Tasty Treats Glutony
Mmmm....Have you ever wondered why these tasty treats are so attractive to us? Why do we grab one of these knowing what they do to our bodies? When presented with the option between a sweet snack that we know is bad for us and a piece of fruit...we tend to grab the sweet snack first. Have you ever wondered why? Maybe I can help explain and relate in Relevant Thunder terms.
Why our Brains love sugar - Psychology Today
- Neuroscientists have shown, using fMRI to scan the brain‘s activity in real-time, that sugar leads to dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens – an area associated with motivation, novelty, and reward. This is the same brain region implicated in response to cocaine and heroin.Why
Is that what I am writing about? The addictive properties of sugar? Stay with me the point shall follow I assure you I am no health nut. My mission with this blog is to show the relevance of scripture to every day life. It is my goal to urge acceptance or abandonment of particular thoughts or courses of action. Christians haven't done a very good job with walking out scriptural relevancy opting to be self serving judges rather than loving disciples. This blog will explain why.
Ice cream is exquisite. What a pity it isn't illegal. ~Voltaire#relevantscripture
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-22 NIV)
Here are the 15 sweet snacks of the spirit. The old adage, "sweet revenge" comes to mind. All 15 of these, if allowed, will become more appealing and seemingly addictive the more we partake. Why? Why is it "fun" or "exciting" to run the gauntlet?
If you compare the analogy of sweet treats to the acts of the sinful nature mentioned in Paul's letter to the Galatians, this part of the Psychology Today article make more sense.
Why our brains love sugar - Psychology Today
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-mindful-self-express/201302/why-our-brains-love-sugar-and-why-our-bodies-dont
- Nicole Avena, Ph.D., a Princeton researcher has shown that rats deprived of food for 12 hours and then given sucrose added to their regular food on a regular basis showed signs of bingeing, and increased searching for the sucrose (craving), These effects continued even after the sucrose had been withdrawn for one month. Withdrawal also occurred including symptoms of depression, anxiety, and increased aggression. Interestingly, the rats did not become obese – they cut down on regular food to compensate for the sucrose. Also, these effects were not shown in rats deprived of food and given just their regular food without sucrose.
- Research suggests that sugar can lead to changes in dopamine receptors, such that tolerance develops – more of the substance is needed to get an effect. A decrease in some types of receptors (D2) occurred, which suggests an overall decreased ability to get pleasure from other substances and experiences. This could make the person or animal more dependent on sugar for pleasure and reward, since the light of other experiences is dimmed.
- Sugar consumption also leads to release of endogenous opioids in the brain; leading to a rush of pleasure, similar (although not of the same magnitude) as injecting heroin. Interestingly, heroin addicts show increased cravings for sweets when they are first abstinent. This effect, known as cross-tolerance, shows that addiction to one substance makes it easier to become addicted to another substance that may use the same brain chemistry.
Relevance
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (Galatians 5:23-26 NIV)
My Candied Secrets
I spent a good part of my life addicted to candy corned "RAGE". I was full of the spiritual "Little Debbie" fudge round, commonly referred to as "Selfish Ambition". Let's not forget the "Boston Cream Pie", sexual immorality. Once God got a hold of me my desire for those sweets of the past began to fade. Oh sure, I went back to the snack cabinet a time or two but I never could get that same "sugar high". It has taken a long time to get from rage and frustration to love, peace, patience and kindness. I never realized how too much candy not only had me chasing the rabbit but I couldn't even get pleasure from living out the fruit.
A decrease in some types of receptors (D2) occurred, which suggests an overall decreased ability to get pleasure from other substances and experiences. Psychology TodayWrap it up!
So you see. What is good and pure for our physical body, is also good for our spiritual nature. We can continue eating sweets and hope for the best, or make a decision to eat more fruit. Making the transition is difficult and must be made on purpose and with lots of prayer. It will take time to retrain your brain to love without condition rather than flip the bird from your car. It will take time and determination to choose the fruit of self-control over rage. The old adage, "An apple a day will keep the doctor away", isn't far from the truth. Know that eating the fruit of the Spirit will inevitably make you healthy, wealthy and wise.
God Bless.
