Inauguration Day… it’s time to get off the buffet line and dance floor. it’s our responsibility to get back into the streets to defend the successes gained the past 8 years. make that commitment to inspire the next generation…it’s always been about US…the United States. if we don’t make it happen…who will???
Author: datruthchronicles
HOW TO BE BRAVE
How To Be Unexpectedly Brave: Find The Fight Within You When Hope Is Lost
You know those times when you’ve ever felt the power sucked out of your belly, fear is suddenly triggered in your Root Chakra, joy turns to devastation, and the wind has been taken out of your sails?
It’s that similar feeling you’ve had when you’ve received devastating news about a loved one.
Or, when you’ve just broken up with your twin flame for the umpteenth (and possibly, last) time.
Or, when you witness what is happening at Standing Rock.
Or… when a genocidal, racist, misogynist, homophobic, xenophobic individual who symbolizes the dismantling of overly masculine energy suddenly becomes leader of your country.
Some people may think that this type of subject matter doesn’t belong in a blog post that focuses on health and wellness, much less one that speaks regularly on energy and light.
However, what do you think gets affected when anxiety and stress rise, due to the heightened tensions surrounding us? How do you think it affects our weight, appetite, diet, mood, sleeping patterns, creativity, energy, and relationships with others when we are regularly streaming in the “stress hormone”, cortisol, and “fight or flight hormone”, adrenaline, into our system, as a result of suddenly fearing for you and your family’s life in an oncoming system that holds no space for people like you?
The personal is political. How we hold it in our bodies is real.
And, being complacent and quiet doesn’t serve us, when we are meant to use our voice. Particularly if it means our survival.
It is exactly times like these, when it seems like we are at the brunt of overwhelming odds do we need to take inventory on what actually matters.
To be honest, I had my own rage-cry when I saw Trump take that stand to accept the presidency on election night.
My Root Chakra immediately worried for the safety of myself and others I love, many of whom are people of color, women-identified, queer or transgendered, from different backgrounds, religions, and ableness, and already showing up in the daily battle to exist in a world that regularly quiets their voices. I was astounded to realize how many people in our country held such hatred for others who are unlike them, not to mention held a great deal of hatred of what they saw in the mirror.
The light bearer Goddess in me was stunned. It was as if someone had just popped my balloon, and my heart had deflated.
However, after the news settled in, the light warrior within me started to rise up. Call it channeled anger, call it purpose. But, it was a spark that was ready to burn big and bright.
And, I said to myself, “This is why I serve.”
Even the next day after the election, the subway commute to the office was especially somber. Some people were crying, and others wanted to. The usually boisterous or directed energy was palpable and very quiet. Some otherwise crabby city dwellers interacted more softly with each other. Other New Yorkers remembered it being similarly somber after 9/11.
And, sure enough, I was honored to hold space for my patients post-election. I am always honored to bear witness to their stories, but almost every patient post-election has been experiencing elevated levels of anxiety, grief, rage, depression, and some form of discomfort in their body and heart. I have been performing a lot of shen/spirit calming treatments, sympathetic nervous system recalibration, and grounding healings since that time.
Understandably, there’s been a lot of Root Chakra survival fear, fear of their tribe being broken up, of the safety of their families, safety of their bodies, safety in their homes, on the streets, access to quality healthcare and livelihood.
Many other chakras are being affected, too, such as the Throat Chakra, which is being challenged, feeling either silenced or being forced to finally break their silence. As the chakra most dealing with communication, we are being invited to speak up for ourselves, say our truth, call out against injustice, in whatever small or big ways we can.
We are being invited to step up, be visible, be seen, be heard, and in ways that are new to us.
I mentioned earlier that the overly masculine energy is starting to get dismantled. As the Divine Feminine has been shifting into greater consciousness – notice that we are collectively awakening at a faster rate, getting in touch with our heart energy, learning about our intuition, gifts, and inner light, and starting to trust them more – the masculine energy that has been a long-time standing force in this world is in its last throes, and throwing the Goddess major shade along the way.
To be clear, we all have God and Goddess energy within us, and reflected outside of us. But, they must be in balance.
Here are some ways to find the fight within you when hope is lost:
- Creatively express yourself. Channel the emotions from your Sacral Plexus Chakrainto the creative expression that needs to release. Paint a landscape or abstract piece, draw the vision you want to see in the world, write in your journal or create a new work of poetry, fiction, or opinion piece, act out a scene that feels good to you, dance and let the music move you, sing a grief-stricken or joyous song, play your instrument, or otherwise express your emotions in a way that deeply enriches you. Doing so will also help your Throat Chakra.
- Find your voice. If what is happening in this world is striking a cord within you, and you want to make a difference as a result, speak your truth, call out injustice when you see it (especially if you’re in a position where you may be more easily heard than others), be an ally in the truest sense of the word, extend your voice to help your community heal, in the unique way that only you can.
