Those crazy cravings

It is said that everyone has an addiction of some sort, but some are more costly than others. It can be costly to health, home, personal, family and work life. An addiction not commonly thought of is sugar. The holidays always bring with it abundance of sugar, and with it cravings that can be out of control. Stress during this time of year worsens all cravings - cravings for sugar, tobacco, drugs, alcohol and others.

So what can we do to reduce our cravings for sugar and other addictive substances, especially at this time of year?

Try to get a handle on why you grab for sugar or other addictive substances in the first place. If it is stress, call someone. Who do you know that seemingly has no addictions? Call and ask what they do to handle their stress or other events that trigger other people to put things in their mouth that aren't healthy for them. Interview them. Get ideas. Be careful that you don't substitute one addiction for another.

One reason many eat sugar is because they are dehydrated. Sugar is moistening, and so we tend to confuse the need for moisture for the craving for sugar. Drinking a large glass of water instead will curb many cravings.

Eating good, wholesome foods leads to satiation. The brain is satisfied that it has enough nutrients that it no longer craves other things. A nutrient-rich diet can turn off the hunger signals because the brain is happy.

If you have to have something, choose a healthier version. Most desires for sugar are satisfied with a piece of fruit or a date or a healthier version of a cookie. Be careful with the latter. It's still sugar, and still has health damaging effects, even if the ingredients are better or have more nutritional value.

Avoid artificial sweeteners. Most people believe that because they are low on a glycemic scale you can eat whatever you want. Not so. Some artificial sweeteners have 200 times the sweetness of sugar. When that message is relayed to the brain from the tongue, the brain thinks that so much more sugar is coming than actually does, and the response is generally the opposite of what we were hoping for. They tend to make blood sugar unstable and do nothing to cut sugar cravings.

Educate yourself. Understanding what sugar or other addictive substances do to the body sometimes helps. For every time you decide to choose health over satisfying the small piece of meat in your mouth (your tongue), it counts.

When you understand that sugar suppresses the immune system; that it has been linked to mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, OCD, bi-polar, and others; that it erodes the enamel on your teeth; that it contributes to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and other devastating diseases, it helps.

One of the best ways to control cravings is through acupuncture. Acupuncturists use specific points on the body and on the ear that help suppress cravings. Much research has been done on acupuncture's effectiveness in treating alcohol, drug, tobacco and other substance abuse, including sugar and over-eating in general.

What's really great about acupuncture and its effectiveness in controlling cravings is that it also helps to control withdrawal symptoms. These include agitation, anger outbursts, irritability, cravings for other substances, loss of energy, emotional instability, anxiety, depression or emotional withdrawal, restlessness, headaches, and more. When a person comes in for treatments, the known withdrawal symptoms are immediately treated and other symptoms get treated as they pop up. It is such a fantastic way of subduing addictions that it is one of the most widely used reasons for seeking acupuncture treatments.

Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with more than 35 years of experience. She is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health-care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d'Alene clinic.

Visit Carling's website at www.vitalhealthandfitness.com to learn more about Carling, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. She can be reached at (208) 765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.