For the most part, I don't eat a lot of sweets. I am learning more and more the effect they have on me. I'm starting to think that this effect is almost at the level of an addiction.
Today was my son's third birthday party. It was a fun day involving craziness, play, lunch, and sweets. The sweets today was a trifle I made from a train cake that didn't quite work. It had alternating layers of cake, vanilla pudding, whipped cream and peaches.
I started off with one serving - a bit generous, but basically a reasonable sized serving. Then, I went back for another. I couldn't stop thinking about it. After the party ended, I packed it up and found myself licking the spoon off. My husband then went for a nap, and once he was gone, I helped myself to another serving. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I could have eaten more. Honestly, I could have eaten much much more if I hadn't been trying so hard to exert a teeny bit of control.
In one way, I feel like it's poor self control, but on the other hand, it's more then that. I really truly feel this need for it. It's like a fix. While it's going in, it feels so good, but then I just want more. And more. And... well, you get the picture. This is the way sugary things and sweets are for me. Having a small serving doesn't make the craving go away; it increases it tenfold.
So, I googled sugar sensitivity. I googled sugar addiction. I don't know why I've ever looked this up before. I came up with tonnes and tonnes of info and I'm just starting to sift through it. I'm starting to wonder if there really is something to it after all. I'm wondering if I really am more easily set off by it. I quit drinking caffeine a few years ago because I found the effect on me was profound. One cup of coffee set me off like I had four. Could I have the same problem with sugar?
Like I said, I have a lot of information to sift through, and likely a few books to check out of the library, but I'm curious if anyone has dealt with something similar.
Do you have a problem with sugar? Is it more then a craving and similar to an addiction? What are the steps you've taken to deal with it?
I've done the same routine of second and third helpings of desserts--with the potential to eat more--many times. Never thought of it as an addiction (the addict is always the last to know), but maybe I should be doing some research, too.
ReplyDeletePlease follow up and report what you learn.
I've never searched it but I'm sure I'm addicted to chocolate, sometimes I don't even like the taste of it and I'm shoving it in my mouth. I have chocolate every single day and I think its weird that people can go a day without touching the stuff. Yes I'm addicted to sugar!
ReplyDeleteSomething I should think about and start to change!
And Happy Birthday to your son!
I so think that sugar is very addictive. Like you, a little piece usually doesn't do it for me. I've had to eliminate it from the house altogether. It really is easier just not having it in the house. My family got used to the "no sweets" rule pretty quickly. When I do buy a few cookies or make them brownies, it's a special treat. It really has been good for the whole family. Since your son is so young, it might be good to take this approach now before he gets too used to having sweets around all of the time.
ReplyDeleteOn those occasions, like a birthday, you can always divide up the leftovers for your guests to take home. For small celebrations you might want to consider going to a favorite bakery and purchasing just a few items so that leftovers won't be a problem.
I don't think it's addictive for everyone but it sure is for me. I try to stay away from refined sugar as much as possible. Combine sugar with some butter and you have a very seductive combo, in my opinion. There is a lot of research that indicates it's not all in my head and that food manufacturers are taking advantage of our natural (primitive) desire for fast easy calories.
ReplyDeleteJanet
Much of our modern foods consist of empty calories, which fulfill merely our energy requirements, but do not fulfill our nutrient requirements for body building substances. Much of this food, devoid of almost any life energy and nutrients, depletes and poisons our bodies producing toxemia.
ReplyDeletePeople are generally very defensive about their dietary habits. A standard person will be hesitant to remove these dangerous food substances from their diet because it masks underlying feelings of depression and fatigue. “He is not aware that nearly all bad food habits are stimulation habits: that is, the body has almost automatically found out what makes it feel better for a half hour or so and what will mask the depression and fatigue symptoms momentarily.” This is one way a karmic disturbance will play out in disease. Not only does this apply to sugar, but any type of food consumed in excess. When processed improperly, the chemical structure of foods (such as white sugar, evaporated cane juice, corn syrup, organic cane sugar, white flour, low cost veg oils and hydrogenated oils, iodized salt, pasteurized milk, soy milk, soy meat, soy protein, tofu, unsoaked grains and nuts, non-pasture fed meat and eggs, coffee, soda's and alcohol) become distorted in a manner that is not aligned with the digestive needs of the physical body. Large corporations desiring to increase their profit have distorted foods to suit their profit needs, not to suit the needs of the delicate structures within the body. When the body comes into contact with food that has been processed contrary to Nature’s law of balance, it is the job of the digestive system, and the liver to remove the impurities. If the liver is abused daily by the onslaught of inharmonious food and drink substances then the liver will eventually break down. When the liver breaks down, then the body relies on the kidney’s and adrenal gland’s to eliminate toxins. When the kidney is overused, it may not function fully. Since it is important to have the blood constantly cleansed, the person’s blood pressure is increased to have the same level of blood purification as before. Many doctor’s prescribe drugs for high blood pressure, this is a crime against those who are suffering, as in many cases it masks the symptoms by lowering blood pressure, therefore thwarting nature’s intelligent attempt to keep the persons body free of toxins. Also it increases in most cases the original cause of high blood pressure, toxins in the body.