- Connect with your heart and with others, deeply. When you listen to what your heart says (it never lies!), you are connecting with your heart. When you do what your heart wants to do, you bring in more of what aligns you with your Highest Self (because your Heart Chakra is connected to your Higher Self, the part of you that is eternal, has been with you through all of your incarnations, and is your total soul consciousness). And, when you nourish your connection with yourself, you are more able to connect with others in healthy ways.
- Do the things that bring you joy. We all have at least one thing that brings us joy. Cultivate those things. Does it bring you joy to walk in nature? Hug a tree? Receive fresh cut flowers each week? Have constant breaks to regain connection with yourself amidst your busy day? Make time for loved ones who you enjoy hugging? Whatever they are, make inventory of them, and make it a point to enjoy those things. By doing them, you nourish your Heart Chakra, as well as your connection to yourself.
- Remember the sweetness. Life can be challenging, but there is always a piece of sweetness to find within it. There is always Yin in Yang, and Yang in Yin. Find what that sweetness is for you. One symbolic thing I do sometimes is when I’m making a smoothie or a cup of tea, and happen to use honey as an ingredient, I swipe the last small bit of honey from the spoon, and relish the taste on the tip of my tongue, enjoying it with my senses, and say to myself, “I taste the sweetness of life.” Little gestures like this reinforce meaning and light in our lives.
- Support your tribe. It is human to want to be part of community and to belong, to be connected with others (yes, even those of us who are loner types need some community now and then!) Showing your belonging can take different forms. Perhaps it’s simply showing up to increase the strength in numbers, such as in a meeting, event, or march. Perhaps you are able to show financial support. Or, maybe you can offer resources and skills, or be a voice for your community. But, there is strength in numbers, and there is always something that you can contribute. And in return, you feel less alone in how you feel, and are supported by others who are in alignment with your values.
- Trust your intuition. One sure way to get lost on our path is to totally distrust what our Inner Wisdom is telling us, to not be in touch with it at all, or by being overly reliant on logic and linear thinking (energy is not linear, and neither is our emotion). Although, truth be told, even if we’re lost, we always find out way back to our path, and the detour always holds meaning for us. But, when we are able to trust that which is not physically evident in front of us, we allow our Third Eye strength to come forward. Double that when we actually act on what it tells us!
- Remember your purpose. When we feel lost, it is easy to forget that there is a reason that we have been put on this Earth for a reason. For some, their purpose is to use their visibility to create widespread change and transformation. For others, their radiance may not be seen on the grander scale, but is no less impactful. Whatever it is, remember what that is now. And, if you are not so clear on what that may be, that’s ok, too. Even knowing that your existence matters in this world somehow, even if you’re not totally in touch with what that is yet, is a wonderful thing!
- Remember your connection to Source/Great Spirit/Universe/God/dess. We are all part of Source/Spirit/God/dess/Universe. But when we feel disconnected from the Divine, which can happen with a blocked Crown Chakra, we believe in an illusion that isn’t real. It can even make us feel depressed, like we are utterly alone. Allow your Crown Chakra to open, allow that beam of light to enter your being through the top of your head, and remember that you are never alone, and never disconnected from the Divine.
- Strengthen your inner warrior. Our Solar Plexus Chakra is where we hone our warrior spirit. It is this energy that may feel temporarily challenged when we are fearful for our existence, when we doubt our impact in this world, feel easily intimidated, don’t believe in our personal power, or feel entrenched with power dynamics. You can strengthen this area through meditation (one effective one involves visualizing a yellow pulsing sphere of light two inches about your navel, and growing that light until it encompasses the whole area with yellow light), working with crystals (citrine is a fabulous Third Chakra stone to start with), and even working out (especially kickboxing, martial arts – internal or external – or any other sport that involves strengthening your core and/or incorporates verbal releases like “Ha!” are great).
Bonus tip: Take a break from your Facebook feed! By disengaging, temporarily, from the constant barrage of pulse-heightening headlines, you allow your sympathetic nervous system a welcome respite, even if only for a moment, so you can catch your breath.
It is our responsibility to own our power. And, the first step to owning it is to realize that no matter who we perceive to have power over us, that we realize, with certainty, that it is nowhere near the amount of power that we have within ourselves. That comes from within us, and no one else.
Because the only way someone can have power over us is if we give it to them.
Don’t give it away.
Shoulder to shoulder. Connect with each other, because it strengthens us. Being divided makes us weaker.
Let us be unexpectedly brave.
THE POWER OF CONNECTION
CENTERING THOUGHT
I can create positive change in my relationships.
SANSKRIT MANTRA
Om Mitraya Namah
I invoke the spirit of friendliness.
“Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, and most underrated agent of human change.” – Bob Kerrey
If we want to improve our relationships, we must start by being an agent of change ourselves. We can affect positive change by basing our beliefs on a vision that uplifts everyone – by consciously communicating with others, and acting with awareness and understanding. These self-aware messages you send from yourself to others act as powerful forces of positive change in all your relationships.
Giving Yourself Permission to Heal
CENTERING THOUGHT
My intention to heal sustains me through everything.
SANSKRIT MANTRA
Om Ram Ramaya
I invoke the archetype of a fully developed person.
“Awareness in itself is healing.” – Frederick Salomon Perls
Knowing that we can heal the old pain in our hearts gives us hope that we can realistically create deep, loving relationships. In our meditation today, we learn that the next step toward healing is to consciously give ourselves permission to heal.
This means opening up and connecting to our inner love and kindness. As we open and expand into our true being, we are accepting and permitting genuine healing to occur. From this core healing, we find it easy and enjoyable to connect with others.
The Healing Power of Awareness
“Awareness is like the sun. When it shines on things they are transformed.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh
Today in meditation, we learn that awareness itself has the power to heal the pain and conflict we have in our relationships. Just as the body has a natural healing response when it is hurt, the mind also has the inherent intelligence and power to heal its emotional trauma and pain through awareness. The key is to not interfere with that healing response by getting in our own way through self-criticism, resentment, and blame. Meditation expands awareness and activates the healing response from our deepest self.
CENTERING THOUGHT
I call upon the healing power of awareness.
SANSKRIT MANTRA
Om Hreem Namah
Pure, transparent awareness is my essential nature.
Coming Out of the Disconnect
“Everything exposed to the light becomes visible, and everything that is illuminated itself becomes light itself.” – St. Paul
Even though we all seek meaningful connections, we also often avoid closeness and intimacy because it can be scary to our ego self, making it feel vulnerable and threatened. When that happens, we turn off and disconnect emotionally. We retreat into our false, separate self as a defense mechanism.
In today’s meditation, we learn that our real self never fears or feels threatened by heartfelt connections. It only knows how to connect and how to love. As our true nature blossoms, our ego fears and defenses dissolve in the light of our love.
CENTERING THOUGHT
I only feel a need to connect.
SANSKRIT MANTRA
Aham Brahmasmi
I am the wholeness of universal existence.
Making Heart-to-Heart Connections
“You must love in such a way that the person you love feels free.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh
In today’s meditation, we learn that to make real heart-to-heart connections with others, we must bring our inner light of love out into the world. For this we use our conscious intention and willingness for our awareness to be open, accepting, and loving to all. That fearless expansion of the light in your heart will naturally find and connect with other hearts.
CENTERING THOUGHT
I make true connections when my heart touches another heart.
SANSKRIT MANTRA
Aroot Perum Jothi
I invoke the divine light of grace.
Living at the Center of the World
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. With our thoughts we make the world.” – Gautama Buddha
To claim to live at the center of the world is clearly a delusional statement from the standpoint of the separate self, but from the perspective of your essential being, pure awareness, it is only stating a truth latent in every awakening soul.
Today’s meditation is about this core truth of our consciousness – that our awareness moving as our thoughts, desires, feelings, and senses generates an experiential reality or world around us. We are the authors of this world.
CENTERING THOUGHT
Personal reality is mine to create and cherish.
SANSKRIT MANTRA
Aham Brahmasmi
I am the wholeness of universal existence.
Love Is the Eternal Connection
“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.” – Rumi
As consciousness continues to grow and our hearts make more and more connections to other hearts, we find that we are indeed radiating peace from the inside out. Looking more closely, we discover that these waves of peace are also waves of unconditional love, and that pure love is the spiritual heartbeat that connects us all.
Today’s meditation tells us that this love is the driving force of all life. To awaken to this truth within us is our purpose and our promise.
CENTERING THOUGHT
The connections I create are loving ones.
SANSKRIT MANTRA
Aham Prema
I am love.
Peace Is the Deepest Connection
“Real peace is not in power, money, or weapons, but in deep inner peace.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh
If history has shown us anything, it is that we cannot attain peace by fighting for it. But struggle and opposition is all the separate self knows how to do, even in the name of peace. To find peace, we need to go beyond our restless mind to our silent source. In the stillness of our hearts, our awareness not only finds peace, but we also recognize that we are peace itself.
Today’s meditation is about knowing our true nature as peace and becoming a unit of peace consciousness for the world.
CENTERING THOUGHT
I am here to be in peace consciousness.
SANSKRIT MANTRA
Om Shanti Om
I radiate peace.
Repairing the Big Disconnects
“Love is the strongest medicine. It is more powerful than electricity.” – Neem Karoli Baba
Sometimes, in spite of our vision of unity, we need to acknowledge places where there are long-standing and deeply entrenched divisions. These big disconnects need to be addressed directly to find common ground and resolve conflict.
