The following program
presents principles designed
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to promote good health
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and is not
intended to take the place
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of personalized
professional care.
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The opinions and ideas expressed
are those of the speaker.
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Viewers are encouraged to
draw their own conclusions
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about the information presented.
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Hello, and welcome to
"Health For A Lifetime."
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I'm your host Don Mackintosh.
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And today we're delighted to
be talking with Vicki Griffin.
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She's an author and
she's part of the team
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that's producing excellent
materials to help people
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with various
areas in their lives.
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And today,
we're gonna be talking
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about the brain on a binge.
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How to overcome food
addictions and cravings.
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And you've
actually written some things
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about this with your team.
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Yes, it's called "Living Free,
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Finding Freedom
from Habits that Hurt."
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And we have of the
teams of addiction specialists
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that have gotten
together and a nutritionist.
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And we've put together a package
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which we think is going to help
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to solve some of
these challenges.
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So, is it
possible to be addicted
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to something other than drugs?
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You know, we talked
about being addicted to drugs.
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We talked about
being addicted to tobacco,
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other different
things, but maybe caffeine.
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But is it possible to be
addicted to something else?
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Well, intuitively
people have probably felt
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this way for a long time.
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They'll talk about
being a Junk Food Junkie
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or a chocoholic or
they'll talk about being
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an internet or TV
addict or we know that people
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have significant
problems with porn and gambling,
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and other issues of that nature.
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But now it's being validated
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as we're able to see
brain images of people
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that do suffer from addictions.
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And according to Howard Shaffer
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from the Division on
Addictions at Howard University,
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"Drug use is not a necessary
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and sufficient
cause of addiction."
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So it doesn't
just have to be drugs,
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in other words, it
could be something else.
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In fact, he says, "It is
improper to consider drugs
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as the necessary precondiction--
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precondition for addiction."
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So it's really, it can
be drugs or anything else.
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It's a condition of the mind.
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The definition has been expanded
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to include
persistent compulsive behavior
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that is harmful or
destructive characterized
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by an inability
to stop. Right. Okay.
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And there's a quote also
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from Brian Knutson
from Stanford University.
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And he says, "It
is-- it stands to reason
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if you can
derange brain circuitry
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with pharmacology, you can do it
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with natural rewards as well."
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So, you know, what
are natural rewards.
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Pharmacology, of
course, will be drugs.
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Right, well the two most
potent natural rewards that,
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that create this
effect are food and sex.
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And so I thought we
would wanna take a look today
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at what--one of
those natural rewards--
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Okay, you have a nice
little glass of something here.
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Right. This is--what
is this, sugar or salt?
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Well, this is sugar
and it is 35 teaspoons
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of what we would call a
psychopharmacologic dose--
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Now you want me to
drink this? No, I don't.
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Okay. So what do we call this?
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It's called a
psychopharmacologic dose
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of a macronutrient. There are--
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What's that mean? So
that means that like--
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There are three-- There
are three macronutrients
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that we need in large amounts.
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Sugar? And sugar is one.
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And of course we
want it in slower doses.
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But we want sugar, we
want protein, and we want fat.
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Now what this constitutes
is the basic American Snack.
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This is--Oh, my candy bar just
fell over the railing there,
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but, a candy bar
and a 20 ounce soda
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is this much sugar.
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And of course,
most people are drinking
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larger size soda than that.
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I worked with a
lady in California
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that was drinking 10 of
those large sodas a day.
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Larger size than that.
And so, so what we are saying
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is that this is not an after
dinner mint. Because--okay.
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It's a very significant dose.
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Right. So the
problem-- the problem
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is not having an
occasional sweet,
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but we're having a
birthday party for breakfast,
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Christmas for lunch,
thanksgiving for dinner.
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People do this repeatedly.
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And this is
going to have an affect
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on the
architecture of the brain,
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addiction pathways,
appetite regulatory mechanisms.
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And it's going to create
some real metabolic mayhem.
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So in other words, if
you started doing this day
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and day out, your brain cannot
organizes itself around that,
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and it just expects it
and if it doesn't have it--
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That's right. It misses it,
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and you're just completely,
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you're changing
your brain chemistry.
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That's exactly right.
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And there are not
only chemistry changes,
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but structural
changes that take place,
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that are long lasting.
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The good news is--is that
the brain is very resilient
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and it can be
remodeled, and that's what
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we're all about
with Lifestyle Matters
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and with the
Living Free Program.
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So if you were to
look at someone's brain
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then say was, you
know, addicted to like drugs
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or pharmal--
pharmacological things--
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Right. Versus
someone that's addicted to,
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you know, their
big bowls of sugar
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and their soda pop,
and their candy bar.
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Right. Is there a difference?
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Well, I wanna share a quote
with you, a couple of quotes.
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One is from Ann Kelley.
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She is--she's very
well known in this field.
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She's from the
Neuroscience Division
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of the University of
Wisconsin Medical School.
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She says, "With these--"
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She calls these
hedonic doses of sugar and fat.
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"The brain is getting
addicted to its own opioids
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as it would morphine or heroin.
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Drugs give a bigger effect,
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but it is
essentially the same process.
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This says that mere
exposure to pleasurable,
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tasty foods is enough
to change gene expression,
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and that suggests you
could be addicted to food."
