Changing Your Tastebuds

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Have you ever driven down an old, dirt road that's been so worn down there's just two ruts for tires with grass growing up in the middle? If you want the smoothest, easiest drive, you'll steer your car directly down those two ruts.

Our brains have these old dirt roads in them, too. Those worn roads are called habits. They can be as simple as watching tv before we go to bed, eating eggs for breakfast every morning, or clearing the table before sweeping the floor. When you think a certain way or do something a certain way, it creates a neural pathway in your brain. The more you use that same neural pathway, the more ingrained it becomes, like a worn dirt road.



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This is why breaking habits can be so challenging. It's like trying to drive down that dirt road without putting your tires in the ruts, or starting a completely new dirt road instead of using the worn, comfortable one. It isn't easy, but if you keep going down that new neural pathway, eventually, it will become comfortable and worn, and the old one will get grown over and bumpy, so to speak.

These neural pathways apply to your tastebuds as well. Now, I do believe that sugar addiction is one of the reasons we crave foods with refined sugars and flours in them, but alongside of breaking sugar addictions, we can actually change our habits by using new neural pathways.

If you're one of those people (like me) who thinks that one more day won't matter, that one more candy bar won't make that big of a difference, remember the worn dirt road. Each day you put off changing your habits only makes that rut deeper.

Forging a new neural pathway won't feel natural or easy, but each time you use that neural pathway, it will get better. I won't bore you with all of the examples of ways that I've seen my family's neural pathways altered, but I will say that I've seen it most significantly happen in regards to food. My picky eaters initially ate new things grudgingly because they were hungry and there weren't any other options, then, as I continued to offer these new, different foods, they became accustomed to them and have actually developed a taste for things that have really surprised me. The other day, I overheard my son telling a friend of his how delicious carrots are. Seriously? My kid? The one who refused any and all vegetables just a year ago?

Okay, I can't resist. One other example. (Sorry!) My absolute favorite snack in the world has always been those Reese's peanut butter eggs that show up every Easter. I could down an entire package of them all by myself and not even blink. I loved those things! I haven't had one now in over a year, and honestly, when I walk by them in the store, I'm not even tempted to buy them. Of course, if you unwrapped one and handed it to me, I would probably eat it (let's be realistic here!), but if I start craving a delicious snack these days, that's not what enters my mind. I honestly want to make myself a smoothie, munch on an almond power bar, or bake some healthy cookies. I'm not just saying this because I should--I really do crave different things. I've embarked on some different neural pathways, and they've gotten sufficiently worn in.

Yes, your tastebuds can change, and they will change, if you give them time. You might be surprised at how little you crave your old, unhealthy snacks after awhile, and how new, healthier cravings will replace them.

The Skinny on Fat

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The low-fat diet is one of the worst diets ever, yet most people are still buying into it. This dieting disaster, which has only resulted in bigger, less healthy Americans, all started years ago when people started consuming too many bad fats and a legitimate concern arose about the health of people in our country. However, instead of properly labeling good and bad fats, the government began telling everyone to significantly cut back on all fat for better health, even though there was no scientific evidence to support this.

Here's the problem. Fat is the ideal fuel for our bodies. We need it if we want to function optimally. Our brains need fat, our hormones need fat--WE need fat! When we take it away, we take away our main source of fuel, and then we can't understand it when we feel tired all the time and have a hard time losing weight.

If you've been eating as many low-fat and non-fat alternatives as you can, thinking you're making healthier choices, I've got bad news for you. Most of the lower fat options still have about the same amount of calories in them as the full fat options. The manufacturers just replace the fat with sugar, sodium, or other harmful additives.

We think we're eating healthier, but in reality, we've simply exchanged the best fuel (fat) for an inferior fuel (sugar). We're not giving our bodies enough fat, yet we're loading them down with sugar--most of which we consume unknowingly (check the labels--you might be surprised!) and our bodies have adapted. Most Americans are now burning sugar instead of fat, and sugar is a terrible fuel!!

Want a fuel that burns off too quickly, leaving you with insatiable cravings, mood swings, energy highs and lows, accompanied by tons of health problems? Then fuel up with sugar.

Don't believe it? I didn't at first, either. I'd been so ingrained with the "fat is bad" idea that I really couldn't imagine actually planning to put extra fat in my body. But...I did it anyway, thinking that time would reveal the truth. I increased my fat intake while cutting out the sugar and the initial result was that I felt terrible for several days. Fortunately, I'd been told to expect this, so I wasn't really surprised. I understood that, because my body had become a sugar burner, it was looking for that inferior  fuel to burn, and I wasn't giving it any. 

Then, my body figured it out and started burning fat. I'll never forget when it did. One night, Dale and I took an evening walk around a local park. With each mile we completed, my energy increased. I've never experienced anything like that in my life! Usually, I'd have burned off all of the sugar by then and would be feeling fatigued, but I actually felt better with each mile and wanted to walk farther. Seriously.

We ended up having to stop simply because it was time to go pick up the kids. Life in general has been like that ever since. The energy is fabulous...except when I have a "cheat." Within minutes, I feel sluggish and cranky. It's amazing how much different I feel when I put the best fuel in my body vs. when I put in the inferior stuff.

What about cholesterol? Surely you're wondering how that's doing. Yep, I had it checked, and it's excellent. Not just average, or even good. My entire cholesterol panel was excellent.

So, what does eating a full fat diet look like? A trip to McDonald's for Big Macs?

It's vital that you not only consume enough fat, but also the right kinds of fat. Natural fat. You might be surprised to learn that even saturated fat is all right. It's the hydrogenated oils and trans fats that are the enemy. These fats have been damaged, and yes, they are terrible for you. Yes, they will hurt you. Avoid them like the plague.

Examples of good, healthy fats to consume: olive oil, grapeseed oil, nuts, seeds, coconut oil, full-fat organic or raw dairy, coconut or almond milk, grass-fed beef, eggs from free-range chickens, avodaco.

Examples of bad fats to avoid: hydrogenated oil, vegetable oil, canola oil, rapeseed oil, safflower oil.

I know it seems completely backwards to eat more fat, but your body needs it! Stock up on good fats for better health.

Burst Training at 180 Chiro!

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Learning to burst train has revitalized my energy and my ability to fit workouts into my week. No longer do I have to set aside several hours each week to spend at the gym. I burn fat, build lean muscle, and work my heart in just a few minutes a day. I do it all in my own garage without a lot of expensive equipment. In fact, the only exercise equipment I own is a stability ball, a few hand weights, and an old eyesore pink and green aerobic step.

Our sponsor, 180 Chiropractic and Wellness, will be giving a free burst training class next Monday, April 9, at 6:00 p.m. If you live in the Nashville area, you will not want to miss this! Dr. Sweeney has some great information to share and will challenge and encourage you to learn how to make burst training work for you! The best part is that burst training works for all fitness levels. The Maximized Living professionals have helped train elite athletes with their burst training program, T3. I've also seen grandmothers do it. It's easily customizable to you.

Don't miss this!

What: Burst Training Class

When: April 9, 6:00 p.m.

Where: 180 Chiro
               4091 Mallory Lane, Suite 114
               Franklin, TN 37067

To sign up, call 180 Chiro at 615-595-9063 or send an email to info@180chiro.com

Contact 180 Chiropractic for more information.