Today’s meditation gives us three keys to resolving conflict: real listening, respect for the other side’s perspective, and finding common interest.
CENTERING THOUGHT
My path leads me to be connected with everyone.
SANSKRIT MANTRA
Om Mitraya
I invoke the spirit of friendliness.
Satsang: Finding Joyful Communion
“Satsangs are what the world needs. Heart to heart – that’s what Satsang is.” – Ram Dass
When you connect with others who also hold a vision of world peace, compassion, and human dignity, you are magnifying the power of your positive influence in the world many times over. This is the power of spiritual community, or Satsang.
Today’s meditation encourages us to seek out and share ourselves in spiritual communities that will amplify our influence in the environment, helping to make the world a more peaceful and loving place.
CENTERING THOUGHT
I am uplifted by communion with others.
SANSKRIT MANTRA
Saha Nav Avatu
Let us be together in harmony.
SUPER MOON
The most recent supermoon occurred on November 14, 2016. This was the closest supermoon since January 26, 1948, and will not be surpassed until November 25, 2034[7] The closest supermoon of the century will occur on December 6, 2052.[8] The next supermoon will be on December 14, 2016.
The association of the Moon with both oceanic and crustal tides has led to claims that the supermoon phenomenon may be associated with increased risk of events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, but there is no evidence of such a link.[5]
Three crazy events has happened during this period of the Super Moon:
NEW HOME FOR FOXY
Foxy moves to new home on anniversary of office…11/17/16. Janie found someone during a church service on Tuesday. She announced that I was in need of finding a home for Foxy or she will be put down.
A member of the church responded…and..on Thursday…Foxy was gone.
I miss that crazy dog.
#2, #3, AND #4 FALLS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL
This was the rankings in week 11:
http://www.espn.com/college-football/playoffPicture/_/week/11
Clemson loses to Pitt…43-42
Michigan loses to Iowa…14-13
Washington loses to USC…26-13
TRUMP WINS!!!
Why Hillary lost, not because Trump won. (Sharing the chart drawn by Dino Ignacio and post below by Dawn Bohulano Mabalon. Thanks)
Dawn Bohulano Mabalon:
“I’ve been saying this ALL DAY. Thank you Dino for posting this. As much as I believe white supremacist heteropatriarchy is to blame, I’m also putting this on us, Democrats and liberals, and those who should NEVER have wasted their vote on third party in a swing state in the name of ideological purity, and those who decided they would hold their nose and stay home instead of saving the damn Republic. In WI, MI, and PA, the blue wall — the Dems failed us by not turning out or by voting for a third party.
– Hillary lost Wisconsin by about 27K votes. Jill Stein got 30K.
– She lost Michigan by 11,837. YES, you read that right. Jill Stein got 50K votes there.
– PA was lost by about 68K votes, with 49K who went with Jill Stein.
This is not even counting how many supposed liberals might have went for that idiot Gary Johnson.
In Michigan, Democrats stayed home: In 2012, Obama got 2,561,911 votes. Romney got 2,112,673. Hillary got 2,267,373, Trump 2,279,210. Even if 100,000 Dems turned red…that still leaves about 200,000 WHO JUST STAYED HOME and 50K who voted Stein (25K voted for her in 2012).
Lots of post-mortem needed to be done here. You may say Hillary was the wrong candidate for you. You weren’t feeling her. You don’t believe in a 2 party system, etc. Now you need to ask yourself: so does that mean Trump was the right president, then? Electoral politics is about pragmatism and compromise. Come on everyone. So many, many people will be hurt in the next 4 years.”
Protests in major cities: nytimes.com/…/young-confident-and-protesting-in-new-york
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/anti-trump-protesters-march-in-downtown-chicago-402053505.html

LOW VOTER TURNOUT HELPS TRUMP WIN
WHITE HOUSE CELEBRATES FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH
Went last year for the inaugural celebration with Auntie Dorothy. Couldn’t go this year because of Miss Universe….Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach…was at FilFest 2016. Here’s the program: https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/filipino-american-history-month-celebration
PRAYER TO SELF
Jana Lynne Umipig with Leny Strobel and 40 others.
Prayers to Self extended to You
10-19-16
“I pray
You do not try to make yourself small
Believe me when I say you cannot be small
Because you are a divine, miraculous creation
Do not hide your abilities and talents
Do not shrink your brilliance
Do not dim your light
Let us see you in all your magic
And embrace you with love
Be every bit of who you are
and inspire us to rise with you
Invite us into the glory
Of being the greatness
That we all are meant to be
Expanding, elevating, evolving
Right beside you
We need you to let yourself be seen
Let yourself be loved
Let yourself be lifted
So we can know we need to be loved and lifted
In all our greatness too.”
