Welcome to Wellness Wisdom—Your Weekly Guide to Thriving After 50
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Wellness Wisdom Weekly - Your Guide to Living Well After 50
Wellness Wisdom Weekly - Your Guide to Living Well After 50
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There’s something uniquely frustrating about the American relationship with food and health. Despite having access to cutting-edge science, groundbreaking research, and world-renowned medical institutions, many Americans continue to make daily decisions that directly conflict with what they already know to be true.
Welcome to Issue 18 of Wellness Wisdom!
🍽️ Why We Keep Eating What We Know Is Hurting Us
🍽️ Why We Keep Eating What We Know Is Hurting Us
Introduction
A Nation of Smart People with Bad Habits
The Firewood vs. Newspaper Problem: Simple vs. Complex Carbs
Evolution Didn’t Prepare Us for This
Why We’re Drawn to Refined Sugar: The Blood-Brain Barrier Effect
Dopamine Hijack: Sugar’s Influence on Your Reward System
Caffeine vs. Heroin vs. Sugar: A Spectrum of Influence
The Myth of “Harmless” Sugar
Sugar Opens the Door to Bigger Problems
Reclaiming Control: Resetting Your Taste Buds
Practical Ways to Ditch Refined Sugar
You Are Not Broken—You’ve Been Tricked
The West Egg Way Forward
Let’s Reclaim Our Health, Together
🧠 The Great American Disconnect: Knowing Better, Doing Worse
There’s something uniquely frustrating about the American relationship with food and health. Despite having access to cutting-edge science, groundbreaking research, and world-renowned medical institutions, many Americans continue to make daily decisions that directly conflict with what they already know to be true.
This paradox isn’t due to ignorance. In fact, it might be something more subtle—and more dangerous: self-deception.
We are, in many ways, masters at convincing ourselves that everything is just fine. We rationalize. We justify. We reward ourselves with indulgence for the smallest of reasons. “I’ll skip dessert tonight,” “I’ll run an extra mile tomorrow,” or “I’ve earned this treat”—these are all familiar scripts.
What’s troubling is how easily we believe them, even as our national health continues to decline.
America is home to brilliant scientists, skilled physicians, and innovative health experts. We produce vast knowledge and rich culinary traditions. Yet we often fail to apply that wisdom where it matters most: our daily lives.
The real issue isn’t a lack of knowledge. It’s the ability to ignore or manipulate that knowledge when it conflicts with our cravings, habits, or convenience. The foods we reach for most often—processed snacks, sugar-loaded drinks, fast foods—are often the very foods we know are harming us.
We’ve gotten too good at “knowing better” without doing better.
Let’s talk carbs—the misunderstood building blocks of our diet. There are two major categories: complex carbohydrates and simple carbohydrates.
Think of complex carbs like firewood—they burn slowly and give sustained energy. These are your whole grains, beans, lentils, fruits, and vegetables. They nourish your body in a measured, balanced way.
Now picture simple carbs like crumpled newspaper—fast-burning, flashy, and ultimately unhelpful. These include white bread, pastries, sugar-laden cereals, and sodas. They cause a spike in energy followed by a crash, taxing your body and leaving you hungry again too soon.
Small amounts of simple sugars aren’t necessarily toxic, but our diets today are built almost entirely on this quick-burning fuel. It’s like trying to heat your home with kindling and matches—you might see a flame, but you’ll never feel warmth.
Refined sugar and ultra-processed starches didn’t exist for most of human history. Our ancestors evolved over thousands of years eating natural, whole foods—berries, roots, grains, beans, and wild meats. These were slow to digest and rich in fiber, perfect for survival and sustained energy.
But in the last few centuries—especially the last 75 years—our food environment has transformed beyond recognition. The human body hasn’t caught up. Evolution moves slowly. Our stomachs, hormones, and brains are still wired for scarcity and whole food sources.
We’re asking ancient bodies to process modern inventions. It’s no wonder we’re struggling.
Why do we crave refined sugar so intensely—even when we understand how harmful it is? One key reason lies in the way sugar interacts with our brain, especially the blood-brain barrier (BBB).
🧠 The BBB is like a high-security checkpoint for your brain. It allows only certain substances to cross into the brain directly—things like oxygen and glucose that are essential for survival. Most foods, medications, and environmental toxins are stopped at this barrier and broken down by the liver or other organs.
But refined sugar? It can bypass this barrier and act directly on your brain.
That puts it in the same class as substances like:
🍷 Alcohol
🚬 Nicotine
☕ Caffeine
💊 Opiates
🌿 THC
🍭 And yes—refined sugar
That’s right. Refined sugar is a psychoactive substance. It changes your brain chemistry. It doesn’t just feed your body; it manipulates your mind.
Once inside your brain, refined sugar heads straight to the reward center. There, it interferes with dopamine—the neurotransmitter that controls pleasure, motivation, and behavior reinforcement.
Normally, dopamine is released in small amounts when you do something beneficial: finish a workout, solve a problem, have a meaningful conversation. It’s your brain’s way of saying, “Do that again!”
But sugar triggers a disproportionately large dopamine release. It's an artificial shortcut to pleasure. And like all shortcuts, it comes with consequences.
Over time, your brain starts to associate sugar with comfort, satisfaction, and reward. This builds habits and even addiction-like behaviors. You may not notice it at first. But slowly, your cravings start steering your decisions—and not in your best interest.
To illustrate sugar’s impact, consider two other substances: caffeine and heroin. Both cross the BBB, but their effects are vastly different.
☕ Caffeine mimics adenosine (a sleep-related neurotransmitter) and keeps you alert by blocking sleep signals. It’s habit-forming, but not truly addictive. It doesn’t hijack your dopamine system.
