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| The bio-pathways of alcohol
addiction The connection between the addiction to sugar, sugar sensitive people and alcoholism Last month we discussed in detail the connection to alcoholism and acetaldehyde toxicity. How acetaldehyde combines with other enzymes and neurotransmitters to produce THIQs, the extremely addictive morphine-like substance which attaches to the beta-endorphin sites and produces the morphine-like high when you drink. This month's discussion will pick up from there and discuss the closely related subject of beta-endorphins and addicted / addictive biochemistry. Beta-endorphin is a neurotransmitter and sugar and alcohol consumption produces pools of it. Beta-endorphin is a powerful natural painkiller. It also produces a sense of well-being, heightens self-esteem, reduces emotional stress and creates euphoria. This is where hypoglycemia and the connection between sugar and alcohol are so close. As researched and stated in Alcoholism: The Cause & The Cure, 95% of alcoholics in a random study at AA were hypoglycemic. You can imagine that the other 5% were probably drunk drivers there as mandatory for the conviction and were not yet truly addicted or alcoholic. The point is: low blood sugar, hypoglycemia and problem drinking are closely related. The reason for this is because sugar-sensitive people have a natural low level of beta-endorphin in their system and as a result have an up-regulated beta-endorphin receptor site count. This is because the brain chemistry, which always seeks balance, will open up more receptor sites to catch what little beta-endorphin is floating around. The problem is, when a sugar sensitive person drinks alcohol or eats sugar they will have a significantly greater euphoric response than one who is not sugar-sensitive or hypoglycemic because they have more beta-endorphin receptor sites available to catch all the endorphins released by the alcohol and sugar. Also, remember, THIQs also fit into those sites and are even more potent that beta-endorphin. Holistically speaking, the only way to correct this condition is through strict diet management, exercise and proper nutritional supplementation that address the up-regulated brain chemistry. This is also the system that ensures the best odds of staying sober and for those who wish to drink moderately after the initial healing and biochemically correcting the system ensures that they will not return to drinking unhealthfully. Addressing the blood sugar and the beta-endorphin balance in the body is the hallmark of your sense of well-being and truly being happy with and during your sobriety. You are driven to drink or want to drink as you have trained yourself to do so in response to low blood sugar and an up-regulated receptor site brain chemistry because that is corrected in The 101 Program. Those who trained themselves to respond to their low blood sugar symptoms with candy, sweets, simple carbs and various junk foods receive the same additional euphoric high as a problem drinker does with alcohol. Also, the body turns unused carbs (unused sugars) into alcohol which then produces the acetaldehyde which in turn produces the THIQs that attach themselves to the beta-endorphin sites that produce the accentuated high that the morphine like neurotransmitter is known for. There is absolutely no way around addressing this very well-researched addictive biochemistry if your goal is not only sobriety but a happy, joyful and inspired life. The term "white knuckler" was appropriately conjured up to describe a person trying to stay sober while continuing a junk food, candy and cokes diet. They are constantly on the hypoglycemic roller-coaster, flooding their body with beta-endorphins on the hour and driven compulsively to do so by the brain chemistry created by their lifestyle. Twenty minutes to an hour after each coke or cup of coffee they are searching for their next fix and nearly 90% of the time for those in AA who do not address their body chemistry that "fix" moves from candy back to alcohol. These diets also explain the stereotypical "white knuckler" who is obsessive, compulsive, easily irritated, tired most of the time, and who suffers mood swings. It's all about beta-endorphins and what we will discuss in the August newsletter: Serotonin For a more thorough education on this subject and alcoholic and sugar-sensitive people you can pick up a copy of Potatoes Not Prozac by Kathleen DesMaisons. She also provides some dietary guidelines for the sugar sensitive. Another excellent book for a good dietary plan for addictive biochemistry is The Zone Diet by Dr. Barry Spears. Therapeutic Supplements This month's nutrient is Riboflavin Vitamin B2 Vitamin B2 traditionally has not been given much attention in holistic circles regarding detox and addictive biochemistry. The beautiful thing about a dynamic newsletter dedicated to the research of addictive biochemistry and detox is that you can be assured that you are getting the current as well as the bleeding edge research regarding how alcohol breaks the body down and creates the addiction and how to reverse that with therapeutic supplementation. Vitamin B2 has now been given some more specified attention in it's role in reducing and eliminating beryllium which is linked to alcoholism - and it is a very powerful link because it addresses the relationship of THIQ production from acetaldehyde toxicity and how to reduce that. Please see this month's link of the month below for Dr. Hulda Clark's explanation of the relationship between Beryllium and alcoholism. The 101 Program's therapeutic supplement regiment provides sufficient B2 for Beryllium detoxification. Description: Riboflavin is a water-soluble vitamin that is not sensitive to heat yet sensitive to light. The crystals of this vitamin are a beautiful greenish-yellow color. Riboflavin is important in promoting the release of energy from carbohydrates, fats and proteins. It also aids in maintaining the integrity of red blood cells. Riboflavin is an important component to cellular respiration since it takes oxygen from the cells with the help of other enzymes. Vitamin B2 plays a part in the Krebb's cycle (a biological pathway that converts glucose (sugar) into energy). Free radicals are interfered with in the presence of riboflavin and an enzyme termed gluathione reductase. Since this vitamin is scarce in most foods, it is best to supplement the diet to insure an adequate amount. Excessive drinking induces fatigue because of the fact that many B vitamins are directly related to the Krebbs cycle and are depleted while trying to metabolize the extraordinarily high amounts of glucose in the system as well being used for the detox process of eliminating acetaldehyde from the system. Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is crucial in the production of body energy. It is involved with an enzyme called glutathione reductase, which helps maintain glutathione, a major protector against free radical damage. Vitamin B2 itself also has antioxidant qualities. Thus riboflavin is pivotal both in the inner breathing of our cells where energy is produced and also in the quenching of the toxic exhausts of that inner, energy producing cell respiration. Riboflavin is water soluble and so is not stored in significant quantities in the body. It must be replaced continuously through diet or supplementation to avoid deficiency. Riboflavin deficiency can occur most frequently in people with long-standing infections, liver disease, and alcoholism. " " Protects exercisers from antioxidant damage and boosts athletic performance; " " protects against cancer " " protects against anemia " " helps cell respiration Absorption/Storage: The walls of the small intestine absorb riboflavin without a problem. This vitamin is then transported to all parts of the body depending on where it is needed via the bloodstream. The excess amounts are excreted through urination. Tolerable Upper Intake Levels: None available. Healthy Sources: Almonds, brewer's yeast, torula, yeast, and wheat germ. Mushrooms and wild rice. |
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