Those of you who have been attending my seminars know that for years I've been comparing white sugar to cocaine in its addictive potential.
Well, looks like mainstream science is starting to get the picture.
Cocaine is a white powder dervied from a natural plant. Taken in even small doses, it causes a wave of dopamine and endorphins to be released into the system, triggering a deeply satisfying pleasure response. It also causes excitement and alertness. But, the effects are temporary and there is a well-documented crash effect after it wears off, causing the user to seek it out in order to feel "normal".
Sugar is also a white powder, derived from a natural plant. Taken in even small doses, it causes a wave of dopamine and endorphins to be released into the system, triggering a deeply satisfying pleasure response (this is why sweet tastes "good" -- this is a pleasure response in the brain). It also causes excitement and alertness (just give a cookie to a 5 year-old kid to test this theory). But, the effects are temporary and there is a well-documented crash effect after it wears off, causing the user to seek it out in order to feel "normal".
Those of you who have been to my seminars also know that, indeed, I often say the problem isn't so much the sugar when it comes to the health impacts -- it's the INSULIN and other hormonal disruptions that trigger massive systemic inflammation, mood shifts, and adrenal stress.
Glad to see that conventional science is starting to wake up to this.
Also, I am not advocating complete elimination of sugar. Life is too short and we are meant to enjoy pleasures like that amazing turtle cheesecake or fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies.
Like alcohol or tobacco, any drug like sugar is best consumed in moderation. It is the immoderate use that causes disease. In sugar's case, the disease list for excessive consumption ranges from diabetes to high cholesterol to mood disorders.
Want to test this out?? Easy... Simply take a week and pick TWO sweet foods you normally eat, and eliminate them from your diet. Do not replace them with other sweets. I can almost guarantee you two things:
1. You will feel a reduction in water retention -- this is a reduction in inflammation.
2. Your mood and energy levels will stabilize -- this is a stabilization of adrenal and neurotransmitter function.
Try it out. There is no denying the power of direct experience.
Well, looks like mainstream science is starting to get the picture.
Cocaine is a white powder dervied from a natural plant. Taken in even small doses, it causes a wave of dopamine and endorphins to be released into the system, triggering a deeply satisfying pleasure response. It also causes excitement and alertness. But, the effects are temporary and there is a well-documented crash effect after it wears off, causing the user to seek it out in order to feel "normal".
Sugar is also a white powder, derived from a natural plant. Taken in even small doses, it causes a wave of dopamine and endorphins to be released into the system, triggering a deeply satisfying pleasure response (this is why sweet tastes "good" -- this is a pleasure response in the brain). It also causes excitement and alertness (just give a cookie to a 5 year-old kid to test this theory). But, the effects are temporary and there is a well-documented crash effect after it wears off, causing the user to seek it out in order to feel "normal".
Those of you who have been to my seminars also know that, indeed, I often say the problem isn't so much the sugar when it comes to the health impacts -- it's the INSULIN and other hormonal disruptions that trigger massive systemic inflammation, mood shifts, and adrenal stress.
Glad to see that conventional science is starting to wake up to this.
Also, I am not advocating complete elimination of sugar. Life is too short and we are meant to enjoy pleasures like that amazing turtle cheesecake or fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies.
Like alcohol or tobacco, any drug like sugar is best consumed in moderation. It is the immoderate use that causes disease. In sugar's case, the disease list for excessive consumption ranges from diabetes to high cholesterol to mood disorders.
Want to test this out?? Easy... Simply take a week and pick TWO sweet foods you normally eat, and eliminate them from your diet. Do not replace them with other sweets. I can almost guarantee you two things:
1. You will feel a reduction in water retention -- this is a reduction in inflammation.
2. Your mood and energy levels will stabilize -- this is a stabilization of adrenal and neurotransmitter function.
Try it out. There is no denying the power of direct experience.
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