💉 Heroin, on the other hand, floods the brain with dopamine, emptying its vaults. The user feels intense euphoria but is left depleted, which fuels the cycle of addiction and dependence.
🍬 Refined sugar sits somewhere in between. It doesn’t cause the chaos of heroin, but it does tamper with your dopamine in unnatural ways. It creates artificial highs and leaves you with real lows—mood swings, energy crashes, brain fog, and emotional eating patterns.
Many people still believe sugar is harmless if eaten in moderation. But the problem isn’t just quantity—it’s exposure, habit, and how often we reach for it without thinking.
Refined sugar is in nearly everything: ketchup, bread, salad dressing, “healthy” protein bars, and even some yogurts. We consume it more frequently than we realize, and in forms far more potent than nature ever intended.
What begins as “just a treat” becomes a regular part of our diet, one that silently reprograms how our body and brain work.
Once sugar takes root in your daily routine, it often leads to other health issues:
⚖️ Weight gain
🩸 Insulin resistance
🫀 Inflammation
🧠 Mental fatigue
💤 Poor sleep
😞 Mood swings
It’s not just about empty calories—it’s about metabolic chaos. Refined sugar sets off a domino effect in your body that can lead to prediabetes, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and even depression.
And perhaps worst of all, it dulls our taste for real, wholesome food. The more sugar we eat, the less appealing fruits, vegetables, and whole grains become.
The good news? You can rewire your brain and regain control of your palate.
Start by eliminating added sugars for just 7 to 10 days. During this brief window, your taste buds begin to reset.
Foods like carrots, apples, and oatmeal will start to taste sweet again. You’ll notice fewer cravings, clearer thinking, and better energy.
This isn’t about punishment—it’s about freedom.
Removing sugar breaks its grip on your brain and reopens the door to natural, vibrant flavors.
Here are a few daily changes that can make a big difference:
🥣 Start your day with protein and fiber Instead of cereal or flavored yogurt, try eggs with sautéed veggies, or steel-cut oats with cinnamon and berries.
💧 Hydrate before you caffeinate Drink a glass of water first thing in the morning. Often, we confuse thirst with hunger or cravings.
📦 Read labels like a detective Look for hidden sugars like sucrose, glucose, fructose, maltose, corn syrup, and cane juice.
🍫 Replace sweet snacks with whole foods Try a square of 85% dark chocolate, some fruit and nuts, or frozen grapes.
☕ Spice it up Use cinnamon, vanilla, or nutmeg instead of sugar to add flavor to drinks or baked goods.
🍽️ Eat mindfully Chew slowly. Pause between bites. Stop when you’re satisfied, not stuffed.
If you struggle to eat healthy, it’s not because you’re weak. It’s because the modern food environment is designed to tempt, trick, and trap you.
Food scientists engineer hyper-palatable combinations of sugar, salt, and fat to override your brain’s natural signals. This isn’t a conspiracy—it’s just marketing. But awareness gives you power.
You don’t have to be perfect. You just need to be intentional. Start noticing. Start asking: “Is this real food? Or just fake pleasure?”
At West Egg Wellness, we believe that better health starts with better habits—and better habits begin with awareness. You don’t need to chase the latest diet trend. You need to reconnect with the natural rhythms of your body and the wisdom of simple, nourishing food.
So the next time a craving hits, pause. Breathe. Ask yourself: “Is this helping me live with energy, purpose, and joy?”
Because at the end of the day, sugar might light a fire—but real food keeps the fire burning.
Thank you for being part of the West Egg Living community. If this message resonates with you, share it with someone who needs a nudge toward clarity, energy, and wellness.
Stay strong. Stay mindful. And remember:
👉 Better choices,
👉 Better health,
👉 Better life.
The West Egg Wellness 50+ Team
Understanding the Blood-Brain Barrier The human brain is arguably the most complex and sensitive organ in the body. It controls thoughts, emotions, movement, memory, and our connection to the world. Protecting this vital command center is a natural filtration system known as the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB)—a biological shield that prevents harmful substances from entering the brain while allowing essential nutrients to pass through.
Understanding the blood-brain barrier isn’t just important for neuroscientists—it’s essential knowledge for anyone concerned about health, disease prevention, and the impact of substances on cognitive function.
If you’re new to West Egg Wellness 50+, be sure to click on the Getting Started icon. There, you’ll find free downloadable materials designed to help you take those first steps toward better health and nutrition. From simple meal planning guides to beginner-friendly fitness tips, these resources are created with you in mind. It’s a great way to jumpstart your wellness journey—don’t miss it!
If you have any questions, thoughts, or comments you'd like to share, I'm always happy to hear from you - just send a message to info@westeggliving.com
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Thank you for joining us for this edition of Wellness Wisdom! We hope you found inspiration, encouragement, and a few practical takeaways to support your wellness journey. Remember, lasting health isn’t about perfection — it’s about small, consistent steps.
We’re honored to walk alongside you as you create a stronger, more vibrant life after 50. Stay tuned for next week’s issue packed with more tips, insights, and motivation. Until then, be kind to yourself and keep moving forward — you’ve got this!
The content provided by West Egg Wellness 50 Plus is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your healthcare provider before beginning any new health, fitness, or nutrition program. Individual results may vary. West Egg Wellness 50 Plus makes no guarantees regarding specific outcomes.
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I love the video on this one.
I will try dinking water every hourr like I am trying to go 250 steps each hour.. Encouraging idea.
This is great information. I love the new layout. I cannot wait for the next edition!!!
Thanks Riaan.
Great article!