WHAT TO DO ABOUT SUGAR ADDICTION
In recent years, sugar addiction particularly to soft drinks has become a common complaint among my clients. This is not surprising. A Scientific Statement in the AHA (American Heart Association) JOURNAL CIRCULATION reported that in the 2000s Americans increased their intake of sugar by an average of 22.2. teaspoons. That is the equivalent of 355 calories most of it consumed in soft drinks.
The statement identifies a large number of health problems caused by this excess sugar including: weight gain, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low levels of HDL cholesterol which is the good cholesterol and increased risk for cardiovascular disease which includes stroke. Based on research at the University of Colorado Denver Health Sciences Center who analyzed health and diet data from more than 4,500 people who had no history of high blood pressure, the America Heart Association issued the following guidelines. 1) Women should eat no more than 100 calories of added sugar per day or six teaspoons. 2) Men should eat no more than 150 calories of added sugar or nine teaspoons. Since one twelve ounce can of cola contains eight teaspoons of sugar or 150 calories even one soda is too much for a woman.
Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, author of BEAT SUGAR ADDICTION NOW! (Fair Winds) says, "Eating too much sugar is an addiction. Sugar gives you an initial high, you crash several hours later, and this leaves you wanting more sugar." He has several recommendations that can help including: 1) using sugar substitutes such as stevia and erythritol which are combined in the products PureVia and Truvia, 2) Getting seven to nine hours of sleep which he says "optimizes energy, decreases appetite and slashes sugar cravings, 3) drinking water to stay hydrated, 4) cutting out excess caffein, 4) taking a multivitamin/mineral supplement since low levels of nutrients can trigger food cravings and 5) Eating whole foods including vegetables, whole grains, beans and meat which do not trigger sugar cravings
If you need help making these changes, hypnosis can be a valuable tool. Beat your sugar addiction and BE WELL.