As Nancy Reagan once said, "just say no." Pumpkin spice addiction is a real thing.

It's not the changing leaves in CNY. It's not the cooler weather. It's not even the kids heading back to school. Nope. It's pumpkin spice everything that really lets you know that Fall has arrived.

It seems all innocent. It starts with something innocuous, like a pumpkin spice latte. Harmless, right? You can quit anytime. Then, you try the pumpkin spice donut, and then a cookie. You start to call it PSL, because you don't want your friends to know.

The next thing you know, you're trying the PSL pizza, and the pretzels and you've got 3 package of pumpkin oreos hidden in your car.

You start to realize you might have a problem, and it's not all in your head. Well, it kind of is. Pumpkin spice actually is addicting.

Experts tell CNN that when the recognizable pumpkin spice scent is combined with sugar, you learn to associate the smell with the pleasure that comes from consuming it. Literally, your body learns to recognize that spice combination and crave it.

Experts say it's not quite the same neural mechanisms involved in drug addiction. However, when it comes to pumpkin spice, the more you consume, the more you want to consume.

What to do about it? 

Experts aren't quite as clear on that, but you might want to limit yourself to one or two pumpkin spice products a week. Or just wait for the Holiday peppermint-everything season to start.


 

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