Today I pray that we all see the power within ourselves that grows and grows and grows and that is ever expansive. I pray we recognize this about our being, as we learn more about who we are today, as we take on new parts of ourselves that we never have, as we are challenged to rise up in the greatness of who we are and as we give to ourselves moments where we celebrate the impact we have made in being our greatest selves.
I know how difficult it can be in a world where we adopt the beliefs that we are “not good enough” and we are “not worthy” to shift and lets you be the miracle that is you and lets you Love who you are in a way that encourages us to be Great. This prayer is to say that this world NEEDS us all to be brilliant-needs us to be Light. So be YOU. Be the Greatest YOU, and grow greater and greater every day. And invite others in your life to do just the same.
APRIL FOOLS — datruthchronicles
a brisk, beautiful morning. the crisp air was actually quite welcomed after weeks of bitter wind. while on the run, an old time runner came up. i remember him as that “Danny Shipley” runner back when Great Neck Elementary had a stadium. he also served as a marshall at a Turkey Trot event years ago. […]
FOOD CRAVINGS
3 Things That Cause Unhealthy Food Cravings and How to Stop Them

“Reminder: food is fuel, not therapy.” ~Unknown
I learned about food cravings at a young age.
My parents divorced when I was six years old. My older brother and I ended up living in another city with our grandmother. We used to spend long hours alone, and we learned soon enough how food could help us lift our mood and suppress our real feelings.
That was when I started having unstoppable food cravings.
Eating would make me feel good and bring me peace and calm. Trying to avoid my favorite foods would make me nervous and unsettled, and would bring my real feelings back.
I was overweight until my teenage years, and I hated it every single day. Over the years, I became afraid that giving into cravings was making me lose control over my relationship with food, my weight, and my body.
In high school, I learned all I could about calories and how eating better could help me lose weight. I put this knowledge into practice and finally dropped some pounds.
And I promised myself that I would never, ever be overweight again.
I decided to learn as much as possible about nutrition so I could find my own my way to manage my weight. That’s why I became a nutrition specialist.
Learning to control my cravings naturally has helped me overcome my fears of gaining weight again. But paying attention only to the numbers on the scale is not enough, and only when you are in control of your weight you can say you made it.
In this article, I’d like to share the knowledge I’ve gained over the years and show you how you can stop food cravings naturally.
It’s Essential to Understand the “Whys”
Have you ever felt an unstoppable food craving that was stronger than you?
You knew you shouldn’t go for it, but you couldn’t resist.
This lack of control is very annoying, isn’t it?
As with many other things in life, weight management related issues are much better approached when you understand what’s going on in your body, why, and the actions you need to take.
In this post, I will explain the causes of those uncontrollable food cravings and the biological processes behind them, and I will give you easy to apply recommendations on how you can stop food cravings naturally.
Just imagine how it feels to be in control of your food cravings and what it would mean for your weight!
But before we dive in, a disclaimer:
This is not a scientific paper on food cravings that aims to cover every single aspect of the topic, but an effort to explain the main reasons for food cravings and how to practically deal with them, in understandable terms without going too deep into science.
The goal of this post is to give you enough information to understand the “whys” behind the food cravings and enough practical means for you to be able to stop food cravings naturally.
What Triggers Food Cravings?
Although food cravings can be caused by hormone imbalance or nutritional deficiencies, I would like to declare those food cravings off topic here.
The way to deal with such food cravings is pretty straightforward: Either accept them and let them pass (pregnancy or PMS cravings, for example), or see a doctor if you suspect a nutrition deficiency.
Instead, I’d like to focus this post on the unhealthy food cravings that you deal with every day.
If you’re craving celery sticks, go for it! But if it’s donuts, chocolate, cheeseburgers, and similar foods that you can’t keep your hands away from, it’s dangerous for your health in the long run and you have to stop them.
So what triggers these unhealthy food cravings that make you feel so powerless?
Three things:
- Your emotions
- High-processed food as a product of food engineering
- Sugar imbalance in your body
Many authors cover the emotional part of food cravings, not considering food engineering and biology, but I’m sure you’ve noticed that you can crave food even without emotions involved.
In this post, I’d like to fill this gap and put the spotlight on food engineering and sugar imbalance as triggers of food cravings.
Let’s look at each trigger in detail.
Trigger 1: Your emotions
You see an apple pie and instantly think about a pie your mom used to make. Your mom lives far away, but that pie is right there.
You feel lonely, but there is no one around. There is, however, chocolate ice cream in the fridge.
Your boss is being unrealistic, and there’s nothing you can do about it. So you jump into a bag of chips, as you do every time you feel stressed.
Many feelings are hard to deal with, and food is an easy way to help you handle them… and there is a physiological explanation for it.
There are areas in your brain responsible for memory and sensing pleasure, which also act as reward centers.
