Are You a Sugar Zombie?

By Dr. Scott Olson

Author of Sugarettes.

If you were a normal zombie, you would rise up out of your grave and stumble off in search of your craving: flesh. Sugar zombies, however, typically rise from their couch and go off in search of their craving: sugar. Sugar zombies yearning for sugar can sometimes only be satisfied with a pure sugary treat, but remember, certain foods act like sugar in the body (such are grains, chips, crackers, French fries and others…) and these “foods that act like sugar” are sometimes what the sugar zombie are searching for.

A funny thing about sugar zombies is that they can sometimes eat sugar even when they are not hungry and have just eaten. Do you remember going to a restaurant and having a full meal, and yet you still ordered desert? True sign of sugar zombieness.

Most people, when asked, will admit to some kind of sugar addiction and zombie-like behavior, but they often don’t realize just how strong that addiction can be, nor do they realize how much sugar can do to destroy their health.

What Science is Discovering about Zombies

Science is beginning to take sugar addiction serious. They have investigated how animals (mostly rats) act when they become addicted to sugar. Let’s take a peek inside the laboratory and see what they found out:

• Rats who were allowed to eat as much sugar as they like, eat a ton of it. If fact, they will often eat more sugar than any other type of food. Sometimes, they become so addicted to sugar that they become rat sugar zombies and sugar is all they will eat.(1)

• What happens when you addict rats to sugar and then take it away? Typically, they shake, tremble, become anxious and their teeth can even chatter.(2) They can also become much more aggressive. If this sounds like the symptoms of a junkie (or a zombie), you are exactly right. These typical withdrawal symptoms, show up in all sorts of other addictions, including smokers, drinkers, and drug addicts.

• Scientists took the next step, they addicted rats to sugar, took it away and then they brought it back. Guess what happened? The rats binged on the sugar and ate much more than they previously did. If this sounds a bit like the last time you went on a diet and gained more weight than you lost, then you are a true sugar zombie. Binging when the addiction is removed and then brought back is a clear sign of addiction.(3)

• When rats are under stress, they eat more sugar.(4) Once again, I’m guessing that this sounds a bit familiar to you? Do you eat more sugar when you are stressed?

• Scientists have discovered that the brains of rats change when they become addicted to sugar and the changes in their brains are very similar to those of other addicts, including smokers, alcoholics and drug addicts.(5)

• To test if a substance is really addictive, scientists will give animals the addicting substance (alcohol, drugs, nicotine…) and then give them a drug called an opioid antagonist. What the opioid antagonist does is block the brain from sensing the pleasurable aspects of the addicting substance. When opioid antagonists are given to sugar addicted zombie rats, they experience withdrawal exactly like rats addicted to morphine, alcohol or cigarettes.(6)

But are Zombies Hurt By Sugar?

Here is the real question you want to get to: You are a confirmed sugar zombie, but what is wrong with that? Well, it turns out, a lot! Sugar harms your body in three ways: it increases your weight, it leads to problems with insulin and blood sugar control, and it has a toxic effect on our blood vessels.

Let’s take a look:

• Weight Gain: According to the scientific and medical communities sugar is really not associated with weight gain. These health professionals will tell you that sugar contributes to weight gain because it contains calories. This is true. But sugar also contributes to weight gain just because it is sugar. It works this way: Your body has certain basic energy needs and sugar (mostly glucose) is the fuel that runs your body. Once you have enough sugar-fuel for all your energy needs, your body tends to store all the extra sugar as fat (and sugar zombies eat meals that often create a large amount of extra sugar in the blood that will get turned into fat).(7)

• Insulin Resistance: Sugar contributes to insulin resistance whenever blood sugar levels in the blood spike too high too often. When blood sugar levels in the body rise, insulin in the body also rises. Consistently high amounts of insulin in the body will eventually lead to cells down-regulating (or removing) insulin receptors; this eventually leads to a condition called insulin resistance (were the cells of the body are resistant to insulin) and diabetes. Insulin resistance does not develop when blood sugar levels are kept low.(8)

• Toxic Effects: Surprisingly, sugar is actually toxic blood vessels in the exact same way cigarette smoke is toxic to the lungs. Sugar causes harm to the protein structure of the blood vessel walls, eventually leading to destruction. This destruction can be seen dramatically in diabetics who have kidney disease, eye disease, heart disease, tingling in hands and feet, and even blindness and loss of limbs – all due to the destruction of blood vessels. (9) This same destruction happens in sugar zombies who don’t have diabetes, only at a slower pace.