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And then the graphic
that we want to share
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with our viewers
today is from Mark Gold
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from the
McKnight Brain Institute
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at the University of Florida.
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He says, "What's
the difference between
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someone who's lost
control over alcohol
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and someone who's lost
control over good food?"
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And good in the sense of just
highly hedonic, not healthy.
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"When you look at their brains
and their brain responses,
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the differences are
not very significant."
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So you--if you were to
open up someone's brain
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and do a little, not an autopsy,
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'cause hopefully
they're not dead,
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but if you were to look at
the structures in their brain,
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they look exactly the
same, if it's a crack addict
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or if it's a Lays
potato chip addict.
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Well, they're very--
it's very similar. Okay.
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Yes, it is very, very similar.
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There are some things
going on with food addiction
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that are
actually over and above.
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We'll get into that.
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But I like what
Charles Billington has to say.
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He is the ex-leader or president
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of the North
American Association
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for the Study of Obesity.
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He said this, "As we
develop full understanding
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of the
neuroregulation of appetite,
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I think the
addictive nature of foods
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will come clear and
I think we will learn
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that these
addictions can develop
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at various stages of
life and I think we will learn
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that they are
very, very powerful."
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And brain imaging is showing
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pictorially that
this is the case.
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So you get to the point
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where you truly
can't just have one.
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Where it's in the house,
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you can't stop thinking
about it until it's gone.
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You know how many
are in the package.
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And here's what I tell people,
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you can tell if
you're a food addict.
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You know, you see
that plate of brownies
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going around the table
and you've got your eye on
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the one that's just for you.
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And if somebody else
takes it, you're disappointed.
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But if your husband
takes it, you're mad at him.
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Okay, so you increased
availability is one thing
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that tells you
that you're addicted.
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There are--there are
some real similarities
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with drug
addiction and food addiction.
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One is increased availability.
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We know that statistically,
the more available
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a substance is in area,
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you'll have a statistical
increase in drug addiction.
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And we know that these
highly refined fast foods
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are more
available than ever before.
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And so we see an increased
incidence of habituation
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to these--to these high-fat,
high-calorie dense foods.
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And then an immediate
effect you say on the brain,
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in other words
that when you eat this,
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it's broken down so rapidly
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and it really
impacts you quickly?
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There are central
effects with drugs.
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And there are
immediate central effects
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with drugs and with foods.
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We are hardwired to really
enjoy salt, fat, and sweet.
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And when we get
these in drug-like doses,
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then it begins to have
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a longer term
affect on the brain.
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So there is a
similarity with drugs.
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In that there are
immediate central effects,
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but with food, there
are post-ingestive effects
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that are very profound
and long lasting as well.
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So when you talk about
the-- you have these two,
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you know, increased availability
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and you have
these immediate effects
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that come from the food. Right.
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When you talk
about these things,
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there is also, you say,
supporting things in your book.
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You say that
there are, you know,
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properties that are also
go along with this. Exactly.
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In another words, the
atmosphere or something
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I don't know whatever it is.
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Well, there is a
reinforcing effect.
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There are
reinforcing effects of--
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The reinforcing
property of a drug.
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The more
reinforcing the drug is,
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for instance,
cocaine versus nicotine.
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A laboratory rat
will self medicate
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to death with
cocaine, but not with nicotine
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because the reinforcing
property of the cocaine
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is so much more
potent than the nicotine.
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And it's the same with food.
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The reinforcing
properties of these foods.
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They are engineered to have an
amazing mouth feel, the aromas.
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There are-- there are--
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It's a whole science
called Realogy and Flavorology
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that enhance the
hedonic properties
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or the feeling of ecstasy
or the pleasurable aspect
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of just tasting,
feeling, and smelling this food
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that reinforces the
central effects of that food.
00:09:50.75\00:09:54.05
And so it does create
more of an environment
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for developing a
habit with that food.
00:09:57.40\00:09:59.49
So they're available
and they are also immediate,
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and they're-- and
they're reinforced.
00:10:04.52\00:10:06.57
That's right. And then
these are the similarities
00:10:06.58\00:10:08.82
with having a drug addiction.
00:10:08.83\00:10:09.92
That's why it says
the, looks the same
00:10:09.93\00:10:11.64
in the brain when
you're looking at it.
00:10:11.65\00:10:13.18
Right. Is there anything else
00:10:13.19\00:10:14.20
that's similar
with drug addiction?
00:10:14.21\00:10:15.84
Well, yeah. Brain
changes occur in addiction
00:10:15.85\00:10:18.54
with drugs and with
behavioral addictions
00:10:18.55\00:10:21.20
or natural rewards that include
mood, motivation, learning--
00:10:21.21\00:10:26.01
Okay. Palatability centers,
all of these things are altered.
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Stress. Stress
hormones are altered.
00:10:29.39\00:10:32.63
But there are also some
really significant differences.
00:10:32.64\00:10:35.65
And the reason that this is
of such great interest to me,
00:10:35.66\00:10:38.04
is because we see
with lifestyle programs
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and people that
attempt lifestyle changes
00:10:40.45\00:10:42.67
who are suffering from obesity
or various lifestyle problems,
00:10:42.68\00:10:46.17
that they have a very,
very challenging time staying
00:10:46.18\00:10:48.83
with a program for
a long period of time,
00:10:48.84\00:10:51.09
and there are
some reasons for this.