Specific foods can send signals that reach those brain centers and “make you feel good,” which will of course help you deal with those emotional needs, like calming you down and reducing your desire and anxiety, at that particular moment.
The way it works is that the brain recognizes those feelings and knows that certain food can help alleviate them, so the body produces appropriate hormones (for example, cortisol) and other biochemical substances, like the neurotransmitter serotonin to make you crave for the “right” food.
You can read more about biochemistry of food and food cravings here.
Trigger #2: High-processed food as a product of food engineering.
Have you noticed how you go for groceries to pick up “just bread and milk,” but once you’re in the store, you suddenly start craving all this food from the colorful packages aligned so nicely on the shelves?
This would be fine if all this high-processed food was healthy for you.
Except it’s not. It is delicious, though, and this is exactly the problem.
The food manufacturing industry makes a conscientious effort to get people hooked on foods that are inexpensive, but yet tasty.
They hire food engineers and gather tons of data taking an engineering approach to processed food.
Although food engineering has been there for many years, the power it has over the consumers has not really been acknowledged until the most recent research and work of Michael Moss, the author of the best article on this topic you’ll ever read: The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food.
Food engineering is manipulating your taste buds.
Food engineers work hard on the food’s taste, which is measured by how much craving this particular food will induce.
With that idea in mind, manufacturers have been adding sugar to many products that didn’t really need it, like tomato sauce, bread, and crackers.
They look for the exact amount of sugar that will make the product highly attractive and desirable without making you feel overwhelmed by the intense flavor (they call it “the bliss point”).
Not only will you crave that product again, but you’ll expect it to taste sweet. As a consequence, your taste preferences will change to prefer food that contains more sugar, and you won’t be satisfied with something that has less sugar.
Food engineering is also turning you into an addict.
You may be thinking I’m exaggerating, but numerous studies (like this one and this one, for example) indicate that sugar has similar effect on our brain as the drugs of abuse.
This is why it is so hard to get off sugar and carbs once you are hooked.
Trigger #3: Sugar imbalance in your body
You can experience food cravings even if you don’t get emotional or eat high-processed food.
In this case, your food cravings will be triggered by sugar imbalance in your body that happened because you’ve been eating your sugar and carbs “the wrong way.” (I’ll explain what I mean by this in a minute.)
Let’s first look at how your body processes sugar and carbs.
How Your Body Processes Sugar and Carbs
The first organ that your biology needs to take care of is your brain. If your brain doesn’t work properly, nothing else will.
The only source of energy that your brain can use is glucose. When your brain can’t find glucose available immediately, it will find a way to get it.
The fastest, easiest, and most effective way your body can get glucose is by releasing the right hormones to make you crave food that contains a lot of it: simple sugars and carbs that break easily into glucose.
But high sugar levels in your bloodstream are toxic, so your body needs to lower those levels. For this, it makes the pancreas release insulin to remove glucose.
This process is called sugar metabolism.
The higher the glucose levels, the more insulin is released and the faster all the glucose will be processed, leaving no glucose in the system again, which will start the cycle from the beginning.
What Causes Sugar Imbalance
As you can see, your sugar metabolism needs equilibrium for you not to get trapped in the vicious cycle of food cravings.
This equilibrium, however, gets disturbed if you, in simple terms, eat your sugar and carbs “the wrong way.”
In this case, eating sugar and carbs “the right way” means making sure the quantity, frequency, combination, and quality of your meals are appropriate.
Quantity: How much sugar and carbs are in your meals?
When you consume large quantities of simple sugars (glucose) or carbs (more or less complex forms of sugars that are transformed into simple sugars) in the same meal, your sugar metabolism will be activated in the emergency mode, removing all glucose suddenly.
As a result, no glucose will be left in your bloodstream, and your brain will activate the mechanism to release the hormones that will make you feel hungry and eat more so it gets glucose again.
Say hi to another food craving!
Frequency: How often are you consuming sugar and carbs?
When you are constantly eating food rich on sugars or carbs, not letting enough time pass between meals to let your sugar metabolism rest, it will end up constantly working, creating a circle of constant eating and hunger.
When you wait enough time between meals (three to four hours), assuming you had a balanced meal, the sugar metabolism gets to rest and does its work properly.
Combination: What are you mixing your sugar or carbs with?
When you eat sugars or carbs alone, with no fiber, protein, or fat, the absorption of glucose will be faster.
You’ll feel hungry sooner, and as a consequence your brain will trigger a food craving.
Quality: How “good” are the sugars and carbs you’re eating?
Simple carbs (like white rice, pasta, and bread, for example) and sugars break down into glucose faster, causing it to be absorbed faster as well.
When you eat complex carbs (like brown rice, whole grain pasta, and whole grain bread, for example), however, glucose is released gradually.