How to Break the Zombie Spell

Getting over sugar cravings is not easy, especially when you are a sugar zombie, but then getting over any addiction can be hard. Know that the efforts you make are well worth it as the destruction that sugar creates is enormous.

Try these tips to stop your zombie sugar cravings:

• Eat more often: while this seems backwards, eating more often is much better for your blood sugar, your metabolism, and your sugar cravings.

• Eat fruit: It is easy to overdo this, but focus on fruits that are low on the glycemic index and try to eat them after a meal where they affect blood sugar less.

• Brush your teeth: This is a trick many people use to stop cravings and it will help your zombie smile.

• Exercise: A simple walk is often enough to stop cravings as it gets you up and moving and away from your temptations.

Take these tips and walk away from your zombie life. Simply being aware that you are a sugar zombie will make a huge change in your life. Take your sugar craving seriously – as you would any other addiction: know that the road will be tough at times, but that you can do it. Your reward, on the other side of your addiction, is better sleep, more energy, less sugar zombie-like behavior and a healthier life.

Recommended Reading: Sugarettes

Dr. Scott Olson is a Naturopathic doctor, expert in alternative medicine, author, and medical researcher. Spurred on by his patients’ struggles with sugar addiction, he was determined to discover how addictive and harmful sugar can be and ways to overcome that addiction.

The result of that study is his book Sugarettes, which details the addictive qualities of sugar and the harm that sugar does to our bodies.

Dr. Scott also maintains a blog which highlights the latest in health and healthy living. Subscribe or stop by to check out his latest research on sugar addiction.

References:

1.Spangler R, Wittkowski KM, Goddard NL, et al: Opiate-like effects of sugar on gene expression in reward areas of the rat brain. Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 2004 May 19;124(2):134-42.
2.Colantuoni C, Rada P, McCarthy J, et al: Evidence that intermittent, excessive sugar intake causes endogenous opioid dependence. Obes Res. 2002 Jun;10(6):478-88.
3.Pelchat ML. Of human bondage: food craving, obsession, compulsion, and addiction. Physiol Behav. 2002 Jul;76(3):347-52.
4.Gosnell BA. Sucrose intake predicts rate of acquisition of cocaine self-administration. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2000 Apr;149(3):286-92.
5.Avena NM, Rada P, Hoebel BG: Evidence for sugar addiction: behavioral and neurochemical effects of intermittent, excessive sugar intake. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2008;32(1):20-39. Epub 2007 May 18.
6.Avena NM, Long KA, Hoebel BG: Sugar-dependent rats show enhanced responding for sugar after abstinence: evidence of a sugar deprivation effect. Physiol Behav. 2005 Mar 16;84(3):359-62.
7.Livesey G: Low-glycaemic diets and health: implications for obesity. Proc Nutr Soc. 2005 Feb;64(1):105-13.
8.Henriksen HB, Kolset SO: Sugar intake and public health. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2007 Sep 6;127(17):2259-62.
9.Friedman EA: Advanced glycosylated end products and hyperglycemia in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. Diabetes Care. 1999 Mar;22 Suppl 2:B65-71.

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

An Interview with a Heroin Addict turned Psychologist

Everyone loves a poignant rags to riches tale.

We all want good to triumph over evil.

We all pray for those struggling through life that they eventually find their way. Struggling past insurmountable obstacles towards achievement is the all American dream.

In the case of Dr. Melinda Tyler, former heroin addict and sex worker, she has not only proudly triumphed drug addiction, but has become an award winning psychologist and professor, and is now using her personal experience to help drug addicts everywhere.

