Transcript The Sugar Project - Carleton College

Dysfunctional Foods:
How the Contemporary American
Food System Creates
Imbalanced Bodies, Minds and Behaviors
Margaret Adamek, University of MN
Class of 1989
February 9, 2005
How many of you know someone…
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Who has struggled with alcoholism?
Who suffers from depression or anxiety?
Who has chronic issues with their weight
or struggles with eating disorders?
Who has a child with hyperactivity or
attention deficit issues?
Who has been diagnosed with diabetes?
Who has a family with one or more of
these issues?
solving weight issues
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Standard Approach: Individual
Responsibility
Cut calories
 Increase activity
 Reduce soft drink and fast food consumption
 Reduce time spent watching television and
playing video games
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Why doesn’t this work?
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Sugars (sweeteners and refined
carbohydrates) have a drug effect on the
brain
Sugars cause the body to release its own
opiates (beta endorphin)
Sugars act on the same neurotransmitter
system as alcohol, morphine and heroin
You have a population in a constant state
of withdrawal, craving and relapse
from branches to roots:
the effects of diet on people
Alcoholism
Obesity
Depression
Root
Cause
Anxiety
Diabetes
ADHD
Eating
Disorders
…..the unraveling web
caffeine
sugar & amphetamine
neurochemical roots of
the problem
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Volatile blood sugar
Low serotonin
Low beta endorphin
Low dopamine
Glucose molecule
Volatile blood sugar
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Tired all the time for
little reason
Restless and edgy
Confused/foggy/space
y
Irritable and easily
frustrated
Cranky
Short-fused
Low serotonin
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Depressed
Impulsive
Short attention span
Scattered
Aggressive
Reactive
Craving sweets and
carbohydrates
Serotonin peptide
Low beta endorphin
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Low pain tolerance
Low self-esteem and
feels inadequate
Tearful
Sensitive to criticism
Feels isolated
Seeks crisis
Feels victimized
Craves sugar and fat
Beta endorphin peptide
Low dopamine
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Correlated with unhappiness
Linked to aggressive behavior and violence
Lack of ‘positive emotionality’
Protein intake positively influences dopamine
production
dopamine peptide
Restoring health, land and food
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Dietary change is very difficult, even when
more healthful options are available
The ‘addicted body’ must be stabilized to
assist in the rejection of the contemporary
diet
As the land and diet are brought into
balance, so too must the body
Theory of Sugar Sensitivity
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D
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DBA/C57 mice –
inherited suite of
biochemical deficits that
give rise to a set of
emotional and physical
symptoms
Individuals who suffer
from this profile seek out
foods or substances that
elevate these deficits…
Sugar, fat, alcohol and
other drugs cause the
brain to produce opiates
C57
DBA
Sugar Sensitive Eating Habits
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Skip breakfast
Low protein intake
Erratic mealtimes
High intake of refined
carbohydrates and sugars
Frequent meal skipping
High consumption of caffeine
True of alcoholics and of ‘C57’
sugar sensitive types
Research Base
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Sugar and alcohol evokes beta
endorphin (Gianoulakis 1994, 1996; Blass 1991,
1995)
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Low serotonin, carbohydrate
craving, obesity and depression
(Wurtman 1986, 1995)
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Fat consumption and beta
endorphin release (Drewnoski 1983, 1987,
1992)
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Serotonin, and relationship to fat
and sugar intake (Fernstrom 1971, 1986,
1987, 1995)
More Research
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Sugar induces physical dependency
(Colantuoni and Hoebel 2002)
Sugar is a ‘gateway’ substance that
increases likelihood of addiction to
other substances, e.g. amphetamines
(Hoebel 2003)
Sugar creates endogenous beta
endorphin response (Schoenbaum
1989)
Sugar and fat together create
significantly increased consumption
behavior (Kelley 2003)
More research…
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Palatability/sweet taste
alone will evoke opiate
response (Hoebel)
High fructose corn syrup
does not metabolize in
ways that other sugars do,
creating biochemical
reactions that alter
metabolism (Bray 2003)
Further research….
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Too much fructose alters metabolism (Teff,
2004)
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One serving of soft drink per day
increases a women’s chances of Type II
diabetes by 85% (Schulze, 2004)
…and yet more!!
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Addiction mechanism in the
rat is similar to humans
(Deroche-Gamonet et al.,
2004)
Areas in brain activated in
food craving are also
activated in drug craving
(Raglund et al 2004)
what do you get?
Steps toward Stability
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.
1.
2.
Eat breakfast everyday –
within one hour of waking;
adequate protein; complex
carbohydrates
Journal what and when you
eat/how you physically and
emotionally feel
Steps toward Stability
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.
3.
4.
