ADHDchildren

I’ve struggled with a sugar addiction since I was a young child.  I know this is not unique to me.  Robert H. Lustig, MD, UCSF Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology has waged a campaign against sugar in his video entitled The Bitter Truth.

As an emotional stress eater, sugar has been my vice since I was a child.  Growing up in a household where food was used as love, it was an easy habit to acquire.  Do you have a Mom or a family member who offers you a cookie or some food to help make you feel better?  “Here honey, have a cupcake.  It’ll make you feel better.”  Unfortunately all it does is distract you temporarily from the issue at hand.  Given the diabetes epidemic and the rise of obesity, this pattern only adds to what should have been a temporary issue if we only decide to move through it rather than push it down with food.

Having recently vowed to give up sugar – again, I decided it was time to lose the excess stress weight and take control of this pattern for good.  As with any addiction, and most especially food addictions, it is very easy to “fall off the wagon.”  Television commercials, magazines and grocery store isles can tempt the taste buds constantly.

I even found a way to trick myself into thinking I was sticking to my plan.  I discovered an organic protein bar and an organic probiotic drink that I love.  While a healthy choice for some, it is still poison for my life-long overworked pancreas.  This morning I decided to go to the store for a second batch of the probiotic drink.  I had two small bottles yesterday so my receptor sites were still abuzz with that sugar high since it takes about three days to move sugar through the body.  It only has one gram of sugar and ten calories after all – seemingly not a bad choice – right?  Not for me.  It may have all organic fruit and probiotics, but my body still reacts to mainlining fruit juice even if it is only one gram of sugar.

My guidance warned me more than once on the way to the store and after I arrived there not to go in.  I even stood outside the store debating with my guidance.  I’m sure anyone who has struggled with a diet or addiction has had this inner battle at one time or another.  In the end, I went in and made the purchase as well as a protein bar.

The protein bar was gone before I got home.  Sound familiar?  Once at home I drank the beverage and sure enough not too long afterward my body reacted with a feeling of inflammation.  A little bit later I got that low blood sugar fatigue.  I poured the rest of the drinks down the drain.

After my last article entitled “In God We Trust?” I realized that addiction can be a metaphor for the Garden of Eden in which Eve took a bite of the apple in spite of her guidance.  My guidance directed me not to go to that store and not buy that which I had decided was not in my highest interest.  Had I listened to my guidance, how much better would my body and mind have felt not having the sugar – organic or not, running through my system wreaking havoc?

I later heard in meditation, “Don’t do that again.”  When faced with an opportunity to go against your guidance and “take a bite of the apple,” remember the orchard of your true intentions that awaits you instead if you stay the course.  Please seek help if you feel you need it.

If you’re a parent with the habit of offering food or unhealthy beverages to your family to calm feelings, please make a conscious effort to change it.  A conversation, a hug, exercise or a heart-connecting alternative are just a few suggestions.  Stay the course.  The end result comes highly recommended 😉

To your health and happiness!