00:10:51.10\00:10:52.96
We wanna
understand those reasons
00:10:52.97\00:10:54.59
and educate people, so
that they can better accomplish
00:10:54.60\00:10:57.30
their long term goals
and have better compliance
00:10:57.31\00:11:00.93
than we're seeing right now.
00:11:00.94\00:11:02.44
Okay, so the similarities
we've talked about--
00:11:02.45\00:11:04.86
Right. Are availability. Right.
00:11:04.87\00:11:06.64
Very quick response. Right.
00:11:06.65\00:11:08.83
And then there is
reinforcement to that.
00:11:08.84\00:11:11.19
And then there's actual
brain changes, you've said.
00:11:11.20\00:11:13.13
Those are the
four. That's right.
00:11:13.14\00:11:14.14
But--so that's
the similarity between
00:11:14.15\00:11:16.35
a food addiction and a
pharmacological addiction.
00:11:16.36\00:11:18.88
Right. But what
are the differences?
00:11:18.89\00:11:21.43
Well, there are some
very profound differences
00:11:21.44\00:11:24.39
in Antonio Convent and
Marella Lice have studied
00:11:24.40\00:11:26.80
some of those
differences as well as others.
00:11:26.81\00:11:30.22
One of the major differences
00:11:30.23\00:11:31.97
is that when you take these
00:11:31.98\00:11:34.48
pharmacologic
doses of macronutrient,
00:11:34.49\00:11:36.52
and that's one of the reasons
00:11:36.53\00:11:37.52
I wanted to show this
because they really is a--
00:11:37.53\00:11:39.25
This big mega dose.
00:11:39.26\00:11:40.25
There's a big difference between
00:11:40.26\00:11:41.86
having a little bit of something
00:11:41.87\00:11:43.65
and a large amount like
this is that it dysregulates
00:11:43.66\00:11:47.14
long term appetite
control mechanisms.
00:11:47.15\00:11:50.76
There are short and long
term appetite control regula--
00:11:50.77\00:11:53.96
regulatory
functions in our body.
00:11:53.97\00:11:57.37
The long term ones
have to do with Ghrelin,
00:11:57.38\00:12:00.39
Lep-- Ghrelin,
Leptin, and Insulin.
00:12:00.40\00:12:03.33
And so they help to generate
the "I am satisfied" signal.
00:12:03.34\00:12:07.14
So a person
with a food addiction
00:12:07.15\00:12:08.82
that has habituated themselves
00:12:08.83\00:12:10.43
to these large amounts
of calorie dense foods,
00:12:10.44\00:12:13.72
the "I am
satisfied" signal isn't heard.
00:12:13.73\00:12:16.92
And so they can eat to the point
00:12:16.93\00:12:18.73
where their stomach hurts.
00:12:18.74\00:12:19.83
It is so full of
food and they can eat
00:12:19.84\00:12:21.64
so much calorie dense food.
00:12:21.65\00:12:23.63
They can eat 15 donuts.
00:12:23.64\00:12:25.73
But they don't
feel or hear the message
00:12:25.74\00:12:28.18
you've had too much.
00:12:28.19\00:12:29.27
So in other words, this
is actually worse sometimes
00:12:29.28\00:12:31.18
than a pharmacological addiction
00:12:31.19\00:12:33.25
or like some of these
just one specific things
00:12:33.26\00:12:35.76
because they--they
make what you're saying
00:12:35.77\00:12:38.25
is all kinds of things
in the body go haywire.
00:12:38.26\00:12:41.42
That's exactly right.
00:12:41.43\00:12:42.49
And I suffered from
bulimia myself for 20 years,
00:12:42.50\00:12:44.67
so I'm very intermittently
acquainted with this process.
00:12:44.68\00:12:47.91
And I'm very grateful to
have this information today
00:12:47.92\00:12:51.95
to understand and help people
00:12:51.96\00:12:53.68
know the
challenge that they face.
00:12:53.69\00:12:55.32
And how much hope
there is that no matter
00:12:55.33\00:12:57.50
how long they have
struggled with this,
00:12:57.51\00:12:59.88
that they can overcome and
that normalcy can be achieved.
00:12:59.89\00:13:03.87
But that is a very real
challenge that people chase.
00:13:03.88\00:13:06.83
Another--that they
are confronted with.
00:13:06.84\00:13:09.75
Another really
significant impact
00:13:09.76\00:13:12.58
of these kinds of
foods is lower brain energy
00:13:12.59\00:13:16.56
due to neural
changes that take place in
00:13:16.57\00:13:18.91
what's called the
limbic area of the brain
00:13:18.92\00:13:20.73
where the
percolation of nerve impulses
00:13:20.74\00:13:22.73
takes place
throughout the brain.
00:13:22.74\00:13:24.49
It starts to slow down.
00:13:24.50\00:13:25.85
It becomes impaired
because of the little clusters
00:13:25.86\00:13:28.08
of dead cells that
begin to occur down there.
00:13:28.09\00:13:30.59
We call that atrophy.
00:13:30.60\00:13:32.45
We call that--
it's the beginnings
00:13:32.46\00:13:34.06
of vascular dementia actually.
