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starches". This craving often prevents them from eating a healthy diet and contributes to a decline
in their overall health. Let us examine the causes and ways to address this common symptom.
Hypoglycemia And Diabetes
Many individuals with carbohydrate craving have some degree of carbohydrate intolerance,
often manifesting as low blood sugar, low sugar in the cells or low ATP. This causes an 'energy
crisis' in which one craves simple or complex carbohydrates to provide fuel or energy for the
body. According to Dr. Robert Atkins, MD, up to 75% of the American people have some
degree of carbohydrate intolerance.
Diabetics experience a craving for sweets or starches because they are not able to move
sugars from their blood into their cells. Therefore, they experience low cellular sugar. This may
be caused by low insulin, resistance to insulin, or other nutritional causes.
Nutritional Causes
Many nutrients are needed for carbohydrate metabolism. Zinc is needed to produce
digestive enzymes to digest all foods. Zinc is also required to produce, secrete and sustain the
action of insulin. Insulin in turn is required to move sugars into the cells. Chromium is needed to
help insulin attach to cell walls.
Manganese is needed in the mitochondria of the cells for energy production. Copper and
iron are required for the electron transport system, where most ATP is produced. Vanadium
appears to play a role in carbohydrate tolerance as well.
B-vitamins are involved in the energy cycles, and vitamin E helps protect many delicate
enzyme systems involved in energy production. Many other compounds are also required in the
digestion, absorption, transport and conversion of carbohydrate foods to energy.
An adequate intake of many nutrients through a healthy diet and supplementation helps
assure that the steps to convert food to energy will proceed normally. Dietary supplements are
often necessary if one is under stress or their nutritional reserves are depleted.
Toxic Metals
Deficiencies or blockages at any stage of the energy pathway - the path of conversion of
foods into energy - can cause an energy deficit that may result in a craving for sugars or complex
carbohydrates. Toxic metals and other toxins can block enzyme reactions and interfere with the
energy pathway.
Fast And Slow Oxidation
Dr. Paul Eck found that fast oxidizers burn their food rapidly and tend to have a low level of
glycogen, the storage form of sugar. When reserves are used up due to stress, activity, or
improper diet, the blood sugar can drop suddenly, accompanied by strong sugar cravings. Eating
enough fats and oils can help prevent this occurrence.
Slow oxidizers often have a chronic low blood sugar level, due to sluggish adrenal glands
and/or thyroid activity. The adrenal hormones help raise the blood sugar. Eating adequate protein
with each meal can often prevent or reduce this cause of sugar craving. Slow oxidizers also often
have more heavy metal toxicity that can contribute to problems in the energy pathway.
The Yeast Connection
Overgrowth of intestinal candida albicans is common today, due to antibiotic, steroid and
birth control pill use, copper imbalance and weakened immune systems. Yeast organisms thrive
on sugars in the diet and produce alcohol and acetaldehyde. When the yeast require nourishment,
they can produce a mild alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
This may be accompanied by strong cravings for sugars and carbohydrates. In this case, one
is not craving carbohydrates for oneself, but for the candida organisms that are living in the
intestine. A vicious cycle often develops in which a weakened immune system permits yeast
overgrowth. This causes sugar cravings, which further weakens the immune system, worsening
the yeast condition.
A simple way to determine if candida is a factor in one's cravings is to eliminate all or most
carbohydrates from the diet for a week, and take an anti-candida supplement such as Caprylate
complex. If one goes through a withdrawal syndrome but then feels better, often candida was
present. If the case is very chronic, the anti-candida medication may need to be continued for a
year or more, while following a nutrition program to rebalance body chemistry.
A Natural Tranquilizer
Carbohydrates help to elevate serotonin levels. This has a tranquilizing effect and can feel
very good for those under chronic stress. Unfortunately, a vicious cycle is common, in which one
eats carbohydrates to feel better, but the diet is incorrect and incomplete and this only leads to
more stress.
Carbohydrates also lower the tissue zinc level and raise the sodium level. This gives a short
energy boost and can temporarily improve imbalances such as a low sodium/potassium ratio.
Carbohydrates also increase the inflammatory prostaglandins and the insulin level. These effects
may cause cravings in some people, especially those addicted to stress.
Craving Nutrients
A person may crave carbohydrates or other foods, in an attempt to obtain additional trace
minerals or other nutrients. This scenario was observed in a young boy who was raised on
organic, whole grains. When sent away to summer camp where only white flour products were
served, the boy began to eat three times as much bread and other starches. It is likely he was
craving the nutrients that should have been in the starch. Because they were missing, he craved
more of the bread.
Many people find their cravings diminish when they switch to a diet of minimally-processed,
organically-grown, whole foods. In addition, the supplementation of manganese, zinc, chromium
and vanadium assist some people with carbohydrate cravings.
A better approach, however, is to follow a scientific nutrition program based on a properly
performed and interpreted hair analysis. This combines proper diet, specific supplements and a
healthful lifestyle for each person. This is the most effective way to address the underlying, subtle
imbalances that contribute to carbohydrate cravings and the vicious cycles with which they are
associated.
Copyright © 1999
The preceding statements have not been evaluated by the
Food and Drug Administration
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
