In doing some online research, I have come across a very interesting piece on food addiction. It was written by Theron G. Randolph, MD, board certified in internal medicine, allergy, and immunology.
His article correlates to what I have been writing about sugar (that it is a drug), and he specifically points out that corn is the leading cause of chronic food addiction in this century. High fructose corn syrup, crystalline fructose, corn syrup, corn syrup solids, these are all sugars made from corn and are main ingredients in most processed food and fast food.
I also learned that corn is the most prevalent ingredient in alcohol manufacturing, and that it is corn sugar that is used in cigarettes (I thought it was cane sugar). The added sugar makes the cigarettes even more addictive, and the fact that corn is what most alcohol is made from demonstrates further just how addictive corn sugar is.
Dr. Randolph includes his addiction pyramid (below) in his article to show the ascension that one travels up through the addictive substances. When one of the lower substances no longer gives the addict a good high or relieves their hangover, they seek out stronger substances. This is something to think about, that food addiction could get lead to alcohol and hard core drug abuse. It does make sense though, since an addict wants/needs to keep getting their high, and then even bigger highs.
He states in his article that the body has a way of protecting itself from the harmful effects of addictive food or drugs by erasing those initial negative effects the more that the user indulges in the substance. This makes perfect sense when you read the article that I posted regarding my experience with an upset stomach and queasy feeling when I have drunk or eaten products containing forms of corn sugar.
This only occurs when I have been eating very healthy for an extended period of time. Then, if I keep eating the processed food containing these ingredients after my first “slip”, those initial symptoms subside. While I do feel bloated and low on energy, I don’t get the upset stomach that I did in the beginning.
I highly recommend that you read Dr. Randolph’s full article. It also includes information on the fact that the often-described food “allergies” are in actuality, food addictions.
Thanks JoLynn. Interesting stuff. I’ll be featuring this article in the Carnival of All Substances on June 10, 2007. Please link back somehow if you can.
I’m a food addict who is coming out of denial pretty fast thanks to articles like these. I used to fight my recovery friends who would say to stop eating all the processed foods, junk food, sugar, flour, etc. I never realized how addicted I was until I stopped. Thanks so much for the articles. 🙂
Hi Tigg,
I’m with ya on the topic of denial, I’ve been having the same struggle, but I’m also working out of it like you are. Along with refined sugar and flour, I’m also addicted to unhealthy fats (i.e. fried foods which is a mix of fat/grease and flour) added salt, and dairy.
I think it’s just awesome that you have friends who support you in getting off the addictive ingredients of refined sugar and flour, which pretty much covers all processed and fast foods! 😉 Keep those friends and allow them to help you, you’re in a good space with people like that surrounding you. 🙂 And, your welcome for the articles, I’ll definitely be giving you more on this topic.