What your cravings say about your diet...part one...

This blog is a really simple one for me today - we all have them, but what do those food cravings really mean??

"Caolan, is this another one of those blogs where you take all my fun away??"

...yes, maybe...but if bad food choices are the only fun you have then that's your issue, not mine...

...okay, let's start with the usual biggest offender for those bad cravings: chocolate!!

...a craving for chocolate usually indicates a defiency in magnesium (responsible for contraction and relaxation of muscles, and energy production within the body) - easy sources of magnesium include: nuts, seeds, fresh fruit, leafy green vegetables, almonds, sunflower seeds and brown rice...

...the next most common craving is the grab for the sweet, sugary foods...this craving is a little more complex, as it involves a defiency in five elements...

...firstly, chromium (which is crucial in the metabolism of fats within the body) is usually deficient - foods rich in chromium include broccoli, grape, chicken, wheat germ, mushrooms, meat, liver and shellfish...

...secondly, a shortage of carbon (the essential building block of human life) is usually associated with a craving for sugary sweet foods - foods rich in carbon include fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and avocado...

...thirdly, a defiency in phosphorous (essential for the formation of bones and teeth, but also plays a role in the metabolisation of fat within the body) can also contribute to these cravings - foods with high levels of phosphorus include chicken, beef, fish, eggs (especially the yolk), milk and milk products, nuts and legumes...

...the fourth contributor to sugar cravings is a deficiency in sulphur (a critical part of building amino acids) - foods to consume to increase your levels of sulphur include cranberries, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, radishes, turnips, onions, celery, beans, fish and eggs...

...and the final co-contributor to sweet cravings is a deficiency in tryptophan (an essential amino acid that the body cannot produce by itself that plays a major role in the production of melatonin and serotonin - it can be used to treat insomnia and depression, and can play a role in weight reduction) - foods rich in tryptophan include: turkey, chicken, tuna, venison, salmon, lamb, deep sea fish, raisins, spinach and sweet potato...

...the next big craving that needs to be addressed is that craving for bread, pasta and other carbohydrates...this craving is usually linked to a deficiency in nitrogen (important for growth and immune function), and the foods that you should be consuming are high protein foods like meat, fish, nuts, beans, dairy products and eggs...

...and there's where I will leave it for today - the next blog will deal with the cravings for oily and fatty foods, salty foods and that general desire to continuously over eat...until then, if you need or want more information, feel free to email me: the.chiro@mail.com

Why "sugar" is the new enemy...

...or what you haven't been told about "sugar"...

"...okay Caolan - why is sugar in inverted commas??"

(I like it when people pick up on the subtle hints)

...you're being told it everywhere at the moment - sugar is bad...but why??


...well, that's simple - because what you're being sold or told is sugar, really isn't...let me illustrate - this is what sugar should look like:

...this is sugar (or sucrose, which consists of a molecule of fructose and glucose bound together) in it's natural form - this, conversely, is what you're being sold as "sugar":

"...umm, Caolan - that's just looks like something out of a chemistry lab..."

(took the words right out of my mouth - resist any references to Meatloaf here, please)

...this is an individual molecule of glucose - one that has been cleaved from the fructose molecule it is normally bound to...this is what is commonly labelled as "sugar" in our foods (this does also happen in reverse)...the problem is that, even though this is a part of a natural sugar (sucrose) molecule, it does not act like a natural substance inside the body...

...it acts like a chemical - a drug...

(three second dramatic pause)

...and that should make the rest of what I say no surprise...

...the fact that this "sugar" is, in fact, a drug means that your body does not absorb it like a normal food...therefore, you cannot get any sense of satiety (or "fullness" - there's your word for the day guys) from consuming this...therefore, you can eat this for an extended period without feeling full...

...I don't know about you, but that scares the living daylights out of me...

...now if you consume large amounts (I'm talking in excess of 60g in a single sitting) of this "sugar", your body will attempt to remove it from your system to prevent this drug from damaging your body...so, how will it do this?? By coverting it to fat in your liver...

...that might raise the odd eyebrow, but that's what your liver is for - it eliminates toxic chemicals from your body...and yes, that means "sugar" is a toxic chemical...

...the other thing that disturbs me - this "sugar" is a drug...that means it comes with all the complications of drugs - meaning side-effects, withdrawal symptoms and:

"...okay mate, so you're painting a pretty bleak picture here - is it really THAT bad?? I mean, it's not like I'm a drug addict or anything..."

...the honest truth (and people really dislike it when I tell them this), you are - you're addicted...in fact, "sugar" is the most addictive substance known to humankind...we're born with a innate palate that prefers sour food...and once it is converted to liking sweet, it cannot be reverted...that means a life long addiction to "sugar"...

...the problem is that now this "sugar" is in a lot of the processed foods we find in our supermarkets...(I'll leave you as to your own assumptions as to why a can of tomatoes needs four teaspoons of this "sugar" in it)...so how do we avoid it??

...the most simple answer, is to start reading labels...and to start only consuming foods that are close to their natural state...therefore, the closer a food is to it's natural state - the less likely it is to have "sugar" in it...

"...okay, okay...so it's bad...but surely there's a safe amount that I can have??"

...that, I do not have an answer for...I think I have to fall back onto the words of my 4th grade teacher (thank you Sister Nina) - there is no such thing as a safe amount when you're talking about addictive substances...

...as always, if you want to know more about "sugar" alternatives or how you can alter your diet to avoid consuming this drug, feel free to email me: the.chiro@mail.com