It means that in case of simple carbs, your blood sugar level will rise faster than if you eat complex carbs.
To understand how fast a specific food will break into glucose and how much carbs it contains, you should look at its glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) values.
Eating high GI & GL carbs will generate a fast rise in sugar and therefore a faster metabolic response, which will give you another food craving.
How to Stop Food Cravings Naturally
In the beginning of this post I promised you that I’d show you how to stop food cravings naturally by fighting the cause and not the symptoms.
Now, when you know what triggers food cravings and what keeps them reoccurring (i.e. you understand the cause), it becomes clear that to beat those food cravings, you need to fight the triggers—deal with your emotions and resist the temptation of food manufacturing industry on one side, and keep the equilibrium of your sugar metabolism on the other side.
Let’s look at it step-by-step and identify the practical solutions for each trigger.
Cravings Caused by Emotions: Recognize That Food Doesn’t Change Anything
If you think about it, that pie, ice cream, chips, or anything else you’re craving won’t change the way you feel about things in the long run.
The food that you crave is the specific one that will make you feel better immediately. But the moment you finish your food, those “feel better” compounds will disappear again and you’ll be exactly where you were before, and you’ll probably even having the same cravings again.
You need to realize that satisfying those food cravings helps only for a short period of time, and that this vicious cycle needs to be broken.
Recognizing that food, even the most delicious one, does not change anything is the first step.
Think about what brings up those emotions in you. Learn about yourself so you can predict them. Do your job and fight against them instead of just reaching for a piece of cake.
Don’t give up by thinking there is nothing you can do.
There are many hormones that you can’t really control, like your hormones during pregnancy. But many others are released as a consequence of your emotions. Once you acknowledge that you can do something about it, you’ll be able to handle them much better.
Here are some practical tips on how to stop food cravings that are triggered by emotions:
- Find other ways to reduce stress. For example, get a relaxing massage instead of hating your boyfriend, boss, and waistline, instead of eating ice cream.
- Practice relaxation techniques, like yoga or deep breathing.
- Look for ways to manage your emotions (talk to a friend, get a pet, go for a walk or to the movie theater).
- Eat healthy. It will help you maintain your hormones under control.
- Call your mom or visit her if you miss her instead of eating her pie.
Cravings Caused by Food Engineering: Don’t Let Them Trick You
The food industry has many tricks to manipulate you into eating food that you’ll end up crave more and more.
Food manufacturing companies are powerful, they hire the best food experts in the field, and they are always one step ahead predicting new trends and developing new ways to hook you on their food.
But you need to be smarter! Learn their game. Don’t let them decide what and how you eat.
Be the one in charge of what food you like by changing your buds’ taste and start craving for healthy food instead.
Here’s how to stop food cravings caused by engineered food:
- Read the labels and learn how to identify sugars in tricky and unrecognizable names used in food labels.
- Most probably food engineering has got to your food buds already, so now you need to change your taste preferences back to healthy food. Do it slowly, one change at a time. Otherwise it will be harder to succeed.
- Cook your own meals, which is the best way to know for sure what your meal consists of exactly. You’ll be able to avoid most of the added sugar and many other undesirable ingredients you will usually find in highly processed food.
- Find out where the sugar, fat, and salt bombs you are more susceptible to are hiding so you can avoid them. Here are a couple of popular examples: potato chips, crackers, Japanese snacks, sesame sticks, etc.
- Recognize that the attractive packages can make you desire unhealthy food.
- Understand that the commercials are there just to trick you into thinking that eating certain foods will improve how you feel about yourself.
- Visualize:
- How food engineers are designing new food to hook you on it.
- How food marketers play with you by making the food they want you to eat look irresistible.
- How processed food is hurting your liver and adding fat to your abdomen.
Cravings Caused by Sugar Imbalance: Eat Your Sugar and Carbs “the Right Way”
Keeping your blood sugar levels under control and preventing sugar imbalance in your body is an essential way to stop food cravings naturally.
To do so, you need to:
- Eat only as much as your body really needs (quantity)
- Let enough time pass between your meals (frequency)
- Combine your meals properly (combination)
- Stick to foods with low glycemic index and glycemic load (quality)
This is how you can practically achieve it.
Quantity: What are healthy portion sizes for carbs?
You should learn and stick to healthy portion sizes of any food, not only carbs, of course. But it is especially important for foods that contain a lot of sugar (remember, carbs are a complex form of sugar).
You shouldn’t eat more than a healthy portion size for carbs, which is one cup.
Frequency: How often should you eat?
Don’t eat too often so you are not making your sugar and carbs metabolism work all the time.
You should eat four times a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and a morning or an afternoon snack, depending on when you need it. Ideally, these meals should be three to four hours apart.
For example, if you have an early breakfast and a late lunch, you need a morning snack. Otherwise you’ll be too hungry at lunch and definitely overeat.
