Compensating for Something with Sugar
I am a recovering addict. Yes, you read right. Most people who meet me for the first time think I have it all together. I am into green smoothies, yoga and a sugar-free lifestyle. Well, that is the daily goal anyway. As a recovering addict, I have my downfalls. Stress means the occasional slip of a piece of chocolate. It is part of my make-up, but I work daily to correct and improve my behavior.
The fact is that once you realize and face your addiction, you’re now in the know that you are at greater risk of developing another. In fact, most addicts have secondary addictions. We smoke like chimneys and we rely upon another huge emotional stimulant- sugar! The concept of an “addictive personality” has been around for decades—even a 12-step program focuses on the “always an addict” ideology to help people battle unhealthy lifestyles.
Turning a dollar into four quarters. Sugar addiction is another way to compensate for something you’re lacking- this is in addiction to the genetic makeup of addiction. You quit smoking and turn to constantly eating; you go from drinking all the time to being unable to stop shopping; from getting a pleasant feeling from sex to consuming chocolate all of the time because it can help your brain recreate that positive post-sex feeling. The fact is, many people who have sugar addiction are simply substituting one addiction for another in an attempt to compensate for something they are emotionally or psychological lacking. Sadly, like any chemical drug or nicotine addiction- even booze- when you become addicted to sugar, you’re doing damage to your body, your health, and even your appearance.
You NEED sugar, it’s science. A recent study out of UCLA found that substitute addictions aim to serve the same purpose as the original. Sugar to replace drugs or booze- even sex- is used to regain a positive feeling regardless if we realize it or now. And Dopamine plays a large role in this as the same mesolimbic pathways are activated in all kinds of addictions. Simpy put, once you get sober, you may feel a lack of the neurotransmitter dopamine- which actually leads to the inability to experience pleasure in positive life events. You body and brain will crave the things needed to compensate for this. These secondary behavior or substance based addictions actually always develop and these battle also has to be won.
What are you doing to address the need for compensation? You can kick an addiction, but until you get to the root about why you’re overcompensating, are you really winning? Realizing the addiction is real and then that you have to beat it using behavior and chemical techniques, well- that is the battle. If you’re using sugar and/or nicotine to regain the pleasant feelings that came with the high of a drug or alcohol addiction, know that now that the drugs and alcohol are gone, the sad feelings or underlining issues fueling the original addiction are raw and are at the surface. Are you smothering these feelings with sugar? Using the sweet white stuff to emotionally feel better? How about smoking? Are you choking down the smoke to avoid sitting still? Discovering why you need to feel the emotional void of things is just as important as understanding the chemical calling for that Dopamine high.
Start today with this recipe. You only need to take one step to start the journey today. If you are battling a secondary addiction to sugar (or even a primary one) and it is not only impacting your health, but helping you to avoid serious emotional issues, you can beat it. In fact, you should be encouraged because kicking one addiction shows your physical and mental capability. So, take the first step and start with this cleansing smoothing. It is your first foot in-front of the other on your journey.
The Addict’s Cleanse Smoothie
1/2 cup of water
1/2 banana
1 Tbsp. ground flax seed or chia seed (chia doesn’t have to be grounded)
2 cups coconut milk (unsweetened)
1 + 1/2 handful kale (chopped)
2 cups dark sweet cherries (frozen)
1 Tbsp. fresh chopped ginger
Mix all ingredients together in a high-blender and blend on high until smooth. Use more or less water to achieve desired consistency. The kale and ginger help cleanse the system while the natural sugar in the cherries help boost Dopamine levels!