Every parent fears that their child will end up on drugs someday, and I have invited Dr. Melinda Tyler to the Kitchen Table to share with us the challenges she has proudly overcome. I hope Melinda’s inspiring story will help to create awareness for the signs of drug addiction as well as help everyone understand the true needs of drug addicts and what can and should be done in America to tackle this ever-growing problem.

Melinda, how did you become an addict?

I have thought about that a lot, naturally. My childhood laid a perfect storm for me to become self-destructive. I was sexually abused from the time I can remember until I was approximately 14 years old. I was self-destructive from an early age; I used to cut myself. If I felt physical pain, it helped the emotional pain subside. When I became involved in San Francisco’s punk rock scene and started working as an exotic dancer, I started dabbling in drugs.

I did cocaine for years before my taste in drugs turned to heroin. The first time I did heroin, I remember feeling so warm and secure—it was a feeling I’d always wanted and had never felt before. Although I had seen others become addicted, I was powerless to stop. It was as though I embraced that self-destructive lifestyle. I remember the day I realized I was a heroin addict—I thought it was a normal, natural course for my life—I thought I deserved to be an addict. I even accepted (and hoped) that it would bring me death.

What finally led you towards help for your addiction?

My first husband died of a heroin overdose and I found him dead. Our relationship had been mutually destructive but he had always managed to keep a roof over our heads—he was a functional addict. When Michael (my husband) died, I was devastated. I took on the guilt of being responsible for his death (we’d had an argument before I’d left the house that day). I kept wondering if Michael had really committed suicide and it tore me apart.

Within a few months, I lost everything—our apartment and all our possessions. I became homeless, sleeping with friends (and strangers) from time to time—sometimes even spending nights riding San Francisco’s Muni bus system because I had nowhere to go. I had worked as a high priced call girl earlier in my life—before I met Michael and to support my habit, I started turning tricks on the street. I did this for a year—living an absolute hell of a life.

Finally, one weekend, while I was staying at the apartment of a friend, I decided I’d had enough and tried to commit suicide. These were serious attempts and on the last one, I nearly succeeded and woke up in a hospital room after having been in a coma for the prior three days. While I was in the hospital, I met a man named Tim Callahan, who found a treatment center that was willing to take me with no money or insurance. I stayed there for six months—they saved my life. I have written about this experience on the Melindaville Blog in my blog post, “Courage to Change.”

What was the withdrawal from heroin like?

Heroin withdrawal is like having the worst flu you can imagine and multiply that by ten. One of the reasons why withdrawal is so intense is that through the course of becoming addicted to opiates, one’s body stops producing endorphins, which are our body’s natural painkillers.

These endorphins kick in more during times of exertion (such as when you are exercising) or when you injured yourself but they are always produced, which allows us to deal with the every day pains of life. Heroin is a synthetic painkiller, very similar in structure to endorphins, so your body stops producing endorphins when you become addicted.

Therefore, when you are going through withdrawal, your body has to learn to produce those endorphins all over again, which takes time. I have written more about the terrible effects of withdrawal in my post, “The Hell of Heroin Addiction,” on the Melindaville Blog.

Do you think that if you had earlier intervention for the sexual abuse that you could have avoided becoming a heroin addict?

As a psychologist, I can tell you that children are much more likely to respond to any kind of treatments than adults are because children are more malleable. It is hard to say what type of lasting effects the sexual abuse would have had, even if I had received help earlier. I believe if the problem had been recognized at an earlier time in my life and intervention taken, then I would not have been as self-destructive as I was.

Has heroin use left any lasting effects on your body?

Heroin, luckily, is one of the least damaging drugs on the body. It is not nearly as hard on one’s body as say, methamphetamine or even alcohol. However, the lifestyle is such that it is very damaging. For example, going into dangerous areas to buy drugs, sharing needles, using dirty needles, or overdosing are all more likely to happen if one is addicted to heroin.