Combination: How to combine your meals properly?
Fiber, protein, and fat make sugar absorption slower and less efficient, therefore reducing the risk of food cravings.
In fact, the right combination of meals will make them healthy yet filling, which will help you with two previous aspects: quantity (you will be able to stick to healthy portion sizes) and frequency (you will stay satiated longer).
Have every single meal with the healthy portion size of protein and fat, and avoid having meals that consist only of sweets or carbs.
Quantity: How to choose what to eat?
Stick to foods with low glycemic load and glycemic index.
Such foods will release glucose slower and help you manage your sugar levels properly so you don’t have food cravings.
To summarize, this is how you prevent food cravings triggered by sugar imbalance in your body:
- Maintain your healthy portion sizes for carbs, which is one cup.
- Have four meals a day making a break of three to four hours between them.
- Compose your meals properly and always have fat and protein with your carbs.
- Choose foods with low glycemic load and glycemic index values.
Over to you!
Do you believe me when I say you can stop food craving naturally? Do you think it’s doable? What are your personal challenges when it comes to controlling your food cravings? I would love to hear from you
BERGANO LAWSUIT AGAINST VA BEACH
Watched Mission Impossible. The best one yet. Got back to office and found this article. So ….I made an entry…and…published it. Very hot and humid outside.
Virginia Beach dentist sues city over property dispute, requests federal investigation
By Dave Forster –
December 2, 2015
Allan Bergano speaks to supporters at a rally on Nov. 10, 2015, outside his dental practice on North Witchduck Road.
A dentist who says the city intentionally disregarded his rights in an eminent domain case has filed a federal lawsuit over the matter and asked two senators and a congressman to seek an investigation into it.
Allan Bergano alleges in his complaint that the city acted at times with malice and with “callous disregard” for his constitutionally and federally protected rights regarding his longtime dental practice on North Witchduck Road. He also alleges the city failed to train its employees on areas of law involving displaced people and relocation benefits following a government’s acquisition of property.
Bargano’s lawsuit was filed late Tuesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Norfolk by his attorney, Joe Waldo of the eminent domain firm Waldo & Lyle.
City Attorney Mark Stiles provided the following statement Wednesday by email through a city spokesman:
“We believe the city has treated Dr. Bergano fairly, but we have not yet seen the lawsuit, so we have no comment on it.”
In addition to the lawsuit, Bergano has sent letters to Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and Rep. Scott Rigell outlining what he describes as his “mistreatment” by the city of Virginia Beach and asking them to seek an investigation by the Federal Highway Administration into the matter.
The letters outline the history of Bergano’s dispute with the city and mention the dentist’s civic involvement in Virginia Beach.
“Dr. Bergano, among many other civic duties, recently chaired FilFest 2015 at Town Center which celebrated Filipino heritage and brought thousands of visitors to the City,” the letters say.
They are signed by the chairman of the Filipino American Community Action Group and the vice chairman of the Council of United Filipino Organizations of Tidewater, in addition to Bergano.
Bergano has leased space in an office building on Witchduck Road and practiced there for 32 years. He says the city acquired that building under threat of condemnation in 2014 for a road expansion project, and told Bergano that he would have to move his practice and be entitled to relocation assistance.
Bergano spent a year and thousands of dollars seeking a new location; when he signed a lease for a new spot, the city denied his request for relocation assistance, according to an email from a city employee that was filed with the lawsuit. Bergano’s estimated cost for build-out and equipment for the new spot totaled $458,000.
The city then reversed course and said Bergano could stay where he was. The city, after acquiring the building, had moved its Human Services Department into the offices around his dental practice, however, taking up parking spaces, bringing prisoners in handcuffs for evaluations, and drawing homeless people into the dentist’s office because all the other entrances to the building are kept locked, the letter to the legislators said.
Bergano says that situation has forced him to move.
Deputy City Manager Dave Hansen released a statement in early November regarding Bergano’s complaints.
“The city has accommodated Dr. Bergano and promptly addressed his concerns,” it said in part.
Hansen wrote that the city has offered to pay for the time the dentist and his wife spent in their search for a new place, “as well as any other contractual expenses that were undertaken,” but “no such expenses have been disclosed to the city.”
“The city has already paid $2,500 to compensate the real estate broker that Dr. Bergano engaged to search for a new office,” he wrote.
Bergano’s lawsuit, among other things, asks the judge to declare that Bergano is a displaced person under state and federal law and that the city deprived him of his rights. It seeks “appropriate compensatory damages” and attorneys’ fees and costs.
The city must adhere to federal law in the case because it received federal funding for the road expansion project, according to the complaint.
http://southsidedaily.com/story/2015/12/02/virginia-beach-dentist-sues-city-over-property-dispute-requests-federal-investigation/
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