Eat three meals a day –
spaced 5 – 6 hours
apart; adequate protein,
complex carbohydrates
and vegetables; move
sugar consumption to
meals
Vitamins and Nightly
Potato – vitamin C (free
radical scavenger); Bcomplex – aids in
detoxification and
restoration; zinc; omega
3 fatty acids//potato for
serotonin synthesis
Steps toward Stability
5.
6.
Whites to Browns –
slowly move refined
grains to whole grains
Remove Sugars –
slowly remove ‘overt’
and ‘covert’
sweeteners
Steps Toward Stability
7. Stabilize – beta endorphin receptor
increase and stabilization; explore food
allergy issues; adequate fatty acids
consumption; increase insulin receptor
sites to heal insulin resistance
Effects of diet
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Regulates blood sugar – no dips and
spikes
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Elevates serotonin
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Able to say ‘no’ and no impulsive behavior
Increases beta endorphin
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No ‘sleepies;’ less irritability; not moody
Secure sense of self; strong self-esteem and
self-acceptance
Increases dopamine
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Less aggressive, diminished violence and
anger
How do you feel?
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Consistent, steady energy
without fits of fatigue or
drowsiness
Happy, upbeat, not feeling
‘done to’
Secure and relaxed – not
anxious
Productive and able to
concentrate
Compassionate and patient
Good at self-care
Beta endorphin
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Activating Opiates
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Skipping meals
‘Binge’ sugar dose
Super Size Me – sugar
and fat
Compulsive exercise
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Stabilizing Opiates
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Regular mealtimes
Adequate food for blood
sugar
Removal of excessive
refined carbs
No sugar on an empty
stomach!
Exercise & fun!
What are we seeing?
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92% long term success rate with
alcoholism recovery
Drastic improvement in depression,
ADHD, OCD, ODD, anxiety, weight, selfesteem, diabetes
Improved triglycerides, lipids, blood
glucose levels, cholesterol
Connecting the body to community
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How we produce food
What we produce
How we process food
How we consume food
What are the economic, ecological,
cultural and health impacts?
Healing the sacred web of life…
Obesity: Where are we today?
• 64% of U.S. adults are estimated
obese or overweight (NHANES 1999-2000)
•31 % of Americans are estimated
obese - (NHANES National Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2000)
• 106% increase in obesity
nationwide since 1981 (French et al.
2001)
• 5 – 7% increase in obesity each
year (CDC)
• All but one state has 15% or
greater rate of population as
overweight (CDC)
• 58% of Minnesotans are
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1991-2002
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” woman)
1991
1995
2002
No Data
<10%
10%–14%
15%–19%
20%–24%
≥25%
Diabetes – where are we now?
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70% of diagnosed Type II
diabetes is attributable to
obesity (NIDDK – NIH)
6.3% of American
population is diabetic
(NIDDK-NIH)
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6% increase in diabetes
per year (NIDDK-NIH)
Between 1990 -1998,
prevalence of diagnosed
diabetes increased 33%
(CDC 2002)
Diabetes and Gestational Diabetes Trends Among Adults in
the U.S., BRFSS 1990, 1995 and 2000
1990
1995
2000
Source: Mokdad et al., Diabetes Care 2000;23:1278-83; J Am Med Assoc 2001;286(10).
Depression & anxiety today
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9.5% of American adults suffers
from depression each year (National
Institutes of Mental Health - NIH Publication No. 01-4584 )
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13.3% of American adults suffer
from anxiety disorders (National Institutes
of Mental Health - NIH Publication No. 01-4584 )
Attention deficit/
hyperactivity disorder
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7.5% of children exhibit this disorder; 3 times as
many boys as girls (data taken from Minnesota; Archives of
Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 2002)
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80% of prescriptions for amphetamines are
written for children diagnosed with ADHD (DEA
Congressional Testimony, 2000)
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Administration of amphetamines to children has
risen 3000% in the last ten years (DEA Congressional
Testimony, 2000)
Alcoholism
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More than 50% of American adults have
a close relative who has/had a drinking
problem (Dawson 1998)
7.4% of American adults are dependent
or abuse alcohol in 2000 (Grant 1994)
20% of individuals seeking primary
healthcare are alcoholic (Bellas, Rand
Corporation, 2000)
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6.3% of adult Minnesotans report chronic
drinking (NIAAA 1984-2002)
90% of alcoholics are likely to experience
at least one relapse during the four years
after treatment (NIAAA 1989)
Economic Impact - Obesity
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$78.5 billion in healthcare costs for obesity
(National Health Accounts, CDC)
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7% of US healthcare costs are obesity-related
(French, 2003)
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$1.307 billion in healthcare costs for Minnesota
(CDC)
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Obesity-related disability claims up 130%
between 1984 and 1996 for ages 30 – 49
(Rand
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Corporation
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By 2020, 20% of healthcare expenditures would
be for obesity-related issues.