00:13:34.07\00:13:35.68
And so there's--
there's temporal atrophy
00:13:35.69\00:13:38.03
that begins to occur.
00:13:38.04\00:13:39.06
So there's a lower mental energy
00:13:39.07\00:13:42.61
for meeting
challenges and change.
00:13:42.62\00:13:44.28
Now fortunately,
again this is something else
00:13:44.29\00:13:47.03
that can be reversed
swiftly with lifestyle changes
00:13:47.04\00:13:50.36
if it's caught early enough.
00:13:50.37\00:13:52.16
And that's really good news.
00:13:52.17\00:13:53.74
I mean, we're
gonna talk more about
00:13:53.75\00:13:55.78
that when we come back after
the break about the good news.
00:13:55.79\00:13:58.95
But you know, you have
an excellent cadre of people
00:13:58.96\00:14:03.69
that are working
together on this.
00:14:03.70\00:14:05.07
They've put together
this new book on addictions.
00:14:05.08\00:14:07.69
All these things
are able to be accessed
00:14:07.70\00:14:09.45
on your website,
lifestylematters.com.
00:14:09.46\00:14:13.82
And people can just
get more information
00:14:13.83\00:14:16.51
about all these
aspects by accessing this--
00:14:16.52\00:14:19.41
this excellent material.
00:14:19.42\00:14:21.37
When we come back, you're gonna
give us some good news, right?
00:14:21.38\00:14:23.70
That's right. And if
you're watching today
00:14:23.71\00:14:26.34
and you know someone or perhaps
you're struggling yourself
00:14:26.35\00:14:29.20
with addictions or
you think maybe you are.
00:14:29.21\00:14:32.49
Maybe you have a
better handle on that.
00:14:32.50\00:14:35.07
But there is
hope, there is help,
00:14:35.08\00:14:37.19
and we want to talk
about that when we come back.
00:14:37.20\00:14:40.12
Are you confused
about the endless stream
00:14:42.01\00:14:44.54
of new and often
contradictory health information
00:14:44.55\00:14:47.89
with companies
trying to sell new drugs
00:14:47.90\00:14:50.26
and special interest
groups paying for studies
00:14:50.27\00:14:52.30
that spin the facts?
00:14:52.31\00:14:54.04
Where can you find a
common sense approach to health?
00:14:54.05\00:14:56.99
One way is to ask
for your free copy
00:14:57.00\00:14:58.88
of Dr. Arnott's 24 realistic
ways to improve your health.
00:14:58.89\00:15:02.73
Dr. Timothy Arnott and the
Lifestyle Center of America
00:15:02.74\00:15:05.79
produced this
helpful booklet of 24 short,
00:15:05.80\00:15:08.48
practical health tips
based on scientific research
00:15:08.49\00:15:11.19
and the Bible that
will help you live longer,
00:15:11.20\00:15:13.66
happier and healthier.
00:15:13.67\00:15:15.41
For example, did you
know that women who drink
00:15:15.42\00:15:17.88
more water lower the
risk of heart attack?
00:15:17.89\00:15:20.54
Or that 7 to 8 hours of
sleep a night can minimize
00:15:20.55\00:15:23.19
your risk of ever
developing diabetes.
00:15:23.20\00:15:25.79
Find out how to lower your
blood pressure and much more.
00:15:25.80\00:15:28.79
If you're looking
for help, not hype,
00:15:28.80\00:15:30.28
then this booklet's for you.
00:15:30.29\00:15:31.90
Just log on to 3abn.org
and click on free offers
00:15:31.91\00:15:35.50
or call us during
regular business hours.
00:15:35.51\00:15:38.00
You'll be glad you did.
00:15:38.01\00:15:39.52
Welcome back. We've been
talking with Vicki Griffin.
00:15:41.55\00:15:44.60
She is an author. And she
has quite a personal testimony
00:15:44.61\00:15:48.45
that kind of
undergirds today's presentation.
00:15:48.46\00:15:51.41
You've actually
had to experience
00:15:51.42\00:15:53.03
some of these
various issues yourself
00:15:53.04\00:15:54.55
and have seen
that God is powerful
00:15:54.56\00:15:56.69
and can bring you out
of addictive behaviors.
00:15:56.70\00:15:58.78
That's exactly right. So--
00:15:58.79\00:16:00.91
And even behavior
that's lasted for many years.
00:16:00.92\00:16:04.46
So He is powerful
and there are tools.
00:16:04.47\00:16:07.10
And we're thankful for you
and the simple solution team
00:16:07.11\00:16:11.31
that are in the
Michigan Conference.
00:16:11.32\00:16:12.41
We're putting together
so many excellent materials.
00:16:12.42\00:16:15.09
Let me just
clarify something though.
00:16:15.10\00:16:17.90
We've talked a lot about
the brain changes that can come.
00:16:17.91\00:16:21.36
And about the, you
know, the parallels between
00:16:21.37\00:16:24.93
an addicted behavior
and then like, you know,
00:16:24.94\00:16:27.83
such as, you know,
nicotine or cocaine or heroin.
00:16:27.84\00:16:32.72
But then also about the more
complicated addicted behaviors
00:16:32.73\00:16:36.15
that are like related to food.
