Fleeing From Sweetness

"Linda, tell me what you usually like to drink.  You know, like soda, tea, coffee, juice, milk, sports drinks...stuff like that."

Linda was an obese teenager who was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and a liver problem, and was seriously in need of losing weight.  I asked the question to look for possible ways that she could improve her health.

"Well, I drink a lot of water..."

Linda spoke slowly and carefully, as if she was trying to give the "correct" answer.  Her mother, who sat at her side, offered a more realistic assessment, and explained that Linda drank a lot of soda, as well as high-calorie, sugary blended coffee drinks (with extra whipped cream, of course), large cans of sweetened iced tea, and juice.  I also discovered later that Linda ate a lot of snack chips while watching television, refused to eat vegetables, and consumed at least 2-3 times the normal portions of rice or tortillas during meals.  She also detested exercise or anything that would cause her to break a sweat.

"Thank you, Linda for all this information.  You know, I asked you all these questions to see what we can work on to help you lose some weight, and I think that cutting out sweet beverages from your diet will be a very good idea.  You see, anytime you drink a can of soda, a glass of juice, a can or glass of iced tea with sugar, etc., you are taking in between 100 to 150 calories, and each time you do this, you literally have to walk about one mile just to burn off the extra sugar that you drank.  So, if you just drink water instead, it's like you're walking extra miles every day.  If you cut back by only one of those drinks a day, it will make a weight difference of about one pound a month, as long as you don't try to make up the difference by eating more the rest of the day."

That was my standard advice about soft drinks, calories and exercise.  I call it "energy currency conversion".  One can of soda a day equals one extra pound of body fat a month, and one needs to run one mile to burn off the sugar in one can of soda.  It sounds simple enough for most of my patients and families to understand.

"What about diet sodas?"  Linda asked nervously.

"Well, diet sodas are not as bad as regular sodas, in that they have almost no calorie.  However, the problem with diet or low-calorie soft drinks is that they are as sweet as the sugar-containing stuff, so when you drink them, even though you are not taking in more sugar, you still crave sugar, so when the opportunity arises you will still go for the sugar whenever you can.  Because of this, it's much better to just drink water and other unsweetened beverage whenever possible.  I personally drink a lot of coffee and tea all day, but I usually don't put any sugar or other sweetener in them, and I don't feel the craving to do so."

Makes sense.  A person who imbibes soft drinks with sugar substitutes to lose weight is sort of like a sex addict trying to overcome his perversion by watching pornography.  It may not be the real thing, but rather than helping one to get the problem out of his system, it entices him closer to the real deal.

Linda would be much more likely to keep eating and drinking sweet stuff if she craves sweet stuff.  Similarly, one is more likely to commit acts of sin or disobedience if the enticement of desire is planted in the mind.

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.  Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.  (James 1:14-15)

It is better to separate oneself from the cravings.  Don't compromise with them.  Don't fight them.  Run from them.

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.  (2 Timothy 2:22-23)