What Got Us Into This Mess?
From the beginning of time, the taste of sweetness has appealed to human beings and attracted us. We read in scripture of eating locusts and wild honey; we read of Samson killing the lion and eating the honey inside the carcass. We read of a “land flowing with milk and honey,” and that manna had the taste of “wafers made with honey.” So it’s obvious that sweet taste is something we desire, and something we seek to eat. Even Eve was tempted with a fruit that was delicious and desirable.
But it’s only recently (as in the past couple of hundred years), and even more recently (since “fast food” was developed), that sweet taste–and with it, refined sugar and sugar substitutes, as well as genetically modified sugar beets and chemical sweeteners–have gained footage in the food dollar.
So how did we get into this mess?
We now know the connections between sugar consumption and Diabetes Type II. We know that obesity has skyrocketed. Food processors have cut back on fat content and added sweeteners to compensate. Even school-aged children are showing signs of addiction to sugar. What chance do the rest of us have? And how (if it is possible) can we take the reins back into our hands and get our sugar addictions under control?
Answers in History
At one time, sugar was a rare commodity. Either you found a bees’ nest, or you kept the blackstrap molasses when the sugar beets or sugar cane were crushed. Sugar in colonial times sold in small, compressed cones that looked like the picture above.
See the little “nippers” on the side of the plate? That’s how sugar was apportioned. A tiny nip of the sweet cone, and people could sweeten their lemonade. Sugar was sold in pharmacies, along with other drugs. And a cone like this would last a very long time. People relied upon the natural, healthy sweetness of fruits to satisfy their sweet tooth. The taffy pulls, baked cakes, and cookies were either made with honey or molasses as a rule, and they were for rare and special occasions.
Perhaps that is one factor that brought us to this point. We have inherited from our ancestors the sense that sweetness is a rare and special treat, and in an effort to compensate for the other areas where we perceive ourselves to fall short, we make a batch of brownies, or a plate of cookies to take to a neighbor. We take our kids out for fast food, and their meal contains a sweet dessert. Meals out offer the inevitable dessert menu.
Sweetness bombards us. It’s at every party, every celebration; every occasion. It is our perceived key of kindness.
So What Can We Do?
So what are we to do?
Somewhere, in all of this, there is an answer. If we can look upon using sugar in small quantities, as in the little colonial cone, that can help. If we create an expectation for ourselves, that we will only eat one sweet item–and we premeasure it–we may have the self control to get the sugar addictions under control. For some of us, we will need to completely quit. And it is possible to do that.
Even more possible is the ability to create healthy options that satisfy us when we are not hungry. Our danger zone is when we are past the point of merely being hungry and are approaching ravenous. Or we may be in trouble when we use the promise of something sweet as an emotional reward.
If you or someone you love faces this issue, you might want to consider the Sweet Freedom from Sugar Training Course. I’ll be launching this breakthrough program in a few short days. It has all of the information you need to become free from addiction to sugar.
You may be part of my regular list for the Health Secret. You may be a friend on Facebook. You may be a patient of mine, or already on the list to learn about Sweet Freedom from Sugar when it comes out.
May I ask a favor of you? I’d like to send you a quick survey (only 12 questions), to learn exactly what the concerns are that you have about sugar. If sugar IS an issue for you, would you please take a few moments and fill out the survey? I’ll send it out this week. And if you already know you want to be free from sugar addiction, please feel free to indicate your interest here. In the meantime, thank you.
To your dynamic health and energy! Dr. Stan