00:16:36.16\00:16:37.69
You've said there're just
all kinds of different systems.
00:16:37.70\00:16:40.17
Right. That are involved.
00:16:40.18\00:16:42.78
But it is true that
these food behaviors
00:16:42.79\00:16:46.36
can have great costs in terms
of some of the typical diseases
00:16:46.37\00:16:49.95
like heart disease
and whatnot, isn't it?
00:16:49.96\00:16:52.21
Yes, food addictions are linked
to the development of obesity,
00:16:52.22\00:16:55.42
diabetes, heart disease,
00:16:55.43\00:16:56.75
and while we
wanna be quick to note
00:16:56.76\00:16:59.04
that not all
food addicts or obese
00:16:59.05\00:17:00.95
and not all obese
people are food addicts.
00:17:00.96\00:17:03.23
The syndromes are
related and overlapping.
00:17:03.24\00:17:06.59
And there are some
very, very interesting studies
00:17:06.60\00:17:10.63
coming out now, describing food
00:17:10.64\00:17:13.71
as the new substance
00:17:13.72\00:17:14.96
in a substance
addiction we call obesity.
00:17:14.97\00:17:16.67
And so they're
beginning to understand
00:17:16.68\00:17:19.57
that the
neuroregulation of appetite
00:17:19.58\00:17:21.29
is a very, very real
factor in the challenge
00:17:21.30\00:17:24.72
of achieving long term change.
00:17:24.73\00:17:26.71
Now you are living proof that
people can overcome addiction.
00:17:26.72\00:17:29.89
Yes. And but maybe and
hopefully in the second half,
00:17:29.90\00:17:34.83
we will not be able
to cover everything,
00:17:34.84\00:17:36.32
but we'll skim the surface
00:17:36.33\00:17:37.63
and give some people
some hope. Absolutely.
00:17:37.64\00:17:39.62
All right, so start
us out on that journey.
00:17:39.63\00:17:42.45
Well, can a person overcome
food addictions? Absolutely.
00:17:42.46\00:17:46.03
And, as we've shared in
some other conversations
00:17:46.04\00:17:48.97
that we've had, our
brains were designed
00:17:48.98\00:17:51.80
by our Creator for recovery,
renewal, and resiliency.
00:17:51.81\00:17:55.36
There are changes going
on in the brain all the time
00:17:55.37\00:17:59.13
depending on what we
choose to pay attention
00:17:59.14\00:18:00.87
to and various simple,
00:18:00.88\00:18:03.08
but powerful lifestyle
tools can begin to curve
00:18:03.09\00:18:06.69
those cravings and change
00:18:06.70\00:18:09.84
and alter the
chemistry of the brain
00:18:09.85\00:18:11.72
so that it
begins to be sensitive
00:18:11.73\00:18:13.51
to appetite signaling, it since,
00:18:13.52\00:18:15.46
it can break
those-- those cravings
00:18:15.47\00:18:18.28
for the sugary
fattery-- fatty foods
00:18:18.29\00:18:20.12
in high amounts. And I'd like--
00:18:20.13\00:18:21.95
I saw one of these
things in your book,
00:18:21.96\00:18:24.95
a quote by a guy-- User's Guide.
00:18:24.96\00:18:27.21
I believe his name--the
"User's Guide to the Brain."
00:18:27.22\00:18:29.45
And he was saying this was
actually structural changes
00:18:29.46\00:18:32.99
that can come as a
result of decisions made.
00:18:33.00\00:18:35.10
That's right. He's
a neuropsychiatrist
00:18:35.11\00:18:36.61
by the name of Dr. John Ratey,
00:18:36.62\00:18:38.20
and he's from Harvard University
00:18:38.21\00:18:40.93
and he wrote a book.
00:18:40.94\00:18:41.99
He's an addiction specialist.
00:18:42.00\00:18:43.13
He wrote a book
called or entitled
00:18:43.14\00:18:45.42
"A User's Guide to the Brain."
00:18:45.43\00:18:47.03
And he says this,
"Experiences, thoughts,
00:18:47.04\00:18:50.86
actions, and emotions
00:18:50.87\00:18:52.29
actually change the
structure of our brains."
00:18:52.30\00:18:54.44
Isn't that a wonderful promise?
00:18:54.45\00:18:56.82
"Critics sometimes claim that
a focus on 'ordinary' measures
00:18:56.83\00:19:01.26
like exercise and
diet is too simplistic
00:19:01.27\00:19:03.64
to affect
unordinary behavior. Not so.
00:19:03.65\00:19:06.91
There are many tools
right at our fingertips
00:19:06.92\00:19:09.06
for changing our mental health,
00:19:09.07\00:19:10.76
both in correcting our
problems and simply becoming
00:19:10.77\00:19:13.72
the kind of person
that we want to be."
00:19:13.73\00:19:15.50
That is very
helpful. Yes, it is.
00:19:15.51\00:19:17.01
So these--these
very simple things,
00:19:17.02\00:19:19.46
I mean, what you're gonna share
00:19:19.47\00:19:20.83
may seem simplistic
to some of our viewers,
00:19:20.84\00:19:23.12
but they actually
are very powerful.
00:19:23.13\00:19:26.11
Here are the points
that we wanna remember.
