Bread is as addictive as heroin.

[techs]

http://www.sott.net/article/244288-Wheat-The-Addictive-Opiate

Wheat: The Addictive Opiate

Modern wheat is an opiate.

And, of course, I don't mean that wheat is an opiate in the sense that you like it so much that you feel you are addicted. Wheat is truly addictive.

Wheat is addictive in the sense that it comes to dominate thoughts and behaviors. Wheat is addictive in the sense that, if you don't have any for several hours, you start to get nervous, foggy, tremulous, and start desperately seeking out another "hit" of crackers, bagels, or bread, even if it's the few stale 3-month old crackers at the bottom of the box. Wheat is addictive in the sense that there is a distinct withdrawal syndrome characterized by overwhelming fatigue, mental "fog," inability to exercise, even depression that lasts several days, occasionally several weeks. Wheat is addictive in the sense that the withdrawal process can be provoked by administering an opiate-blocking drug such as naloxone or naltrexone.

But the "high" of wheat is not like the high of heroine, morphine, or Oxycontin. This opiate, while it binds to the opiate receptors of the brain, doesn't make us high. It makes us hungry.

This is the effect exerted by gliadin, the protein in wheat that was inadvertently altered by geneticists in the 1970s during efforts to increase yield. Just a few shifts in amino acids and gliadin in modern high-yield, semi-dwarf wheat became a potent appetite stimulant.

Wheat stimulates appetite. Wheat stimulates calorie consumption: 440 more calories per day, 365 days per year, for every man, woman, and child. (440 calories per person per day is the average.) We experience this, sense the weight gain that is coming and we push our plate away, settle for smaller portions, increase exercise more and more . . . yet continue to gain, and gain, and gain. Ask your friends and neighbors who try to include more "healthy whole grains" in their diet. They exercise, eat a "well-balanced diet" . . . yet gained 10, 20, 30, 70 pounds over the past several years. Accuse your friends of drinking too much Coca Cola by the liter bottle, or being gluttonous at the all-you-can-eat buffet and you will likely receive a black eye. Many of these people are actually trying quite hard to control impulse, appetite, portion control, and weight, but are losing the battle with this appetite-stimulating opiate in wheat.


Damn, I googled "wheat is addictive" and its apparently a real thing.

Am I going to need a prescription for a delicious sammich?

 

[Kaido]

There's a really good book that includes the topic of bread addiction called "Potatoes not Prozac":

http://www.amazon.com/Potatoes-Seven...dp/B001OW5MOM/

Basically they found that 4 major addictive things turn into sugar in your body:

1. Alcohol
2. Sugar
3. Bread
4. Pasta

So people who are addicted to alcohol are actually sugar addicts, but you get the double-whammy of having a buzz from the alcohol as well as the sugar addiction, which creates the alcoholism cycle. It's not addressed as much, but a lot of people also have sugar addictions, bread (sugar) addictions, and pasta (sugar) addictions. Binge eating is known, but not addressed as much - there's not really any 12-step program for people who eat too much bread or sugary treats.

I struggled with undiagnosed hypoglycemia up until a few years ago (basically low blood sugar) and did a lot of research on the topic because I'd lose energy and crash at random times; now I eat protein every few hours and feel fine all day. So yeah, that book opened my eyes to the existence of sugar addiction and how sugar is also bread, pasta, and alcohol - it's just a hidden form of sugar, but people still get addicted to it.

 

[Kaido]

Wheat is addictive in the sense that it comes to dominate thoughts and behaviors. Wheat is addictive in the sense that, if you don't have any for several hours, you start to get nervous, foggy, tremulous, and start desperately seeking out another "hit" of crackers, bagels, or bread, even if it's the few stale 3-month old crackers at the bottom of the box. Wheat is addictive in the sense that there is a distinct withdrawal syndrome characterized by overwhelming fatigue, mental "fog," inability to exercise, even depression that lasts several days, occasionally several weeks. Wheat is addictive in the sense that the withdrawal process can be provoked by administering an opiate-blocking drug such as naloxone or naltrexone.

That's actually interesting, about the mental fog, fatigue, etc. - last year I discovered I have a gluten intolerance and basically had those same symptoms. I was exhausted all the time, no matter how much I slept, I was always cold, I had a lot of trouble concentrating, and it had gotten worse since I was a kid. A week off gluten and I was cured! The trouble is they hide it in everything - not even mustard or deli meat is safe. So it sounds like the food industry is pumping everything full of wheat and making addicts out of all of us :awe:

 

[diesbudt]

Anything that has sugar is potentially addictive... and all grains break down into sugars.

However if someone regularly gets sugar from other sources, say sweet drinks, candy, desserts, etc. The sugar they receive from healthy grains is low in comparison and thus does not give an addiction cycle because it isn't strong enough to.

