SUGAR
“What does sugar do to my body?” This is a tricky one: people love sugar. Companies use sugar to sell their products. Amazingly, people consume an average of 150 pounds of sugar each year.
As you can imagine, prior to development of sugar industry in Hawaii in early 20th century, people consumed very little sugar, if any.
Q: Where is sugar?
Everywhere. Basically it is the basic substance that the body uses as energy. Almost everything you eat turns to sugar. Crackers, cookies, fruit, bread, brown rice…
Q: How does sugar affect the emotions?
Consuming sugar releases brain chemicals called beta endorphins, which have the same molecular structure as opium. The release of beta endorphins yields a state of calm and relaxed connection. Shortly afterwards beta endorphin levels crash and then the emotions can crash, which leads to a desire for more sugar - a difficult cycle to break.
Q: How does sugar affect the body?
Consuming sugar or simple carbohydrates causes an immediate release of insulin from the pancreas/spleen system. This, in turn, affects the function of the kidney/adrenal system. Over time, these systems can become very taxed leading to a variety of complaints, including night sweats, hormonal imbalances, arthritic conditions, headaches, high cholesterol, digestive trouble, candida overgrowth, fatigue, insomnia, lack of ability to concentrate and many other problems
Q: Am I Sugar Sensitive?
Here are the questions to answer. If you answer “yes” to one or more, you’re probably sensitive to sugar.
1. Do you like sweet foods?
2. Do you eat a lot of sweets?
3. Are you fond of bread, cereal, popcorn, or pasta?
4. Have you had a problem with alcohol or drugs?
5. Are/were either of your parents alcoholic?
6. Are/were either of your parents especially fond of sugar?
7. Are you overweight and unable to lose weight?
8. Are you depressed no matter what you do?
9. Do you overreact to stress?
10. Do you have a surprising history of anger?
Q: What can I do about my sugar cravings?
There are many things that you can do!
The easiest is to drink lemon water (in Oriental Medical theory, sour controls sweet).
Take Gymnema pills 3 x daily to reset body’s sugar dependence and reduce sugar desire.
For longer term solutions, follow these seven steps:
1. Keep a food journal, logging everything you eat for 7-10 days.
2. Eat three meals per day at regular intervals, especially start with breakfast!
3. Take wholefood supplements.
4. Eat a minimum ratio of one part protein to two parts carbohydrates every time you eat (snacks too).
5. Increase consumption of complex carbohydrates vs simple carbs.
6. Eat a baked russet potato w/o proteins or fat three hours after a protein-heavy evening meal. Do this for 10 days to increase the brain chemical serotonin, which gives you impulse control.
7. Reduce and eventually eliminate sugar and alcohol (much more possible with high serotonin levels).
Read Potatoes Not Prozac, by Kathleen DesMaisons or go to www.radiantrecovery.com for more information. To get started, look at these resources.
For a more in-depth look at this with some guidance, don’t hesitate to call and set up a time to meet with me in a Nutritional Consultation. To do this, call and get a food journal, fill out the journal for 7-10 days, and we’ll meet for 30 minutes. Do what’s recommended, and your life will dramatically change!