00:19:26.12\00:19:27.88
The Lord has not
only given us power,
00:19:27.89\00:19:30.05
but He's given us tools.
00:19:30.06\00:19:31.63
He has a program that
is going to actually help
00:19:31.64\00:19:34.90
to put us into a
process of change over time
00:19:34.91\00:19:38.70
that is going to
have amazing results
00:19:38.71\00:19:40.47
in terms of long term outcomes.
00:19:40.48\00:19:42.42
And the primary thing
that we need to remember
00:19:42.43\00:19:45.28
is that addictions are learned.
00:19:45.29\00:19:46.97
They are learned
associative behavior and--
00:19:46.98\00:19:50.41
And can be unlearned. An
addiction can be unlearned.
00:19:50.42\00:19:52.42
So let's go through this
and then we'll come back.
00:19:52.43\00:19:53.95
"The brain is both resilient
and plastic or malleable
00:19:53.96\00:19:58.34
and responds to new choices
and patterns of activity.
00:19:58.35\00:20:02.44
Recovery,
repair, and restoration
00:20:02.45\00:20:04.61
of critical
pathways is possible,
00:20:04.62\00:20:07.12
although results will vary
from individual to individual.
00:20:07.13\00:20:09.80
Improvements can
begin to occur rapidly."
00:20:09.81\00:20:13.61
This is good news.
It's very good news.
00:20:13.62\00:20:15.39
And when you--and
when you start to replace
00:20:15.40\00:20:18.67
the puffed rice
cereal and the hard candies
00:20:18.68\00:20:21.83
or orangeade for
breakfast and replace
00:20:21.84\00:20:24.10
that with some of
the high fiber foods
00:20:24.11\00:20:25.69
that's gonna
immediately going to begin
00:20:25.70\00:20:29.70
to alter those-- those pathways.
00:20:29.71\00:20:32.36
It's going to make the
portion of the hypothalamus
00:20:32.37\00:20:36.16
that's very sensitive
to fasting and feeding
00:20:36.17\00:20:38.37
and very sensitive to ghrelin
00:20:38.38\00:20:39.73
and the appetite
regulatory mechanisms.
00:20:39.74\00:20:42.06
It's going to
begin to be responsive
00:20:42.07\00:20:44.70
to the lower amounts of
concentrated sugars and fats.
00:20:44.71\00:20:49.55
Also when you have the
soluble fibers in the diet,
00:20:49.56\00:20:52.22
it's going to increase satiety,
00:20:52.23\00:20:53.69
it's gonna cut the cravings,
00:20:53.70\00:20:55.47
it's gonna lower
the insulin response,
00:20:55.48\00:20:58.65
so that your brain is
gonna be more able to learn--
00:20:58.66\00:21:00.90
And you're getting
into the details of exactly
00:21:00.91\00:21:03.01
what we need to do-- Right.
00:21:03.02\00:21:04.08
But we go back to that
list we were just talking about.
00:21:04.09\00:21:06.09
It said that these
behaviors are learned
00:21:06.10\00:21:09.99
and they can be
unlearned. That's right.
00:21:10.00\00:21:11.55
So addictions are
not just something that,
00:21:11.56\00:21:14.17
well, it just
happened to me. Right.
00:21:14.18\00:21:15.93
I'm just, you know,
00:21:15.94\00:21:17.22
I'm just this
little ping-pong ball,
00:21:17.23\00:21:19.47
and I'm getting beat
this way and that way.
00:21:19.48\00:21:21.72
No, it's
something that was learned
00:21:21.73\00:21:23.67
and it can be unlearned.
00:21:23.68\00:21:25.64
Our brains are not passive,
00:21:25.65\00:21:27.74
gray cabbages
victim to genetics,
00:21:27.75\00:21:31.40
nor are they subject to
environmental influences
00:21:31.41\00:21:35.24
and just victims of
whatever environmental forces
00:21:35.25\00:21:38.24
come to bear in our lives.
00:21:38.25\00:21:39.61
We can manage the
genetic tendencies
00:21:39.62\00:21:42.48
and the
environmental occurrences
00:21:42.49\00:21:45.13
that have happened in our lives.
00:21:45.14\00:21:46.33
We can manage them both
00:21:46.34\00:21:47.55
if we can only understand
the power of implementing,
00:21:47.56\00:21:52.84
the power of
choice, the power of will,
00:21:52.85\00:21:56.01
and I know that that
just sounds exasperating
00:21:56.02\00:21:57.88
to some people,
because people do
00:21:57.89\00:21:59.93
lose the power of choice.
00:21:59.94\00:22:01.98
Their motivated
behavior just seems,
00:22:01.99\00:22:03.58
they called--it's
called runaway motivation.
00:22:03.59\00:22:05.77
But we can build a bridge
back to that power of choice.
00:22:05.78\00:22:08.80
God can give us
the power that we need,
00:22:08.81\00:22:10.82
but we must instantly
and immediately implement
00:22:10.83\00:22:13.63
the plan that He has for us,
00:22:13.64\00:22:15.05
so that we can
sustain the results
00:22:15.06\00:22:17.39
of deliverance
that He has for us.
00:22:17.40\00:22:19.18
So to unlearn
this you gotta create
00:22:19.19\00:22:21.74
an environment for
success and whatnot.
