The big news this week has been a New York judge stopping the jumbo sugar drink ban from going into effect in New York City. Many of you know that I’m a lawyer by training so I’m doubly interested when law and wellness intersect. The upshot of the ruling is that there were too many exceptions to the ban. You may have heard that the judge called the ban “arbitrary and capricious” – that makes it sound really bad, right? But those are just “magic words” that courts use.
NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg has often been ahead of his time on issues affecting health and wellness. Think the trans-fat ban, requiring restaurants post calorie counts and huge cigarette taxes.
Is Sugar Addictive?
You hear people claim to be addicted to sugar, but is that even possible? According to many studies that have been done, the answer seems to be yes. For example, a Princeton University research team showed that lab rats accustomed to sugar display cravings and relapses that signal addiction. The rats also had brain changes similar to changes associated with addiction to narcotics and nicotine.
Not only does the sweet taste activate the same parts of the brain as drugs and alcohol, it seems to take over and soon you’re often carving something sweet. There is some science behind the cravings – carbs stimulate serotonin and we all want more of that feel-good compound. That’s the same theory they have with drug recovery too by the way. So even though there is no clear answer on the addiction question, there is little doubt that sugar causes sweet cravings.
Is the Law a Tool for Behavior Change?
Under our Constitution, the states have the authority to regulate things “for the public welfare.” Most of the cases involving these public welfare issues went to the Supreme Court during Roosevelt’s New Deal days. You can read about how slaughterhouses operated back then. Today it seems unimaginable that people fought against government meat inspections and such things, but they did. Luckily, the Court found that public health was something the government was entitled to protect through actions like inspections.
Bloomberg took it a step further and wants to prevent obesity, the number one public health enemy. But it’s hard to sell prevention, as Roosevelt found out. While I’m cautiously optimistic that folks are fed up with all the processed crap and added sugar, the other big news was that some company paid $410 million so they can make Twinkies again.
End Sugar Cravings
My friend Diane put together a 21 day Sugar Detox Diet. It’s a great plan for getting rid of your sugar and carb cravings. She’s got everything you need to be fully supported through your detox. Wouldn’t it be great to get rid of that lougy, after-lunch foggy feeling? Diane not only takes you step-by-step on how to do it, she gives you recipes, and daily email support and many tips you are sure to use. For only $21 it is the best deal I’ve seen in a long time. And getting rid of sugar in your diet is one of the foundation steps for wellness.
Do you limit your sugar intake? Are you off sugar altogether?
They have names like Teaser #3 and rolldowns. But I’m going offtrack….
odle around the concept of what it is that I do, the idea of Healthy Living and Healthier Lifestyle have come up. Those terms may be closer to what it is that I have been doing for as long as I remember.
