First, I want to let you know it’s not easy finding a nutrition book in Heathrow Airport! The closest I came was a book by David Kessler, “The End of Overeating.” I was drawn to this book because, as a lymphedema therapist and garment manufacturer, I all too often see lymphedema patients whose underlying problem is obesity. In my search for finding answers for these patients I have discovered several factors that affect their weight issues. It’s not always their inability to push themselves away from the table. I’ve gotten very interested in the effects of inflammation, food allergies and hormonal imbalances as they relate to lymphedema management, but for now I want to give you some insights into Mr. Kessler’s research. As Michael Pollan, author of “Ominivore’s Dilemma” and “In Defense of Food” stated on the back cover of Kessler’s book, this is “A fascinating account of the science of human appetite, as well as its exploitation by the food industry.”
Anyone who finds themselves powerless to stop eating certain foods will find this book not only helpful but fascinating. If we understand what the “hooks” are in these highly addictive foods as well as our own subconscious stimulus-response habits, we are better able to stop the progression of the over-eating syndrome. Perhaps we will stop kicking ourselves when we realize that the food industry spends billions of dollars designing hyperpalatable combinations of sugar, fat and salt with the ultimate goal of rewiring our brains, driving us to seek out more and more of their products.
As a cancer survivor, I know better than to eat sugar, yet I seem to be addicted to Trader Joe’s Triple Ginger Snaps. I used to tell myself I was buying them for my employees, but by the time I got home from the store the box was half gone. Did the rest of them ever get to the office? . . . . .rarely. I even found it was difficult driving by Trader Joe’s without having a “snap attack.” Halfway through Kessler’s book, I began asking myself, “What has Joe done to these cookies?” Why is it I can’t say no, or just eat one? I don’t even like ginger! I read further about neural pathways and the power of “reward learning.” I began to wonder if there was a connection to one of the ingredients, but I needed to go back to Trader Joe’s and read the label. So yesterday, I took a chance. I went into Trader Joe’s and with strong heart and new-found determination headed for the cookie aisle. No Ginger Snaps! How could this be? Maybe they have been outlawed! So I passed through again and obviously there are others who have this same addiction. At the back of the very top shelf I found only two boxes left. I grabbed a box and eagerly checked out the ingredients. Sure enough . . . .there was the culprit. . . . . molasses!
As a little girl there was a grandmother figure in my life named Hoytie. If I was a really good girl, she would make molasses popcorn balls for me which I still dream about.. . . . So there was my answer . . . reward learning. Did I buy the second to the last box of Trader Joe’s Triple Ginger Snaps? You betcha. Did they make it to my office? Amazingly, yes and they are currently on the employee lunch table. Did I try one? Not on your life, for now I know better and I understand why I can’t eat just one. I’m thinking the book really helped me, plus it was a fun read. If you feel that what you are eating is controlling you, I’m confident this book will change the way you eat and the way you think about food.