I recently read this headline: Why donuts are not nearly as much a problem as cigarettes.
The clickbait title did its trick — I soon read the entire article and was shocked.
It didn’t take me long to realize the author hadn’t meant the title to be clickbait — he was actually being serious.
In his view, cigarettes are seriously unhealthy, addictive, and can cause cancer, all of which is correct.
However, highly processed, sugary foods are not anywhere near as bad and don’t necessarily harm you.
Fun Fact: Do you know the world’s biggest cigarette manufacturer, Philip Morris, owns most of the largest food production companies in America?
Let that sink in.
Then he drops the following bombshell:
“There’s much discussion about whether food addiction is even a real thing.”
“Unlike other addictive substances, there’s no one food that people are addicted to — there’s no nicotine, heroin, cocaine, in food.”
That’s when I had to get up and walk around to calm my nerves and not bang my head against a wall!
This person shouldn’t discuss food, nutrition, health, or anything affecting people’s bodies and mental health — he clearly doesn’t grasp the subject he’s talking about.
I viewed the author’s BIO — confirmed — not a nutritionist, doctor, or any other sort of food specialist.
His view isn’t only completely wrong. It’s dangerously irresponsible and sends a green light to keep eating junk food to the very food addicts he says don’t exist.
There’s no one food to which people are addicted?
Oh no?
***How about SUGAR?***
Sugar is an addictive drug added to every processed savory food worldwide, which is terrible in itself.
Why do manufacturers add sugar to savory food? It makes their processed sludge tasty, making you addicted and returning for more.
Sugar isn’t classified as a drug (yet) — instead it’s wrongly classified as a food.
Here’s the paradox: Foods, officially, can’t be classified as drugs because they’re meant to be “nutrients.”
Do you see the irony?
Here are some quotes and science from reputable sources explaining how a drug is defined and how they affect the body and mind:
“Any substance that we use for pleasure can be an addiction — this includes sugar. Research shows that our brains are hardwired for pleasure, and sugar works much like many addictive drugs in that it affects the brain’s limbic system, the part of the brain that’s associated with emotional control.”ardurecoverycenter.com
“Alcohol and tobacco have long been accepted as harmful substances, as have illicit drugs like cocaine and heroin. Now, for the first time in human history, we are approaching a consensus on adding sugar to this list of dangerous, addictive drugs.” www.philmaffertone.com
“Addiction and the Mesolimbic Pathway — MLP”
“Drug addiction has been described as a chronically relapsing disorder characterized by compulsion to take one or more drugs of abuse (DOA) with loss of control over drug intake and continued use despite negative consequences.” Primescholars.com
Note: Once you start regularly consuming sugar, you can’t miss it — you’re hooked — despite knowing it’s making you fat and sick.
“Foods and beverages containing high concentrations of sugar.” Primescholars.com
Note: 80% of all food and beverages in supermarkets and restaurants contain natural or added sugar, or both.
“Excessive sugar consumption causes changes in the MLP that mimic the effects of drugs of abuse.”
“Understanding of the research previously cited in this article that indicate sugar’s effects on the MLP mimic the effects of numerous drugs of abuse including cocaine, heroin, nicotine, and alcohol.” Primescholars.com
“Mimic the effects of numerous drugs.”
Meaning: Imitate or Copy.
In simple English: Sugar has the same effect on the human brain and body as a class A narcotic.
There’s only one big difference.
Illegal Classified Drugs:
When you consume cocaine or heroin, certain parts of your brain are stimulated and “lit up,” releasing a sensation of pleasure — causing addiction.
However, they don’t make you gain weight, become obese, or diabetic.
Legal “Food Drugs:”
When consuming sugar, your whole brain lights up, and you’re “on fire.”
That’s the “pick-me-up” sugar rush sending signals to your pleasure dome — the same as cocaine or heroin.
It fills you with such enjoyment you quickly want more. Before you know it, that full cookie jar or a chocolate bar is gone! Know the feeling?
Once the sugar rush fades, your guilt sets in, the excuses and promises begin.
“Oh no, why did I eat that whole candy bar? I should know better. Next time, I’ll control myself, I promise.”
But it’s too late. You are and have been sugar addicted for years, but you just don’t know it.
Along with your guilt grows your waistline, belly, and the flab dangling from your arms, legs, butt, and face.
When you get there, you’ve made it to the top of the pile — the metabolic syndrome or meltdown pile, that is.
The next station on this slow train wreck is diabetes, obesity, and heart disease or stroke.
The author of this not-so-genius piece then concludes:
“Ultimately, it’s true that junk food is bad for our health, but putting a number on that harm is surprisingly difficult. We can say, with quite a bit of certainty, that food is different from smoking and addictive drugs.”
Wrong.
Truth: The “number of harm” junk food causes is colossal. Heart disease, caused by obesity because of junk food, is America’s No 1 killer.
“But comparing pizzas to heroin is just a bit absurd. Yes, these foods may be bad for us, but unlike most addictive substances, you really can’t live without food.”
Wrong again.
Truth:
1 — Nobody compares pizza to heroin — eating lots of it and other heavily processed junk foods has a far worse effect on your metabolic and mental health than heroin!
2 — No, you can’t live without food — real food. But you can and absolutely should live without toxic processed junk food, all forms of sugar, and drinks containing sugar.
The state of today’s mass food industry and its outlets, with the marketing attached to it, promoting sugar-laden foods and drinks to the population, especially children, is an alarming and shocking disgrace.
There, I said it again!
The rogue and mostly unregulated food industry methods have caused one of the biggest health crises in America and most of the world.
It will only worsen if the authorities don’t take action to stop and reverse these worrying developments.
Please read my related story here:
Final Thoughts
Sugar and highly-processed foods (such as donuts) are serious health hazards — there are no two ways about it. It’s a fact.
Junk food-related diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, anxiety, heart disease, and strokes are at an all-time high, and it’s time we start doing something about it.
I’m doing my best — please join me to help spread the message to the world.
Food should nourish and enhance your life, not kill you!
Rob
MBA from Robert Kennedy College & University of Cumbria, UK.
Certified Nutritionist & Health Coach | Trainer | Blogger | Copywriter | Author
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