Economic Impact - Obesity
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Obesity is associated with a 36% increase in
inpatient and outpatient spending
Obesity is associated with a 77% increase in
medications (Sturm 2002
Economic impact –
depression/anxiety/alcoholism
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Cost of depression is $83.1 billion (Greenberg et al.
2003)
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For diabetes….$98 billion per year (premature
mortality, disability, healthcare costs, workloss)
For alcoholism, estimated productivity loss is
$134.2 billion (NIAAA 2001)
Alcohol-related illness costs $87.6 billion;
premature death $36.5 billion (NIAAA 2001)
For alcoholism, estimated cost of alcohol abuse
is $185 billion for 1998 (NIAAA 2001)
impact on our children
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27% of children are
overweight (Centers for Disease Control)
Obesity rates among children
have doubled in the last ten
years and tripled for
adolescents (Troiano, 1998)
Children born in the year 2000
have a 33% chance of becoming
diabetic if they’re boys; 39% if
they’re girls (Venkat Narayan et al, 2004)
Childhood tantrums are positively
correlated with obesity (Agras et al.
2004)
How do these public health issues
relate to diet?
Eating
Disorders
Diabetes
Public Health
Alcoholism
Obesity
Crisis
ADHD
Depression
Change in Carbohydrate
Consumption
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Increase of 50% in refined carbohydrates from
1970 (USDA Economic Research Service)
Americans consume less than one serving per
day of whole grains (USDA Economic Research Service)
4000+% increase in consumption per annum per
person of high fructose corn syrup (USDA Economic
Research Service)
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Additional average 300 daily calories consumed
attributed to increase in carbohydrate
consumption (CDC 2004)
U.S. Sugar Intake
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Sugar intake rose 30 percent between 1983 and 1999 and was
at 158 pounds per person/year (Center for Science in Public Interest –
222.cspinet.org/new/sugar_limit.html)
supply and utilization, with quantity, per capita co
value
of sugar
use Supply
and utilization D
Candy and
Other
Confectionary
Products:
US Per Capita Consumption, 1966 – 2000, Pounds/ Year
30
25
20
15
10
5
2000
1995
1990
1985
1980
1975
1970
Year
0
2000 3/
1997
1994
1992
1987
1989
Year
1984
1982
1979
1977
1974
1972
1969
1967
160.0
150.0
140.0
130.0
120.0
110.0
100.0
90.0
80.0
1964
Lbs
Per Capita Consumption of Wheat Flour
1965 - 2001
US Per Capita High
Fructose Utilization
Corn Syrup
Disappearance
05-Mar-2002
Food
disappearance2
1967 – 2000, Pounds / Year
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
19
69
19
73
19
77
19
81
19
85
19
89
19
93
19
97
Y
ea
r
0
Number of Large-Size Portions Introduced
Introduction of new, larger portions, 1970–1999.
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1970-74
Young & Nestle 2002
1975-59
1980-84
1985-89
Year
1990-1994
1995-99
Portion sizes
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Energy dense, nutrient poor foods comprise
27% of diet (+ 4% alcohol) (Kant 2000)
Standard portion size for factory-made cookies
exceeds USDA standards by 700%; muffins by
333%, and bagels by 195%
French fries, hamburgers and sodas increased 2
– 5 times since 1970
7-11 Big Gulp contains the caloric equivalent of
more than one third the energy requirement of
large segments of American population
(Young and Nestle 2002)
Media Attention
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The Sunday Telegraph – UK – Food
Industry has known for years that foods
high in fat and sugar impact consumption
(August 2003)
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Atlanta Constitution – “Sugar Nation”
Series (November 2002)
New York Times Sunday Magazine –
“What if It’s All Been a Big, Fat Lie?” (July
2002)
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World Health Organization – “Diet,
Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic
Diseases” (February 2003)
Our love affair with fast food
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One in four adults eats fast food everyday
in the United States
One in three children eats fast food
everyday in the United States
Soft drink consumption up 135% since
1977
Average number of soft drink servings per
day climbed from 1.96 in 1977 to 2.39 in
2001
Policy Attention
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Soda machines and
fast food removed from
schools
Federal funding for
fresh fruits and
vegetables in school
lunches
Support for physical
and nutrition education
in school and
community contexts
Political Pressure
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Suppression of WHO information and
federal recommendations on reduction
of refined carbohydrates
Congressional movement to ban
litigation against fast food corporations
A complex system of addiction
…with complex consequences
The Sugar Project
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Healing culture from
the molecular to the
social
Mending the sacred
web of life
Generating wellness
creation, NOT wealth
creation
ecology
economy
culture
public health
community
Sugar Project Mission
to restore individual,
community,
ecological and social
wellbeing through
health-creating
diets…
Sugar Project Approach
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Ecologically restorative food production
Economic development through
enterprises related to healing (new food
products, etc.) that encourage strong, local
economies
Low cost dietary intervention that improves
public health outcomes
a complex system of change
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Economic development
Healthcare Policy
Child and Youth Nutrition
Ecological renewal
Agricultural Policy
Re-emergence of local food systems and
economies
Restoration of community health
Outcome
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Healthy Ecologies
Healthy Economies
Communities that thrive
People who feel well
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Wellness from the inside out!
