Thoughts on the prevalence of addiction

From an offering to a loved one suffering with high blood pressure (hypertension), the most common form of post-industrial disease, and the most deadly:

--------------------------

May I gently suggest there are mountains, yes mountains, of evidence of every type that matters (studies and experiences of real people) that demonstrate a (salt oil sugar) "SOS free" plant based diet reverses hypertension with relative ease and speed.

A lot of people are swayed by the "dietary cholesterol isn't bad" idea, but IMHO it is critical to come to terms with the fact it's misinformation propagated by industry groups facing a collapse in profit, using "science" with deliberately flawed "models under test", and welcomed by good folks who don't want to have to forgo familiar foods and diets.

This actually falls into the category of addiction, which I know a little something about. And food is a particularly pernicious form of addiction because it's, well, food. But all addictions have certain things in common. And the term is misused frequently: "I'm addicted to walking 5 miles a day". That is not addiction, that is healthy practice.

Addiction: patterns of self destructive behaviors that fall into the category of "repetition compulsion" (one can't stop doing it easily). "Healthy addiction" is a misnomer, a contradiction in terms...there is no such thing.

Using the word addiction to denote healthy patterns robs it of its power. Why do we do that? To make ourselves feel better?

The key thing I learned about addiction came from quitting smoking, which I did several times, but once while I was in analysis, and could begin to "see" the mechanism that makes it so pernicious: we associate addictions with survival on an unconscious level. Read that again.

It gets a bit more complex. Everyone knows certain things are "bad for you" but are so addictive we cannot easily stop doing them. Smoking is an example, alcoholism and drug use is another. We "know" they are bad for us but we unconsciously associate them with survival. They are "food".  These unconscious "maladaptations" are formed primarily by family of origin, peer, and broad cultural influences, which we, again, unconsciously associate with survival. Individuals do this, entire cultures do this.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maladaptation

When we "know" something intellectually, but "believe" the opposite on an unconscious level, it sets up "unresolved inner conflict". We all have these, but too much of it is a disaster for emotional health. This is the reason we do "therapy" activities: when we "get ourselves on the same page", so to speak, life gets easier, and better.

Unresolved inner conflict resulting in addictive eating patterns are also a disaster for physical health.

When we have these unresolved inner conflicts on both the emotional health and physical health levels, which is not uncommon, we are in a tough situation and need help. I speak from personal experience. Be aware most forms of "therapy" deal with one of these two aspects, but give short shrift the other. We may need to avail ourselves of both modalities separately...they will "blend" internally, automagically.

Another important characteristic of addictive behaviors is "numbing of the senses". Heavy meals are numbing. This is "the fix" aspect of addictions. Other addictions involve stimulants that give quick bursts of energy, but longer term are a net reduction in energy. Any repetitive activities that alter consciousness but result in net reductions in health and vitality are addictions.

There are counter productive forms of physical activity, but they are relatively rare. An example might be "runners high", not an addiction for the majority of runners, but it can be. Is it a net gain or a net loss?

So addiction is complex, you have to discern the behavioral scale of it, a broad range, and where you are on it. This is a process that can take some time, but time very well spent. What is more important than your own well being?

Smokers can no longer "tell" smoking is bad for them, the signaling systems have been overwhelmed. Stop smoking for a year or two and then have a single cigarette. If you've never had this experience believe me it's a shock to think "I was doing this?" The good news is signaling systems are self repairing.

So in a way, it's all about repairing the signaling systems, and that is a process. It has stages, or can have, generally it's more efficient to take the bandage off quickly instead of one hair at a time. Cold turkey. But if gradual works better, do it that way.

The best way to change maladaptive behaviors is to change cultural groups to take advantage of a more functional set of conscious AND unconscious "survival messages". Intervention retreats introduce and reinforce the positive and are effective. They are the rough equivalent of "rehab" for addictions that are not broadly recognized as such.

These are the addictions that are even more difficult because they are not generally recognized as "bad for you". So then you are dealing with maladaptive survival associations on BOTH the conscious and unconscious level, a double whammy.

"Animal products are the highest quality source of protein" is a very stubborn one. This came from early but incorrect nutrition science, and it falls into the maladaptive unconscious pattern "if a little bit is good a lot is better", which is not true.

There is both too much and too little "nutrition", both are malnutrition, and then there is the correct amount. Broadly speaking science is still pretty clumsy with "correct amount", and there is way too much misinformation about something that is basically quite simple.

So how do we know how much is the correct amount? Eat a variety of whole plant foods until you are completely satisfied...do not worry about overeating. Done. Well it also includes stop consuming addiction "foods".

If you are overweight you will come down to your correct weight. If you are sick with post-industrial conditions you will get well.

BTW, "post-industrial conditions" is not a term you are likely to hear coming from your doctor. You have to be a little bit brave here, set out on your own adventure of health. If the man in the lab coat could save you he would have done it by now.

If you have a broken arm, by all means go see the man in the lab coat. If you have post-industrial health conditions eat plants, don't eat garbage.

"Malnutrition" is a huge problem in the developed world. How do we know? Why is "health care" so expensive? Why can't it fix us quickly and easily? Or even fix us at all?

Malnutrition in the developed world is caused by maladaptive thinking about what we consume as food. A serious problem that seems so complex (the forest of misinformation) is actually quite simple.

Here's a Google search on "low fat whole food plant based diets for blood pressure". There are intervention modalities when you need to put the pedal to the metal. Hypertension certainly qualifies.

link:

low fat whole food plant based diet for blood pressure