For many years, when I was addicted to heroin, I didn’t have proper nutrition, particularly calcium; so as a result, I have had to have almost $40,000 worth of painful dental work. The other problem I am battling today is having degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, and arthritis in my lower back—and I believe both my dental and back conditions were the direct result of doing drugs for so long. I am very lucky, though, that I still have relatively good health and that my mind was not impaired.

What kind of help is available for addicts?

One of the biggest reasons I am writing my book is to increase awareness that about the need for free and available treatment—because so very few options exist today for those who don’t have money or insurance. And many insurance policies don’t pay for treatment at all. There are limited options in urban areas, such as drug detoxification or community daycare, but they are unfunded and inadequate. Recently, there has been a huge influx of heroin in rural areas of our country, which I wrote about in a recent post, “The Hell of Heroin Addiction.”

What kind of help do addicts really need?

It should be as easy to get into treatment as it is to buy a drug on the street—and that is the bottom line. Addicts need to have comprehensive treatment that addresses the root causes of addiction, which are multifactorial and complex. I was in treatment for nearly six months and I needed every minute of that time. Through the course of my treatment, I started cognitive behavioral therapy, group therapy, job and life skill training, and learned to understand my addiction. Thirty days and then back to the same old neighborhood is not enough to produce lasting change, in my opinion.

It would really be better for our country financially to address treatment rather than simply locking addicts up. The great majority of inmates of non-violent crimes have an underlying substance abuse problem that is the real root of their criminal behavior yet only about 10% of the time is treatment even offered. If we can offer comprehensive and truly rehabilitative treatment, we can go a long way in addressing overcrowding in jails.

What can you teach children and teenagers now to prevent them from becoming addicted to drugs?

I strongly feel that many cases of addictions are genetically driven; therefore, I feel it is so important for parents who know of addiction in their immediate or extended family to talk about those dangers with their kids. At some point, we will probably be able to have DNA testing to determine if people have an addiction gene (we know that genes are implicated in addiction). Early communication and prevention are key; this should to start in the home, and then be reinforced in school and in communities.

What kinds of signs should parents watch out for that may indicate their children are on drugs?

Disorganized behavior, drastic changes in mood or friends, problems at school, or children isolating, or stopping to enjoy things they used to like, such as extracurricular activities at school.

What can parents do to prevent their children from using drugs?

Communication is the best key there is. Parents are too often afraid to speak to their kids about these kinds of issues but this is so important. And again, parents should let children know about addiction or alcoholism in their family so children know they are at high risk for developing a problem themselves. Knowledge is the best defense, in my opinion.

What can President Elect Barack Obama do to fix the drug crisis in America?

Acknowledge that it exists and that it is worsening. And it will likely become even worse with the state of world affairs and the economy. One of the biggest reasons why people want to do drugs is to escape—and these are times that make people want to escape. President Obama needs to not only address universal health care, but have treatment be part of that care. There were so many times I had a moment of clarity and wanted to stop using—but I would become so frustrated at not being to find help—and after a time, those moments of clarity pass. In my Melindaville post, “The Woman in the Satchel.” I wrote about how my mother had saved this large bag of old poems, lyrics, letters, and artwork that I had written during my addict year. I came across letters I had completely forgotten I had even written in which I just begged her to get me into treatment.

How has this experience shaped your life?

In just about every way possible. Because of wasting so many years in addiction, I am extremely driven today. I feel like a woman who was on death row and who is now on parole. I want to take advantage of every second of life. I want to experience all the joy that had been missing from my life for so many years.

The biggest way in which my life has been shaped is in my commitment to my cause, which is to start The Melindaville Foundation, which will help addicts in the sex industry get into comprehensive treatment and from there, help them pay for college or job training of their choice. I am committed to the belief that anyone can change as I did if he or she is given access to the resources and help that I was so lucky to receive.

Thank you Melinda for sharing your empowering story at the kitchen table. It truly takes tremendous courage and compassion to share your story in order to help other addicts. I look forward to sharing your book with my readers when it comes out and working with you in the future to further raise awareness about drug addiction through prevention.

