problems or withdrawal.

People can become addicted to many different things. Alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, sugar and prescription and street drugs are some of the top contenders. They also happen to be the five major addictions I treat in my private practice.

Alcohol
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports more than 17 million people are addicted to alcohol. Too much can cause dizziness, slurred speech, disturbed sleep and nausea. It can impair judgment and coordination.

Alcohol quickly moves into the bloodstream. Its effects depend on weight, sex and the amount consumed. Long-term effects can lead to permanent damage to the brain and liver. In addition, when a person suddenly stops drinking, anxiety, tremors, hallucinations and convulsions can occur.

Nicotine
Nicotine is a chemical in cigarette smoke that increases blood pressure, heart rate and blood flow. Smoking causes lung disease, heart disease and stroke. Scientists have identified more than 40 chemicals in tobacco smoke that cause cancer, including cancers of the lung, larynx, esophagus, mouth and bladder.

Unfortunately, the harmful effects of smoking do not end with the smoker. According to the American Lung Association, environmental tobacco smoke exposure causes an estimated 3,000 non-smokers to die of lung cancer each year.

Caffeine
Do you need coffee in the morning? You're not the only one. Caffeine is what gets you going, and it's not only found in coffee, but also in teas, sodas and some medications.

Caffeine is used to improve alertness and alleviate moods. It has been shown to increase the effectiveness of some medications.

Tolerance and dependence develop after a long period of use. Larger doses are needed to create the same effect. But when a person stops drinking caffeine, she often feels irritable, anxious and has frequent headaches.

Sugar
Some experts believe kicking an addiction to sugar is harder than quitting smoking. When a person is addicted to sugar, he craves sweets and can't control how much he eats. Sugar stimulates chemicals in the brain, making him want more.

It's no secret that eating too many sweets can cause weight gain. According to the surgeon general, 58 million Americans ages 20 to 74 are considered overweight.

Addictions to sugar don't stop there. They can sometimes lead to eating disorders, where binge eating comes into play.

Prescription Drugs
Most people take medications only for the reasons their doctors prescribe them. But according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, an estimated 20 percent use them for nonmedical reasons.

Prescription drug abuse can lead to addiction. Experts aren't sure why this type of addiction is increasing, but doctors are prescribing more drugs than ever before. Unfortunately, many of those prescription drugs treat only the symptoms, but not the underlying causes of the illness.

Bring Your Body Into Balance
When we put excessive amounts of the above substances into our bodies, we are receiving virtually no nutritional value. They do nothing to support healthy living and physical functioning. In fact, they are often harmful, undermining our health and throwing us off balance. A good thing to consider? Once in a while is OK, but too often is probably too much.