 

[HydroSqueegee]

finally! an excuse as to why i eat the entire loafs of bread i bake!

 

[diesbudt]

That's actually interesting, about the mental fog, fatigue, etc. - last year I discovered I have a gluten intolerance and basically had those same symptoms. I was exhausted all the time, no matter how much I slept, I was always cold, I had a lot of trouble concentrating, and it had gotten worse since I was a kid. A week off gluten and I was cured! The trouble is they hide it in everything - not even mustard or deli meat is safe. So it sounds like the food industry is pumping everything full of wheat and making addicts out of all of us :awe:

Sugar is a toxin to the body. It isn't overly harmful. But...

As an experience. Eat nothing upon waking up. Find someone you can beat in an arm wrestling match. Do a match, and see how strong you are.

Now take a spoonful of sugar, eat it. Wait 5 minutes.

Do another arm wrestling match with that person. You will notice a massive difference in your arm strength, as first 10-15minutes of sugar being added to the body, messes with your system.

Did this as an experiement in a nutrition and welness class. Was freaky.

 

[Zeze]

Is this same for rice?

Being Asian, I don't really care for bread. But rice.... I effin' LOVE rice.

Same nutritionless grain, full of carb, breaks down to sugar, yes?

 

[techs]

Is this same for rice?

Being Asian, I don't really care for bread. But rice.... I effin' LOVE rice.

Same nutritionless grain, full of carb, breaks down to sugar, yes?

Apparently its the altered gliadin that causes the problem. Its not in rice, afaik

 

[diesbudt]

Apparently its the altered gliadin that causes the problem. Its not in rice, afaik

Honestly all the info I see in the article is the exact opposite from what I know from dieting and dieting information.

Wheat fills you up faster because of the higher fiber content. Not make one more hungry.

I have had wheat bread and such a lot when I was dieting. Never once addicted. I find sugar soda and such more addictive.

 

[JTsyo]

Had a friend who went on the Paleo diet (no carbs). He said the first week with bread and pasta felt like he was in withdrawal.

 

[xanis]

EDIT: Wow, wrong thread. I'm a dummy.

 

[diesbudt]

Had a friend who went on the Paleo diet (no carbs). He said the first week with bread and pasta felt like he was in withdrawal.

No carbs... is that even possible?

I mean 99% of the foods we eat are carbs.

So unless he is having pure protein through meat, that is an impossibility.

 

[Gibsons]

There's a really good book that includes the topic of bread addiction called "Potatoes not Prozac":

http://www.amazon.com/Potatoes-Seven...dp/B001OW5MOM/

Basically they found that 4 major addictive things turn into sugar in your body:

1. Alcohol

Alcohol turns into sugar?

 

[IronWing]

Carb addicts loafing around on street corners. They even use food stamps to pay for their fix. The Hostess cartel was broken by the Bimbo cartel pushing ever sweeter stuff.


I blame Hollywood and religion.

 

[SandEagle]

B.A.R.E.
Bread Abuse Resistance Education

To Resist Bread and Violence

 

[Squisher]

Bread is Life

 

[IronWing]

B.A.R.E.
Bread Abuse Resistance Education

To Resist Bread and Violence

Arnold is The Carburetor.

 

[diesbudt]

Alcohol turns into sugar?

Yes. The ethanol, breaks down into sugar through the liver and bodies metabolism. This is why alcoholic drinks have calories.

I mean there is no fat or protein in it. So sugar is the only caloric chemical in it. But since the taste isn't sweet/sugary, the sugar comes from after consumption.

 

[mcveigh]

No carbs... is that even possible?

I mean 99% of the foods we eat are carbs.

So unless he is having pure protein through meat, that is an impossibility.

99% really?

 

[Kntx]

Had a friend who went on the Paleo diet (no carbs). He said the first week with bread and pasta felt like he was in withdrawal.

Paleo diet is not a no carb diet. On the paleo diet you are encouraged to eat lots of fresh fruit.

 

[Gibsons]

Yes. The ethanol, breaks down into sugar through the liver and bodies metabolism. This is why alcoholic drinks have calories.

That's incorrect.

 

[Mixolydian]

Alcohol turns into sugar?

Not sure if serious. :hmm:

 

[diesbudt]

99% really?

Besides pure meat from an animal. Everything has carbs.

All fruits, all vegetables, all grains, all dairy based products, all sweets.

meat w/o any sause or bread or whatever on it is the only thing you can eat with no carbs. (with an exception here and there like pork rinds, and such)

 

[diesbudt]

Paleo diet is not a no carb diet. On the paleo diet you are encouraged to eat lots of fresh fruit.

Fruits are basically nothing but carbs... lol

 

[diesbudt]

That's incorrect.

yea... i got my equation backwards.

Sugar breaks down INTO ethanol.

My bad.

And our body treats ethanol like sugar, as in it is usable by the body providing calories for energy.