Here’s a dirty little secret about white sugar: It contains absolutely no nutritional value. Sugar is often called the anti-nutrient. Consumption of sugar steals important vitamins and minerals from the body such as calcium, potassium, thiamin, chromium and vitamin C. ¹
Processed sugars and carbohydrates, which convert into sugar, will cause a rapid increase in insulin levels in the bloodstream. This rapid increase causes a release of endorphins. These endorphins will cause the body to have a chemical mental “high”, which lifts your mood.
Continuous use of sugar causes the brain’s endorphin sites to slow and shut down to regulate the amount of endorphins in the brain. When these endorphin sites are damaged in the brain it will cause a chemical mental “low”, commonly called depression. To maintain endorphin levels in the brain, a person must consume more sugar to get out of the depressed state. This will cause a vicious cycle of depression and addiction.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology found low levels of insulin and serotonin to have a higher incidence of depression and suicidal tendencies. Too much sugar has been found to deplete serotonin levels in the brain, thus producing depression. According to research, low levels of serotonin also trigger sugar cravings. Our adrenal glands release cortisol to address the damaging effects of sugar in our body. Cortisol is a stress hormone proven to cause weight gain.
One of the most important nutritional supplements found to counteract the effects of sugar and depression is Omega-3 fatty acids.² Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce the damaging effects of cortisol while promoting healthy production of serotonin. The ideal balance of Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids has been found to be in a 2:1 ratio.³ The Standard American Diet (SAD) often contains 25 times more omega-6 than omega -3 fatty acids.
During the holiday season it is common to over-eat and over-indulge. From turkey with all the trimmings, to leftovers, holiday office and neighborhood parties, Christmas cookies and pies and one more big feast on New Year’s Day; there’s so many ways to get off our diet at this time of the year.
It's time to face the facts. The holiday season is the most common time to experience depression. It is a time that we add belly fat and numbers of medications. From depression, diabetes and heart disease to expensive dental cavities, sugar is draining our bodies, our checkbooks, and our minds. It is a legalized drug that has no nutritional benefit. It’s time for a change. Let’s start to prepare our New Year’s resolutions. A New Year, a New You!
Dr. Cory Couillard is an international healthcare speaker and columnist for numerous newspapers, magazines, websites and publications throughout the world. He works in collaboration with the World Health Organization's goals of disease prevention and global healthcare education. Views do not necessarily reflect endorsement.
Email: drcorycouillard@gmail.com
Facebook: Dr Cory Couillard
Twitter: DrCoryCouillard
Processed sugars and carbohydrates, which convert into sugar, will cause a rapid increase in insulin levels in the bloodstream. This rapid increase causes a release of endorphins. These endorphins will cause the body to have a chemical mental “high”, which lifts your mood.
Continuous use of sugar causes the brain’s endorphin sites to slow and shut down to regulate the amount of endorphins in the brain. When these endorphin sites are damaged in the brain it will cause a chemical mental “low”, commonly called depression. To maintain endorphin levels in the brain, a person must consume more sugar to get out of the depressed state. This will cause a vicious cycle of depression and addiction.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology found low levels of insulin and serotonin to have a higher incidence of depression and suicidal tendencies. Too much sugar has been found to deplete serotonin levels in the brain, thus producing depression. According to research, low levels of serotonin also trigger sugar cravings. Our adrenal glands release cortisol to address the damaging effects of sugar in our body. Cortisol is a stress hormone proven to cause weight gain.
One of the most important nutritional supplements found to counteract the effects of sugar and depression is Omega-3 fatty acids.² Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce the damaging effects of cortisol while promoting healthy production of serotonin. The ideal balance of Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids has been found to be in a 2:1 ratio.³ The Standard American Diet (SAD) often contains 25 times more omega-6 than omega -3 fatty acids.
During the holiday season it is common to over-eat and over-indulge. From turkey with all the trimmings, to leftovers, holiday office and neighborhood parties, Christmas cookies and pies and one more big feast on New Year’s Day; there’s so many ways to get off our diet at this time of the year.
It's time to face the facts. The holiday season is the most common time to experience depression. It is a time that we add belly fat and numbers of medications. From depression, diabetes and heart disease to expensive dental cavities, sugar is draining our bodies, our checkbooks, and our minds. It is a legalized drug that has no nutritional benefit. It’s time for a change. Let’s start to prepare our New Year’s resolutions. A New Year, a New You!
Dr. Cory Couillard is an international healthcare speaker and columnist for numerous newspapers, magazines, websites and publications throughout the world. He works in collaboration with the World Health Organization's goals of disease prevention and global healthcare education. Views do not necessarily reflect endorsement.
Email: drcorycouillard@gmail.com
Facebook: Dr Cory Couillard
Twitter: DrCoryCouillard
[1] http://web.mit.edu/athletics/sportsmedicine/wcrminerals.html
[2] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC533861
[3] http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/omega-6-000317.htm
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