Sugar sensitivity - Food for thought

[Just Sara]

We're all probably aware diet has a lot to do with our brain function and coping mechanisms. I've been reading a book called 'Potatoes not Prozac' by Kathleen DesMaisons (PH.D in Addictive Nutrition) It's about sugar sensitive people and how sugar can be similar to alcohol and illicit drugs for some. It mostly concentrates on levels of Beta Endorphins, Serotonin and Blood Sugar.

I've decided to run with the program and am up to the stage of journaling my food intake and activity/behaviour/emotions/feelings. It's early days yet, but I'm already beginning to see some patterns. She says not to change my habits for a couple of weeks until my patterns are clear, but it's tempting.

This book is so interesting. Symptoms of anxiety, confused thinking and depression are major influences. There are some great little experiments to show how sugar, protein and fat are used in the body, especially regarding the brain; sleep and emotional well being. Some interesting tit-bits are:

• Low calorie sugar replacements like Sugarine have the same affect on the brain as normal sugar
• Sugar affects the same sections of the brain as alcohol and even heroin
• Sugar is more addictive than heroin and can be harder to give up than smoking
• Flour and its bi-products are simple sugars
• When we eat is just as important as what we eat

I did an experiment using a baked potato as a snack prior to bed and had the best night's sleep in a long time. She says to limit simple carbs during the day and have a meal around 6:30 pm using mostly good quality protein and a small amount of complex carbs; no fat. Then 1/2 hr before bed eat a medium dry baked potato, skin on. Protein prepares the body for carbs from the potato which increases serotonin levels over a long period while the potato digests overnight.

Simple sugars digest very quickly as we know from the hit we get after soft drinks for instance. This is not a book for people to lose weight; (though weight loss is inevitable) it addresses our brain chemistry and emotions. It's a winner!

[Guest_1055]

Oh thank you so much for this info Dizzy@home.

In fact I have been looking at my own diet for a couple of months now, mostly regarding refined sugar intake. I have noticed a huge difference in my emotions. For instance I went on a juice fast, and what I experienced was clarity of my mind, I was not so vague and foggy in my head. Of course this was after the detox stage, where the body gets rid of junk from within.

Now over Christmas I have eaten plenty of chocolate, because it was given to me as a gift.... And just the last couple of days I have been more teary, sad, angry and vague. I know there is a connection between what I chose to eat and how I feel. But I have never understood why???

So you mentioned you were into a programme. Is this program actually inside the book?  It sounds like this author tells you a bit of science as well.

Thank you so much again. I will check out this book.

Hugs to you

Shelley anne xx

[Just Sara]

Hi Shelley Anne; it's great you got something out of my post as I feel so strongly about this book and its contents. I've had it for many years now and often think I should've re-read it; so I did. I have a long relationship with food beginning with being taken from my mother at birth, 3 and 1/2 mnths preemi. The only time I was touched was to be fed, bathed, changed or medically attended. My mother was absent for this time, ill herself.

I use the term 'relationship' on purpose. It took me a long time to understand this, and at last realise food has been 'love' for me all my life. It has been the one constant; always there and easily accessible. That's why addiction principles are relevant to me.

I've had 3 major breakdowns in my life and 2 of them were due to dieting. This isn't just a matter of emotional attachment, it's also a biological one. In my fifties and still using food to numb the pain has had dire consequences to my health. This book addresses the chemical aspect of how food affects me and, due to my love of science, it fits 'me'. Not everyone will feel the same.

Addiction is an insidious issue to deal with. A close family member went through detox and rehab for drug addiction and her experience helped me connect the dots. That's why 'Potatoes not Prozac' is so important to me. Sugar is my drug of choice in all its forms. It's what I turn to for comfort and avoidance.

This book helped me to understand the biological aspect of my relationship with sugar and other socially acceptable drugs like caffeine and alcohol. All are stimulants and work on the brain in a way that gives a 'hit' of all things nice and yummy. But over time it takes more to get a similar feeling and this takes its toll on the body and of course, the mind.