To follow The Melindaville Blog and read more amazing stories about Melinda Tyler’s challenges around overcoming heroin addiction, stop by her website and subscribe. The most important thing parents can do NOW is focus on prevention and early recognition of the signs and symptoms of substance abuse.

Related Reading: “How to Keep Kids off Drugs,” “Natural Healing from Meth Abuse.”

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Natural Healing from Drug Abuse: Meth Amphetamines

Q. How can I use natural medicine to heal my body from drug addiction? I am a recovering meth addict. I have been off meth for five years now, but continue to gain weight. It seems like meth abuse destroyed my metabolism. What can I do to lose the weight, and not feel so tired all the time?

A. First and foremost, congratulations for staying off meth. You should be extremely proud of yourself for overcoming such a powerful addiction that tends to be running rampant in our community these days. Recovering from drug addiction truly requires the mind/body/spirit model of medicine that naturopathic philosophy embraces. The mechanical process of withdrawing from heavy drugs can be difficult enough, however to ensure true success and restore your mental and physical health to their optimal conditions; natural medicines such as healing foods, herbs, and supplements can play an important role.

Although quitting meth is the first step, in order to ensure long term success with abstinence, one must address the reason why drugs were turned to in the first place. Counseling and a supportive treatment program such as Narcotics Anonymous or AA are important for preventing relapse. A counselor will help you better understand your addictive tendencies, and a supportive group such as AA will remind you to always abstain from meth.

For those recovering from addictions, I highly recommend the book by compulsive behavior specialist, Mary O’malley, “The Gift of Our Compulsions”. Anyone that has quit drugs to switch to chain smoking, or quit alcohol to turn to compulsive shopping has not addressed the “root cause” of their compulsive behavior. Mary’s book will teach you to learn from your addiction and use your compulsive tendencies as a tool and not a weapon.

Anxiety is often the root cause of addiction. Letting go of worry by placing your life in God’s hands can alleviate much of the anxiety and stress that we tend to place upon ourselves. Establishing a strong spiritual connection, and finding a church or source of spiritual inspiration that works for you is extremely important for the long term big picture of healing from drug abuse.

Naturopathic medicine can be very helpful for restoring the system to a healthier place after the ravages of meth addiction. If I were to see a patient recovering from meth addiction that was consistently putting on weight, I would order some basic blood work to screen for thyroid issues, and other biochemical causes of metabolic imbalance. Liver function tests to rule out damage to the liver are usually included in a standard comprehensive metabolic panel. Although the body is typically pretty resilient, knowing if damage has occurred to the body’s detoxification center is prudent to your long term health. Addressing hormonal imbalances such as hypothyroidism that may have resulted from chronic meth abuse should help with the weight gain issues, especially for those that are exercising and eating healthy, but still putting on weight.

Meth abuse may have caused your thyroid to burn out, as meth primarily abuses the adrenal glands, and the adrenal glands support the functioning of our thyroid. The thyroid sets our metabolism.

To understand how meth abuse may have affected your hormonal system, think of the adrenal glands like a factory. The factory can only produce so many products at once. Eventually the factory cannot keep up with the demands placed on the system, and the glands can no longer keep up with making all the chemicals that the body depends on for normal functioning.

Some basic adrenal support may be helpful to support the glands while they re-establish the normal production of adrenaline and catecholamines that meth abuse depleted. Some patients may also need to be put on thyroid medication if their TSH is showing hypothyroidism. Fatigue and weight gain are both signs of hypothyroidism.

Adrenal Support Herbs for Meth Recovery

Licorice (glycyrrhiza glabra), Siberian ginseng (eleutherococcus), ashwaganda (withania somnifera)and schisandra tend to be great herbs for those recovering from drug addiction. I would avoid herbs that are over stimulating. The body has been stimulated for too long already, and needs to be nourished and calmed down for the most part.