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Sugar Project Priorities
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Children – school hot breakfast & lunch;
academics/behavior
Indian Country – food sovereignty through
addiction recovery and prevention
Research – controlled studies on addicts, children
and in Native American communities
Education – development of materials, training &
curricula for various audiences
Media/Public Policy – use of popular media to
develop and influence policy agenda
Partner Efforts
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New cropping system in Upper Midwest
Economic development to encourage local
food systems
University research on brain biochemistry,
diet, addiction and public health
Generating new collaborations with entities as
we move forward…
amphetamine
drug-free
sugar &
caffeine
mending the web of life
What can I do right now?
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Personally….
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Read DesMaisons’
material and start the
process
Try eating breakfast
with protein & carbs
for a few days to
notice the difference
Potato Experiment
Transition away from
corn syrup
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Politically….
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Explore opportunities
for changing food
options in dining
service
Explore ways to
change school hot
breakfast and lunch
options in Northfield
Identify different
research questions
tied to these issues
For further information
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www.radiantrecovery.com or
[email protected]
“Sugar Addict’s Recovery Program,” by
Kathleen DesMaisons
The Sugar Project, Maggi Adamek
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University of Minnesota
[email protected]
612-624-7451
Sources
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Obesity and related healthcare costs statistics:
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/economic_con
sequences.htm#National%20Estimated%20Cost%20of%
20Obesity
http://www.rand.org/publications/RB/RB9043/
http://nutrition.about.com/library/weekly/aa010503a.htm
Troiano, Richard P., Flegal, Katherine M. (1998, March).
Overweight children and adolescents: description,
epidemiology, and demographics. Pediatrics, 101, 497504.
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2001,
unpublished data. National Center for Health Statistics,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services.
Sources (cont’d)
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http://www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs
/statistics/index.htm
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/pubs
/statobes.htm
http://www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs
/statistics/index.htm
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/pubs
/statobes.htm
Sources (cont’d)
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http://www.ajc.com/living/content/living/special/s
ugar/18sugarsouth.html
http://www.who.int/nut/documents/trs_916.pdf
http://www.psychiatrist.com/issues/greenberg.pd
f
http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/FoodRevie
w/DEC2002/frvol25i3a.pdf
http://www.psychiatrist.com/pcc/pccpdf/v03n06/v
03n0611.pdf
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/databases/abdep2.htm
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1280/mr
1280.ch2.pdf
Sources (cont’d)
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http://www.nyu.edu/education/nutrition/PDFS/young-nestle.pdf
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/numbers.cfm
http://www.psychiatrist.com/pcc/pccpdf/v03n06/v03n0611.pdf
Grant B.F., et al. Prevalence of DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence:
United States, 1992. Alcohol Health & Research World 18(3):243-248,
1994.
Dawson, D.A., & Grant, B.F. Family history of alcoholism and gender: Their
combined effects on DSM-IV alcohol dependence and major depression.
Journal of Studies on Alcohol 59(1):97-106, 1998.
Harwood, H., et al. The Economic Costs of Alcohol and Drug Abuse in the
United States, 1992. Rockville, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1998.
http://www.naaso.org/news/19980902.asp
Sturm, R. 2002. The effects of obesity, smoking, and drinking on medical
problems and costs. Health Affairs.
Centers for Disease Control (2002). Major increase in diabetes among
adults occurred nationwide between 1990 and 1998.
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/press/archive/diabetes_increase.htm
Sources (cont’d)
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http://www.ajc.com/living/content/living/special/s
ugar/18sugarsouth.html
http://www.who.int/nut/documents/trs_916.pdf
http://www.psychiatrist.com/issues/greenberg.pd
f
http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/FoodRevie
w/DEC2002/frvol25i3a.pdf
http://www.psychiatrist.com/pcc/pccpdf/v03n06/v
03n0611.pdf
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/databases/abdep2.htm
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1280/mr
1280.ch2.pdf
Sources (cont’d)
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NIAAA (2001). Economic perspectives in alcoholism research. Alcohol Alert.
http://wwww.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa51-text.htm
NIAAA (1989). Relapse and craving. Alcohol Alert.
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa06.htm
Kant, A. (2000) Consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods by adult
Americans: nutritional and health implications. The third National Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 Oct;72(4):929-36.
Young, L. and Nestle, M. (2002) The contribution of expanding portion sizes to the
US obesity epidemic. American Journal of Public Health. February; 92(2):246-249.