The Dopamine Effect

PastrieslHave you heard of Dopamine?

Naturally present in the human body, it’s often referred to as the “feel good” chemical – acting as both a neurotransmitter and a hormone.

It’s a good one to know about!

In fact, any time you feel a burst of excitement, pleasure, alertness or general euphoria – that’s dopamine at work!

Life would be pretty sad without it, don’t you think?

Well, here’s another fact about dopamine – it’s also activated by Sugar.

(Perhaps this is what’s really going on when we talk about a “sugar high”).

As it turns out, there’s a link between dopamine and highly processed foods – things like chips and other snack foods, fast food (think French fries), and all those frozen meals in the freezer section of your local market.

That’s because dopamine also plays a major role in addiction!

(Gluten-free or not, it makes no difference).

So, when food manufacturers inject our food with oodles of fat, sugar and salt – guess what happens?

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What Are You Craving?

“Sugar is a food fraught with layers of emotional meaning, inextricably linked with your sense of comfort and well-being”.  Andrea Nakayama

 

Do you sometimes crave a certain food?

Or is “often” a more accurate description?

Whether ‘sometimes”, or  “often”, cravings are usually a sign that something is out of balance in your body.

It could be due to hormones, a nutritional imbalance, low blood sugar or even stress.

Of course, any food can become a substitute for what we’re really craving in the moment.

However, for many of us, our go-to comfort food is Sugar.

If your downfall seems to be Sugar, you’re not alone.

In fact, the more you crave a certain food, it’s often your Body’s way of telling you in an oh-so-subtle-way to cut back.

And while you may not be able to ditch those sugar cravings completely – after all, we’re biologically programmed to love anything sweet – it is possible to get your sugar cravings under control by ditching soda and processed foods.

In lieu of refined sugar, consider alternate ways to satisfy your sweet tooth.

At the same time, keep in mind that alternate sweeteners such as agave, honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar and sucanat – to name a few – are still Sugar.

They may seem to be easier on your blood sugar levels – but the bottom line is still this:

Sugar is Sugar.

That’s a tough one to swallow, I know.

Consider too, that the very foods we often crave are often the very foods we’re highly sensitive, or allergic to!

(Yet another reason to avoid them).

A strange anomaly, yes, but also fascinating, if you take the time to think about it.

Then again, perhaps salty – rather than sweet – foods are your downfall?

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