Panic, Anxiety, Sugar and Salt

I'm reading a really fascinating book right now.

It's called The End of Overeating, by David Kessler, M.D.

Needless to say, I've got some real interest in this topic. I've been "big boned" my whole life. I've had a 35 year wrestling match with the scale, sometimes getting the upper hand, but only for a while.

I'm committed again to a new program. Only this time it does seem a little different. It's long term, it's common sense. It's about being healthy, forever.

But that's not really the point of this blog.

The point is that Kessler says the American food industry (he was head of the Food and Drug Administration in the past) is built on sugar, salt and fat.

Surprise, surprise, right?

What's interesting about his book is that he spends a lot of time looking at brain chemistry. He asks a basic question: why are we so addicted to foods that we absolutely know are bad for us?

Why this battle between the "will" and the stomach?

Kessler's answer is biological. "Highly palatable" foods, laden with sugar, salt and fat help release dopamine in the brain. They make us feel good, on a hormonal level.

But the good news is this: we can learn to become turned off by things that are bad for us.

Our culture no longer thinks that smoking is cool in the way that we did 50 years ago. In fact, we tend to see it as gross and harmful.

Maybe, Kessler wagers, the same can happen with nachos and cheeseburgers. We'll see.

But I think there are some even bigger addictions out there we need to be wary of. There are mental and spiritual "dopamine" triggers that can be even more dangerous.

The current swine flu reporting and news cycles are unlike anything I can remember. I'm just not sure I've ever seen each and every news outlet work harder at pushing stress, anxiety and panic into the collective American bloodstream.

And we respond.

If we allow ourselves to be swept up by the culture...we will become addicted to anxiety. We will thrive on the highs and lows of the latest panic.

What nobody seems to mention is that 36,000 Americans die of influenza every single year. I'm not in favor of sticking our heads in the sand, but the current media feeding frenzies of all-you-can-eat panic-and-anxiety buffet lines is simply nothing short of disgusting.

There's got to be a better way.

And there is.

If you're a person of faith...if you follow in the way of Jesus...remember some important truths:

"Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10

"God will fight the battle for you.
And you? You keep your mouths shut!" Exodus 14:14

"Give in to God, come to terms with him
and everything will turn out just fine.
Let him tell you what to do;
take his words to heart.
Come back to God Almighty
and he'll rebuild your life. Job 22


Why is everyone hungry for more? "More, more," they say.
"More, more."
I have God's more-than-enough,
More joy in one ordinary day
Than they get in all their shopping sprees.
At day's end I'm ready for sound sleep,
For you, God, have put my life back together. Psalm 4

Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, "Quiet! Settle down!" The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass. Jesus reprimanded the disciples: "Why are you such cowards? Don't you have any faith at all?" Mark 4

Don't buy what they're selling. There is a better way. Let's take that path, together.

Now relax. Turn off the TV. All will be well.

Grace & Peace,
Adam