00:22:21.75\00:22:23.77
You have a list here
of important strategies
00:22:23.78\00:22:25.87
for a long term success.
We want to go through those
00:22:25.88\00:22:27.79
and then maybe talked
about a couple of them.
00:22:27.80\00:22:29.35
Okay. The first
one you were alluding
00:22:29.36\00:22:30.82
to was increase
fiber intake to reset
00:22:30.83\00:22:34.65
metabolic controls
and break cravings.
00:22:34.66\00:22:38.25
Very important.
Increase antioxidant intake
00:22:38.26\00:22:41.83
by throttling up on a
variety of fresh vegetables--
00:22:41.84\00:22:44.91
That's gonna
sweep up dead cells.
00:22:44.92\00:22:46.84
Beans, whole
grains, nuts, and seeds.
00:22:46.85\00:22:49.35
So that's the sweep.
00:22:49.36\00:22:50.39
And then increasing activity,
both mental and physical.
00:22:50.40\00:22:53.33
Adopt an active lifestyle.
00:22:53.34\00:22:55.29
Drink plenty of
fresh water between meals.
00:22:55.30\00:22:58.87
This will displace the
foods we need to avoid,
00:22:58.88\00:23:01.96
like junk food and
highly refined foods
00:23:01.97\00:23:05.43
rich in saturated animal fats,
00:23:05.44\00:23:07.07
trans fats, and refined sugars.
00:23:07.08\00:23:09.68
Bottom line is, we
want to adopt a strategy,
00:23:09.69\00:23:12.20
an approach, a way of thinking
00:23:12.21\00:23:14.39
that is gonna help us
to crave the good stuff.
00:23:14.40\00:23:17.44
So that fiber resets
the metabolic controls.
00:23:17.45\00:23:21.01
In other words, it slows
things down or gives some them
00:23:21.02\00:23:23.39
a chance to get
in control again.
00:23:23.40\00:23:25.15
So that now
after-- after implementing
00:23:25.16\00:23:27.76
these changes on a daily basis,
00:23:27.77\00:23:30.44
you go and you
have some huge triple
00:23:30.45\00:23:34.53
whatever fudge something,
00:23:34.54\00:23:37.33
and all of a
sudden you just think,
00:23:37.34\00:23:39.98
"Wow, that's
sickening. That's too much."
00:23:39.99\00:23:42.63
We want to get to the place
00:23:42.64\00:23:44.54
where we'd have a
little bit of something sweet.
00:23:44.55\00:23:47.25
And we'd say, "That's
enough. I'm satisfied."
00:23:47.26\00:23:50.19
And you can't really do that
until you reset the controls
00:23:50.20\00:23:52.77
because you're out of control.
00:23:52.78\00:23:53.95
That's right. But
you're not saying then what--
00:23:53.96\00:23:56.13
you're saying a couple
of things, that, you know,
00:23:56.14\00:23:59.21
an overcoming
addictions to food is not--
00:23:59.22\00:24:02.86
not like all or nothing,
00:24:02.87\00:24:03.96
because you
still have to eat food.
00:24:03.97\00:24:05.78
It is a
process. It is a journey.
00:24:05.79\00:24:07.84
And people that want to have
the victory over their appetite
00:24:07.85\00:24:12.11
and over these kinds
of problems, they'll say,
00:24:12.12\00:24:13.66
"Okay, from now
on, I'm just gonna eat
00:24:13.67\00:24:15.64
six peeled grapes for dessert,
00:24:15.65\00:24:17.11
and I'm gonna
walk 10 miles a day."
00:24:17.12\00:24:18.75
We've got to say
realistic expectations.
00:24:18.76\00:24:21.03
Number one,
we've got to understand
00:24:21.04\00:24:22.50
that there's a process of change
00:24:22.51\00:24:25.16
that's gonna start
remodeling the brain
00:24:25.17\00:24:26.83
and it's going to get easier.
00:24:26.84\00:24:28.48
We liken it to
remodeling a kitchen.
00:24:28.49\00:24:30.38
It's gonna get ugly
before it gets better.
00:24:30.39\00:24:32.36
Yes, there will be withdrawals.
00:24:32.37\00:24:33.59
Yes, there will be cravings.
00:24:33.60\00:24:35.13
Yes, there will be
of less of inability
00:24:35.14\00:24:37.65
to taste the subtle
flavors and textures
00:24:37.66\00:24:39.61
of less refined hedonic foods
00:24:39.62\00:24:42.14
because even the palatability
of this centers of the brain
00:24:42.15\00:24:45.66
are altered as a
result of high exposure
00:24:45.67\00:24:48.44
to these kinds of foods.
00:24:48.45\00:24:49.49
But all of these
things begin to change
00:24:49.50\00:24:51.98
as you swap out
a wholegrain bread
00:24:51.99\00:24:54.46
and fresh
peaches and strawberries
00:24:54.47\00:24:55.98
for the candy bar and orangeade,
00:24:55.99\00:25:00.40
as you begin to swap
out and then you exercise
00:25:00.41\00:25:03.46
to increase mood
and you start focusing
00:25:03.47\00:25:05.45
on those brain changes.
