Sugar Epidemic, Opiate Epidemic, Drug Epidemic — Are they all linked?
Even before starting Paleo Passion Foods, my passion has been healthy eating. My journey over the years has brought me to many different diets, fads, trends, tricks, gimmicks, exercises and the like. However, my roots in lacrosse taught me otherwise. I learned hard work, dedication and persistence were needed to create anything of value. Those lessons follow me throughout my business career. And when I step back and look at the big picture, right now I’m seeing this cross-roads of crisis — which will lead to the next revolution, already in the making.
There seems to be a greater pattern at work, one that is not addressed by the FDA or any governing body.
Why? There are lobbyists, investors, money, big money, and huge investments that goes into our food system. In recent years we’ve seen the Farm-to-Table trend which has only seemed to cater to the more affluent in the country, while the majority of Americans have very few affordable and nutritional food available to them. As we have seen in recent years, the lines between funding research and studies with clear objectives such as (Support Product X or Ingredient X can lower cholesterol) and censoring research that would harm a product, the scientific community has lost a great deal of its reputation.
But Change Is Here…
Consumers have taken the power back. The natural food movement has brought a storm of new information, products and options to a variety of different people. Private Organizations have said the FDA is not serving us, and they have set their own standards higher than the self-proclaimed authorities, such as NON-GMO Verified. This brand has become the standard for Organic food certification and labeling. Consumers know it, they trust it, and from farm to kitchen, factory or grocer, this organization can ensure the supply chain is up to correct standards.
Now Science Is Playing Catch Up
In recent months Harvard Medical School has reviewed over 32 studies looking to find patterns and alternatives to the opiate crisis. While recently browsing these studies, articles and concepts I began to notice a significant trend.
Medicine & Food, the primary sources of our health in the Western Medical world have all been subverted with chemicals that affect very similar receptors in the brain. That is, opiate receptors, which receive the drug oxycodone are also linked to heightened levels of dopamine. Dopamine — the feel good chemical in your body. Dopamine is also release from cocaine use, as well as sugar usage. Now, many Americans like their cup of coffee black with one teaspoon of sugar, or Regular (typically milk and 2 sugars). If that was the only sugar we ingested daily, plus natural sugars present in fruits, vegetables, dairy and meat, most people would be well within the typical 1800-2000 calorie restrictions on diet whether you are female (1600–1800), or male (2000). Obviously these are averages, as height, weight, activity, metabolism and body type play a lot into what is exactly correct for each person. But what happens when you eat foods that you never thought had sugar to begin with, or have far more sugar than you’ve been led to believe. Not to mention the category which I will not touch, which is the non-sugar — sugar. SMH…
QUICK CASE STUDY: COFFEE
50 Years ago, coffee was simple. Go to Europe, coffee is simple. Welcome to the United States, coffee is out of control. Let’s look at a product category which has been exploding since 2016 — Flavored Liquid Coffee Creamer. In this case: Coffee-Mate Caramel Macchiato. It’s a popular flavor at Starbucks, now you can have it in the convenience of your home. So instead of treating yourself twice per week at Starbucks to the traditional Grande Caramel Macchiato you buy the Coffee-Mate Version for home, and have your morning cup of coffee with it. MMMmmm Delish!
Let’s do a little comparison:
We’ll use the New Added Sugar Nutrition Label Requirements and data straight from Coffee-Mate’s website for Nutritionals.
Standard Coffee w/ 2 Teaspoons of White Sugar — 8.4g of sugar ≈ 16.6% DV
Coffee w/ 1 Serving of (CM) Caramel Macchiato — 5g of sugar ≈ 10% DV
NOT BAD? RIGHT??? — Well let’s see how often people measure out 1tbs serving size of the Caramel Macchiato. Not too often. But we’ll play devils advocate and say that 1 tbs serving is for 8 ounces of coffee. But this is ‘Merica, who drinks 8 ounces of coffee in the morning. I for one have seen most people just pour it out, eyeing it. Out of curiousity I tried to measure what they poured out in their cup, before the hot coffee went in. Some cases saw 4 tbs, 6 and even 8+ tablespoons in that one coffee.
Let’s recalculate adding in human error, taste, sugar cravings etc…
4tbs = 20g of sugar ≈ 16.6% DV
6tbs = 30g of sugar ≈ 60% DV
8tbs = 40g of sugar ≈ 80% DV
Now like most coffee drinkers in American I know, they don’t just drink one, they need at least 2 before they walk out the door.