I'll keep posting here to say how things are going as I move forward with the program. I hope it's of use.

Cheers...Dizzy ;-+

[Guest_1055]

Hello I am just reading that book you recommended and it does appear I am sugar sensitive.

Wow you must have been so tiny and fragile at 3 1/2 months.

I did note that the author recommended having protein for breakfast, that will be a challenge for me though, because normally I would have nothing, fruit or a freshly extracted juice. 

Shelley x

[Just Sara]

Hi Shelly Anne...I'm glad to hear you're getting something out of the book. As expected, starting the program has triggered some deep stuff inside me and I'm spending today trying to approach it with optimism. I hope you follow her instructions about doing the steps 1 by 1. Don't judge yourself; be patient and take note of your emotions and feelings as you go. There's a pot of gold inside you full of information about the past and your relationship with food if you're brave enough to go within.

I wish you luck; in fact I wish us both luck...Cheers Dizzy x

[TangerineHippo]

That's really interesting, thank you for posting.

 I know I'm very addicted to sugar and this really resonates with me. It has been a battle during 2015 in particular as I've realised that my mental state has been in a terrible state all year which has led to an increase in the consumption of sugar - it banishes the fog and the lethargy for me. It's taken me almost a full year and a talk from my husband to realise I haven't been myself and pinpoint what is going on.

 I might track down this book and give it a read (annoyingly my library doesn't stock it). I don't want to commit to a no sugar diet, that will be too much stress but I think a few tweaks to my everyday eating might be in order. 

 Thanks for posting!

[Just Sara]

Welcome TangerineHippo! I do hope you get something positive out of this thread. To me, food has a direct link to our psychi. The diet industry doesn't comment about our brains, mood and well being because it's too dangerous to give us too much information. Usually their food is laden with sugars and chemicals that cost the earth and only concentrate on calories or fat. But our bodies need fat, the good stuff like avocado and coconut. Did you know the lining of our gut has a direct connection to our brains? Good bacteria is like its hero.

Research is everything when it comes to finding out about ourselves in the physical. I hope your journey is fruitful.

Cheers and hugs...Dizzy x

[Guest_1055]

Hey I agree sugar is extremely addictive. And it is in a lot of processed foods. I have a huge battle with this addiction. I have gone through times of eating large amounts of chocolate which is laden with refined sugar. Tried to go off eating it, suffer from the detoxification of getting the stuff out of my body. Then find myself once again back eating the stuff. I usually turn to it for comfort, like when I am not coping emotionally then my mind automatically heads to the chocolate or junk food.

So is that the similar as you?

Hugs

[Mimi1979]

Hi there, I havnt had a chance to read through everones post so i Hpe im not repeating anyone.

I strongly agree with the diet thing. ..especially sugar! ! 

I've read all sarah wilsons books, i quit sugar website etc ive also read all of david Gillespie books.i also watched 'that sugar film'. Very interesting. 

Sugar is bad bad stuff. Yet so yummy haha.

My husband,  kids and i are planning on doing Sarah Wilson's 8 week sugar free detox in February. im looking forward to it. Im curious to see how we feel at the end of it. 

[Durras]

Hi Dizzy@home

Thanks for introducing the book, I will definitely keep a look out for it as it does sound really helpful.

A couple of things for myself thou, I still have a strong dependence on alcohol thou don't drink as much but yes dependency is still there. When I say it like that it makes me feel better but yes I still think and feel I am an alcoholic. Not drinking everyday but when I do it is excessive.

I am also a heavy smoker.

I have been wanting to stop and quit both well drinking and smoking go hand in hand for me.

So I will talk with my doctor first before I start on it I think that maybe a good idea. I will put it in as a goal for this year and take little steps with it.

Thanks again for bringing it up

Durras