A Well-Defined Problem Part 2
By: Dr. J. Renae Norton
Polluted Foods Attack the Gut
As mentioned previously, “polluted food” drives Leaky Gut Syndrome, which is a serious threat to our general health, given that 90% of the immune system is in the gut.
Remember, the only way you can end up with an autoimmune disease is by first having a leaky gut. That in itself is reason enough to protect the gut. But the toxic nature of so much of the food in the U.S. also creates a situation which causes bad bacteria in the gut to overtake good bacteria, (Dys-ruption), which can lead malnutrition (Dys-regulation), and then liver stress (Dys-function), and end in food allergies or even cancer (Dys-ease).
Polluted Foods Attack the Brain
When it comes to attacks on the brain, the biggest culprit is sugar. Excitatory neurotoxins such as those found in high fructose corn syrup damage the brain in an interesting way. We know that the pancreas produces insulin, but it turns out that the brain also produces insulin, and this brain insulin is necessary for the survival of brain cells. Brain insulin is very important because it helps regulate the neurotransmitters that are critical for new learning and memory. Excess sugar triggers a surge in insulin. Over time, the brain becomes resistant to this insulin. This type of resistance is linked to mental sluggishness (think food coma) mood swings, and ultimately, cognitive decline such as Alzheimers. In fact, at one point Alzheimer’s disease was tentatively dubbed “Type 3 Diabetes.”
Given how dangerous sugar is, the question is why are we still eating so much of it? The answer is: Sugar Addiction! We eat a lot of sugar today.
Two hundred years ago, the average American ate 1-2 pounds of sugar per year or ½ -1 teaspoon per day. Today, the average American consumes over 100 pounds of sugar in one year. Whoa! Other estimates suggest an average of 42.5 teaspoons of sugar per day, which is almost 1 cup of sugar. (There are 48 teaspoons in 1 cup.) That sounds crazy until you consider the fact that a 12 oz. Can of Coke has 10 teaspoons of sugar. If you tried to eat 10 teaspoons of sugar, it would probably make you sick, but many people drink 5 or 6 Cokes a day, or the equivalent of 50 to 60 teaspoons of sugar a day! Sugar is damaging in general, but this much sugar is catastrophic.
Why is this happening? Because food polluters have figured out how addicting sugar is and that if they load up their products with it, we will eat and drink more of their products and their sales will go up. Remember sugar is as addicting as cocaine and heroin.
Polluted Foods Attack the Liver
The liver plays a significant role in protecting the body by detoxifying it. Here is how the liver works: It takes in a carcinogen or a pathogen, chews it up, and spits it back out in a non-toxic form. It’s like a little detox ninja.
Detox Ninja
Diet soft drinks are particularly toxic to the liver. Many people turn to them as a way of limiting sugar. But this is like jumping from the frying pan into the fire, since diet soft drinks contribute to a fatty liver, which is a condition that can be life-threatening in the later stages. Over time fibrous tissues form as a result of drinking diet soft drinks, which can also lead to cirrhosis of the liver and/or liver cancer.
Food Pollution Disorder is an unknown epidemic in the U.S. causing illness across a broad spectrum. It is a well-known fact that the Western diet, which encompasses highly processed food items, or “fast foods,” ready-to-eat meals, and sugar-sweetened beverages, is unhealthy. That said, most people do not understand why, let alone how unhealthy it actually is. The impact on U.S. citizens has been catastrophic.
If you are struggling with an autoimmune disease, brain fog or sugar addiction, reach out to me as I may be able to help. My number is 513-205-6543. I am a wellness researcher, author, and coach and I can help.