So even if you put 4tbs into a 8 or 12 ounce coffee cup, which barely lightens the coffee to what might be typically seen as coffee “regular” levels, taste we’ll leave out, that’s subjective, but with those two cups you are already at 80% of your daily allowable amount of added sugar.
And as good as that Caramel Macchiato tastes, is it worth these ingredients over plain sugar and whole milk/skim milk/almond or cashew milk?
Coffee-Mate Caramel Macchiato Ingredients:
Water, Sugar, Vegetable Oil (High Oleic Soybean and/or Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and/or Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed), and Less than 2% of Sodium Caseinate (a Milk Derivative)**, Mono- and Diglycerides, Dipotassium Phosphate, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Cellulose Gel, Cellulose Gum, Carrageenan. **Not a source of lactose.
That might not be too bad, except there are plenty more foods that you have to dodge throughout your day, that are disguised as having no sugar or low sugar. Add in a bowl of Honey-Nut Cheerios, which would probably be a serving and a half (Serving size listed as 3/4 cup — 9g Sugar) would add an additional 13.5g of sugar. That with the two cups of coffee above brings you to a grand total of 53.5g of sugar, with a 50g recommended DAILY allowance.
Let’s not forget the 2 more meals, lunch and dinner, plus snacks that you may need to make it through the day.
Who Cares?
Honestly, many people never even run those calculations. But with food tracking apps to help those hit macro-nutrient goals or calorie intake, such as LoseIt!, you can easily lookup, and track your daily intake, and many may be shocked to find out the amount of sugar and fat they are ingesting daily.
GI-Joe said “Knowing was half the battle,” but with sugar that second half is quite the battle. Cutting out sugar means ending sugar cycles, ups and downs. Physical and psychological effects of sugar cravings and withdrawal. This is the reason many people quit their diets, the detox from sugar and other food addictions is very difficult. But those who stick to it, they become addicted to the amazing way they feel. Now, I’m not saying trade one addiction for another, but when one is going to kill you, rot your teeth, increase your healthcare costs over the years and statistically lower your life expectancy not to mention quality of life in later years, I think the physical fitness and healthy eating lifestyle wins out.
How does this relate to the Opiate Crisis?
Opiate Addicts or those with Opiate Dependency from Chronic Pain issues, as well heroin users all have a similar weight gain over time. And recent studies have shown that Sugar activates the same parts of the brain that are activated in cocaine and heroin abusers. So now when I walk into CVS during Halloween, Valentine’s Day or Easter, I walk down the the aisles and just see poppy plants, pills and dope? Well not exactly, but at some point we have to ask how did this sugar industry get so out of control?
Adding sugar to anything pretty much makes it taste better. Want to make some delicious homeade Italian dressing? Try extra-virgin olive oil, balsimic vinegar, salt, pepper, and the secret ingredient, just a little sugar. Blend until consistent. Compare the sugar vs sugar-free version and it’s night and day. It’s a common Italian cooking technique. So sugar is everywhere, in all sorts of forms nowadays. Then you have sugar-free sugars which have a whole other range of issues, but as science begins to free itself of corporate controls, lobbying and “Charitable” donations that fund research that supports certain agendas, we will continue to see more light shed on this topic.
My biggest question is, why have these issues all surfaced and converged at the same time? What can be done to educate Americans across the country on how to make better food choices?
Are we rewarding food manufacturers for creating unhealthy foods more than we are those who create healthy alternatives?
Every dollar spent, by government, industry, lobbyists, consumers, and businesses is a vote in favor of a product or brand. Each dollar or vote awarded gives them more space on shelves, more access to advertisements, social media trends and overall greater exposure. As a society, is this what we want? Because we do have the power to change this pattern if it is not what we want.
For more information check out these great topics on Sugar & Its Addictive Nature:
Food Education — Nutrition for your Mind
I’d just like to say I have nothing against Cheerios or Coffee-Mate. I think they are excellent consumer brands, and they fill a need without a doubt. Coffee-Mate has hit an exception new way to expand its offerings by Co-branding with popular flavors and brands to create fun new ways to America’s go to pick-me-up — COFFEE.
However, FOOD EDUCATION is critical if we wish future generations to grow up healthy, without a need for extensive medical care. US Healthcare system is already struggling, and with obesity rates increasing each year, this is a serious problem that addresses a much larger issue in society.
“Significant increases in obesity and severe obesity in children aged 2 to 5 years and adolescent females aged 16 to 19 years from 2015 to 2016, compared with previous years, show that obesity is increasing in these subgroups,” the study reads.
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