Sugarholism

The work of Dr Robert Lustig, a consultant Paediatrician in California, has heightened awareness on the dangers of sugar to the human body. Lustig explains why the massive increase in sugar consumption is responsible for the explosion in obesity and chronic ill-health affecting the Western world over the last four decades. He draws attention to the range of illnesses afflicting the overweight and identifies them as exactly the same illnesses that alcoholics suffer from – heart disease, fatty liver, diabetes, cancer, hypertension and dementia. With such a strong correlation might it also be appropriate to address sugar addiction in a similar way with a twelve step programme?

Overeaters Anonymous formed in 1960 and is now present in 75 countries. It helps tens of thousands of sufferers break their habits of compulsive food consumption. OA has adopted the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions format to help normalise the eating patterns of its members. Like the AA however, the evidence suggests that millions more are not yet in recovery and are still in the grip of habits which can lead to misery and untimely death. While those with compulsive eating or drinking dispositions are largely aware of them, whether or not they are in recovery, the likelihood is that 70% of us have an unhealthy relationship with sugar and would not accept it as dangerous.

Now I can readily distinguish between compulsive disorders and culturally acceptable practice in relation to sugar. Neither are healthy, but whereas a compulsion and addiction can rapidly ruin lives, John Yudkin, Robert Lustig and others have pointed to a 20 year pathology gestation period for ‘normal’ sugar consumption. Sadly this leads to disinterest or a dismissive attitude - “It’s tomorrow’s problem, have another slice”. I am not in favour of prohibition but I certainly do believe that we should have a ban on TV advertising of sugar based products and that we should extend such a ban to ‘Low Fat’ products and any foodstuffs containing artificial sweeteners. How can it be culturally acceptable to promote the sale of dangerous products? It’s said of diabetics that ‘they dig their grave with their teeth’ and for many that’s true enough. Is suicide not suicide just because the bullet takes 20 years to hit its target?

Leaving aside what some readers may consider confrontational or judgemental statements, there is ample evidence that sugar causes a weakening of the immune system. It is also known to provide a benign environment for the growth of fungal infections and cancer. Sugar consumption results in the formation of Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs), amyloid tangles and causes neural degeneration and depression. Quite simply, it interferes with our ability to think. My belief is that when people can personalise and accept such information then they will change their attitudes towards sugar and the market will collapse. I do of course recognise that this is unlikely to happen any day soon. Through my work as a health coach I have encountered exclusively positive outcomes with everyone who has rejected sugar ‘and all its empty promises’.

Slavery in the 21^st century is alive and well but instead of forced exile to labour in the sugar plantations of the West Indies, today’s slavery is self inflicted through addiction. To free myself from its tyranny, and to journey toward optimal health in mind and body, I call on the God of my understanding to keep me free from refined sugar one day at a time.