Life can be bitter or
sweet - especially if we learn to control the tempting poisons that are part of
our everyday life.
Some
may consider them rewards; others, a must during "cheat days."
Whatever the labels you give them, these little habits could be our poison or
our medicine.
Sweet somethings
Because
sugar is more than just a sweet delight for the palate and the senses, when
taken excessively, it could lead to health complications. Sugar has been linked
to diabetes, fatigue, obesity, kidney problems, heart disease, dementia and
tooth decay. So what is the minimum sugar tolerance of the body?
It
is widely believed that the human body doesn't need too much sugar except in
its natural form, as fructose or simple sugars. According to Wikipedia, the
average person consumes 24 kg of sugar a year. Now if you break that down,
that's 260 calories per person per day. Think about it: If you are female, your
recommended average calories intake should be around 1,500. This means that
almost 20 per cent of your regular intake is sugar. Carbohydrates fall under
the category of sugar.
Know
that most carbohydrates turn to glucose during digestion.
Sugar
trivia: Even if you are a vegetarian, you must know that sugar cane, sugar beet
and carrots are sweet and considered sucrose. Likewise, milk in the form of
lactase is a naturally occurring sugar.
According
to a Swedish study by Lund University, sugar has been associated with an
increase in LDL or bad cholesterol. So, if you have a sweet tooth, try not to
nurture it daily. Instead, increase your consumption of vegetables and fiber.
Here's
the trick: having sugar cravings? Understandable. Sugar can give you an instant
high. But it also gives you a drastic low. This seesaw effect isn't good for
your pancreas, which has to release insulin to regulate high blood-sugar
levels.
To
quell your hunger for sweets, take protein or vegetables before consuming that
chocolate cake or bowl of ice cream. This should effectively manage your sugar
levels.
Warning:
The immune system is clearly depressed by high sugar consumption. So, if you
want to keep your immunity strong, consume sugar in moderation.
The high that is a
low
Dependence
happens slowly. Substances that alter the mood while numbing the senses are
considered drugs.
Why
do people become drug-dependent? Because drugs make them feel good. But this is
only temporary.
Joan
Mathews Larson, PhD, author of Seven Weeks to Sobriety, explains that drugs
fill a certain need in a person's life.
While
the relief is short-lived, continuous use of drugs over time-whether heroin,
sedatives or alcohol-will interfere with the body's natural ability to produce
endorphins, the "feel-good" hormones. And when this happens, the
cycle of craving for a drug leads to dependency. Gary Zukav and Linda Francis
share this bit of wisdom in The Heart of the Soul.
Alcoholism
and drug addiction are symptoms. The cause: a deeper problem that must be
resolved if the symptoms are to be removed for good.
More
often than not, it is intense emotional pain. Do you know that the difference
between addiction, frequent use and less frequent use is just a matter of one
degree? They're the same culprits that are the cause-fears of inadequacy,
failure, insecurity, rejection, stress.
Emotional
pain is connected to the core problem: a disconnection with the soul. There are
parts of a person that need healing, requiring an inward journey. This journey
is a brave one for those who wish to conquer their weaknesses. It involves an
exploration of the self and an examination of every experience of humiliation
and hurt.
When
you are in emotional pain, your soul is aching. There is a call from within
you. Alcohol and drugs are ways of avoiding and ignoring the calls, whether
it's for one day or a lifetime. But the drugs and alcohol will not stop the
calls from coming through.
They
will only stop when you heed them and eventually heal your hurts. Because in
the end, only you can heal yourself. The answer is in your hands.
Bingeing beyond
belief
Even
if you surround yourself with food, you will still be hungry. Why can eating
become a problem? Because many people tend to eat emotionally, whether they are
aware of it or not.
To
those who are food bingeing right now, stop and listen. It is not the
gratification you got from food that you actually need-it's your acceptance of
yourself. Beyond the chocolate bars, chips and pastas, there is you, seeking
self-validation. And you will not find it in food. Find the root of your
obsession and obsessive eating.
Maybe
your love life is in chaos, or you feel overburdened with work or abused by
your friends or family. Feeling betrayed and neglected, your turn to comfort
foods instead of seeking comfort from those who truly care.
Food
bingeing is an addiction. It is also a form of denial. Look for the reason
behind the food craving each time you see food.
List
down your reasons for eating. For example:
I
deserve to eat because I am…
I
don't care how I look, I'm hungry.
I
am angry; that's why food is my reward.
Every
time you are in need of food, ask yourself: "Do I really need to eat
this?" Once awareness has set in, then your road to recovery has begun.
The
banquet that never ends is the one that elevates your celebration of life to a
new awareness of who you truly are.
Cory
Quirino
Philippine
Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network
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