00:25:05.46\00:25:06.86
Slow but sure, those
cravings begin to get lower
00:25:06.87\00:25:10.90
and lower and less and less
00:25:10.91\00:25:12.56
and you begin to appreciate
and enjoy the high fiber foods
00:25:12.57\00:25:16.55
which keep you satisfied.
00:25:16.56\00:25:18.13
And so the actual mechanisms
00:25:18.14\00:25:19.80
for hunger begin to be restored.
00:25:19.81\00:25:22.32
And this is just an amazing
00:25:22.33\00:25:23.73
and wonderful
process that takes place.
00:25:23.74\00:25:25.23
Now, in your own
life, is this what occurred?
00:25:25.24\00:25:27.86
Oh, absolutely. I was
severely bulimic for 20 years
00:25:27.87\00:25:30.97
from age 11 to age 31,
and I am 52 years old now.
00:25:30.98\00:25:35.85
And so I have had
this journey of learning
00:25:35.86\00:25:39.81
to make better
choices and learning to crave
00:25:39.82\00:25:42.70
those better
foods and understanding
00:25:42.71\00:25:44.94
how to utilize the lifestyle
tools to control anxiety
00:25:44.95\00:25:49.81
and depression to improve
mood to meet mental challenges.
00:25:49.82\00:25:52.57
All the things
that used to drive me
00:25:52.58\00:25:54.64
to those poor food choices.
00:25:54.65\00:25:56.16
Now I'm learning better
ways of managing stress.
00:25:56.17\00:26:00.55
My brain is more resilient
because of the diet I eat.
00:26:00.56\00:26:03.20
So I'm better equipped and able
to handle the stress of life.
00:26:03.21\00:26:06.98
And so it is a process and
you don't get a 100% everyday.
00:26:06.99\00:26:11.08
You know, you can
expect to have some problems
00:26:11.09\00:26:15.43
as you go along.
But you don't give up.
00:26:15.44\00:26:18.04
You get up. You
don't look it at it as,
00:26:18.05\00:26:19.56
"I want to get
to my finish mark."
00:26:19.57\00:26:21.62
You remember
that it's the journey
00:26:21.63\00:26:24.60
that creates the strength.
00:26:24.61\00:26:26.39
So, you know, you've created
this book along with the team.
00:26:26.40\00:26:31.15
And this is just the
tip of the iceberg. Yes.
00:26:31.16\00:26:33.24
I mean, there's
definitely going through this--
00:26:33.25\00:26:35.78
this list we have
seems kind of, you know,
00:26:35.79\00:26:38.06
fast and quick and it is. Right.
00:26:38.07\00:26:39.37
When you look at it in the book,
00:26:39.38\00:26:41.46
it actually breaks it
down, what you should do.
00:26:41.47\00:26:43.54
It's a whole
process of recovery,
00:26:43.55\00:26:45.86
identifying the trigger,
00:26:45.87\00:26:47.15
identifying all
the different things,
00:26:47.16\00:26:48.58
and then moving
towards recovery.
00:26:48.59\00:26:50.40
Right. And it's a
comprehensive plan,
00:26:50.41\00:26:53.08
you can learn about
the book on your website.
00:26:53.09\00:26:56.45
Yes. Lifestylematters.com.
00:26:56.46\00:26:59.42
And, you know, I like
to close programs with you,
00:26:59.43\00:27:02.29
Vicki, with a spiritual note.
00:27:02.30\00:27:04.70
We have about 30 seconds.
00:27:04.71\00:27:06.74
What spiritual hope
can you give our viewers
00:27:06.75\00:27:10.00
that are either
attempting to help someone
00:27:10.01\00:27:12.91
or in the midst of
addiction themselves?
00:27:12.92\00:27:14.44
I love the promise of God
in Romans Chapter 12 verse 2,
00:27:14.45\00:27:18.99
the Bible says, "Do
not let your behavior
00:27:19.00\00:27:21.39
be like that of this world."
00:27:21.40\00:27:22.59
We've got to make a choice.
We've got to make a choice.
00:27:22.60\00:27:24.77
"But be changed
and made new in mind."
00:27:24.78\00:27:26.90
We're talking about
changing our minds today.
00:27:26.91\00:27:29.30
"So that by experience,"
00:27:29.31\00:27:30.67
and that's
experience based plasticity.
00:27:30.68\00:27:32.80
That's what it
called the neuroscience.
00:27:32.81\00:27:34.42
"So that by new experiences
you may have knowledge
00:27:34.43\00:27:36.76
of the good and pleasing
00:27:36.77\00:27:37.93
and complete purpose
of God in your life."
00:27:37.94\00:27:39.86
So the mind God is
saying there can be renewed
00:27:39.87\00:27:43.39
and that's what all
the research is showing,
00:27:43.40\00:27:45.13
that's what your book shows.
00:27:45.14\00:27:46.52
Thank you so much
for being with us today.
00:27:46.53\00:27:48.83
I think this has been
very helpful, not only to me,
00:27:48.84\00:27:51.89
and I know it's
been helpful to you,
00:27:51.90\00:27:53.15
but also to our viewers.
00:27:53.16\00:27:54.71
Thank you for joining us.
00:27:54.72\00:27:56.23
We hope as a result
that you have health
00:27:56.24\00:27:58.53
that lasts for a lifetime.
00:27:58.54\00:28:00.77