Although the thyroid is the primary set point for metabolism, the liver is the “fat burner” of the body. Toxic chemicals like crystal meth, cocaine, and other designer drugs are especially hard on the liver. Weight that gathers around the mid section is a classic sign for liver stagnation issues. For those that have had a short stint with drug abuse I would be less concerned. For those that have abused drugs for more than a year, I would do a very slow detox program over an entire year or so. Meth is full of toxic solvents so I would avoid any rapid detox programs and opt for a more gentle nourishing cleanse over a prolonged period. Your body has already been through enough. It does not need to deal with a harsh extreme sudden detox as well.

You can read about foods, herbs, and lifestyle suggestions to support the liver and the natural detoxification of the system in our articles under the detox category to understand the gist of detoxification….

Liver Support Herbs for Meth Recovery

Milk thistle (pictured above), schisandra, turmeric, artichoke, dandelion root, and N-acetyl cysteine (not an herb but an important detoxifier of the system use 600mg twice daily to support phase II detoxification pathways of the liver) are all great for restoring healthy liver function and moving toxins out of the body.

Sweating for Meth Detoxification

Saunas and sweating through exercise are amongst the best ways to remove the body of toxic solvents such as incurred from meth abuse. Saunas should not be used by those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, diabetes, intolerance to heat, pregnancy, or any other health conditions. For healthy individuals a twenty minute sweat followed by a rinse with cold water can be done daily to promote the detoxification of the harsh solvents used in the production of methamphetamines and street drugs.

Please note the following protocol is simply for example only. This is not individualized naturopathic care. Please work with a physician before implementing any new treatments. Natural medicines, just like prescription medicines come with lists of contraindications, safety concerns, and drug interactions. Please work with a naturopathic physician for a personalized plan.

Sample Naturopathic Protocol for Recovering from Meth Addiction:

• Work with a counselor or therapist to resolve past issues.
• Put your life in God’s hands and find a spiritual connection: church and AA work well for most.
• Read Mary O’Malley’s book “The Gift of Our Compulsions”.
• Deep breathing to manage stress: Five minutes to zen.
• Adopt an organic Whole Foods Diet to cleanse the system, aid detox, and reduce the total load of toxins burdening the system.
• Adrenal support: Licorice root tincture (do not use if you have high blood pressure) Typical dose is about 2 dropperfuls (should be about 60 drops) in a little bit of water, both morning and afternoon. Do not use adrenal support late in the evening. The adrenal glands are active in the morning and the goal is to re-implement a healthy circadian rhythm.
• Liver Support Foods
• High Fiber Diet for weight loss, and to pull toxins from the system while ensuring proper elimination of toxins from the bowel.
• N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) 600mg capsule taken twice daily to support the liver.
• Milk Thistle- 3 capsules twice daily, tincture equivalent, or other liver supportive herbs discussed above.
• Schisandra chinensis capsules two twice daily to support the adrenal glands, cleanse the liver, and reduce anxiety.
• Sweating. Sauna for twenty minutes daily to sweat out toxins. End with a cold shower.
• Drink 60-80 ounces of water daily to stay hydrated and ensure adequate elimination.
• Keep in mind that detoxing may cause headaches, fatigue, and other symptoms initially. Sleep as needed, and be gentle with yourself. Increase the dose of the liver support supplements slowly over time to reduce the likelihood of side effects.

Thank you for stopping by my kitchen table to ask the question. You should be immensely proud of yourself for overcoming the extreme challenges of addiction to meth! Feel free to ask any additional questions in the comments section. I hope my response will inspire you to seek holistic care from a naturopath as well as grant your body the healing time that it needs to restore your health to optimal functioning.

~Dr. Nicole Sundene

Naturopathic Physician

www.KitchenTableMedicine.com

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What are You Doing to Keep Your Kids off Drugs?

Before school gets out is the time to sit down with your kids and plan summer activities that keep them engaged, keep them motivated, keep them working hard and learning, and most importantly keep them off drugs.

What are you NOT doing to keep your kids off drugs?

You should NOT, in my medical opinion allow teenagers to have a free and open summer schedule.

I am not telling you all of this to frighten you, but to serve as a very important wake-up call as summer is right around the corner and “idle minds, idle hands, and idle teenagers are the devils playground.”

Or so the saying should really go… Read more

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