Food and Aggression...
The
Connection Between Food and Aggression
Refined sugar creates wild mood swings in some people. It is found
in most pre-packaged foods. Even a tin of peas may contain sugar.
So-called 'healthy' breakfast cereals may be loaded with sugar.
Check the contents of all labels before you buy them rather than
have them in the house waiting to tempt in a vulnerable moment.
Instead of refined sugar, use
stevia, fructose or honey in moderation.
Switch your diet temporarily (as an experiment) to raw fruit and
vegetables, nuts and seeds. These are the true foods, brim full of
goodness and vitality. Fruit should form the lion share of the menu.
Have it for breakfast on an empty stomach and continue eating only
fruit throughout the morning.
A few minutes before lunch and dinner,
have one item of fresh fruit or vegetable. A bite of crunchy carrot
stick, an avocado, a handful of raisins, a nice juicy tomato or
maybe a little sweet raw corn on the cob. Within a week or two, I am
certain you will notice a marked difference.
Serotonin is a neuro-transmitter, often found lacking in people
displaying aggressive behaviour. An Essential Amino Acid called
tryptophan is beneficial in that it produces natural serotonin.
Tryptophan is found in alfalfa sprouts, beets, carrots, celery,
green beans, turnips and bananas.
There is no need to rush out to
buy some chemically manufactured serotonin in a pill or its
precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan. It is much more useful to you in the
form presented by mother nature - spend 20 to 30 minutes daily in
sunlight without any barriers to the eyes, i.e., no glasses or
contact lenses and you will manufacture your own serotonin.
Toxic substances accumulate in the body due to low grade food. Fruit
is a great cleanser, healer and nourisher and because of its
cleansing function, a headache may develop on the second or third
day. This is because the old toxins are transported in the
bloodstream on the way to being dumped out of the body.
Drink plenty of clean water, rest if possible and simply wait for it
to pass. Understanding what is going on makes a great difference.
Popping a pain-killer will only add to the toxic levels in the
bloodstream, so avoid that. Rather take pride in the efficiency of
your body and the intelligence with which it cleans out when given
the opportunity.
Essential oils in a burner will create a calmer atmosphere in the
home. Use camomile or lavender. Just a few discrete drops will do.
Pleasant music can reduce rising tension in the early stages.
Too much protein can affect some people adversely, bringing out
aggressive behaviour. During WW2, the Japanese fed their POWs with
high protein food while depriving them of carbohydrates. It was a
deliberate ploy to cause aggression to the point of madness among
the prisoners.
Phosphates in sodas, sausages and many processed foods are fuel to
the fire.
Refined sugar, refined carbohydrates, coffee, tea, cola, chocolate,
stress, artificial sweeteners, most medications* and alcohol destroy
Vitamin B. Vitamin B is needed by the Cerebellum, Medulla and Pons
(the primitive parts of the brain). Aggression can easily result
when this basic requirement is not met. Refined sugar can also cause
mood swings.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported in 1980 that
people eating too many refined carbohydrates displayed certain types
of neurosis. This includes sensitivity to criticism, poor impulse
control, frequent irritability, hostile behaviour, tendency to anger
easily, sleep disturbances, chronic debilitating fatigue and
depression.
Oxygen, vitamins, minerals, glucose, nutrients and a certain amount
of protein are required by the brain to function properly. However,
when these positive substances are mixing with toxins such as
refined sugar, refined carbohydrates, artificial colourants, cow’s
milk, cheese, phosphates or phosphoric acid, a reaction takes place
in sensitive people, resulting in undesirable behaviour.
Eat foods containing the positive nutrients, avoiding toxic
substances. An excellent source of nourishment is a diet rich in a
variety of fresh raw fruit and vegetables, nuts and seeds.
An abnormal fondness for cow’s milk could indicate a relevant
addiction. Research in a state prison in Michigan showed a direct
correlation between cow’s milk consumption and anti-social behaviour
among male and female inmates. A reduction in cow’s milk brought
about a decrease in anti-social behaviour.
Deficiencies in Vitamin B6, iron, zinc and magnesium have been
blamed for delinquent behaviour. Since Vitamin B6 is destroyed by
heat, light and storage, it is best taken raw from sprouted grains,
legumes and seeds. Sprouting seeds are also rich in iron and so are
dried fruits, green leaf vegetables, nuts and mushrooms. However
spinach, rhubarb and beat greens should be avoided if an iron
deficiency is the problem as they contain oxalic acid which prevents
iron and calcium absorption.
Tannin tends to bind iron, so rather avoid tea as well, especially
after a meal. Good sources of zinc are nuts, beans and peas, also
excellent are sprouting seeds - especially sprouted sunflower and
sesame seeds. Alcohol diminishes the body’s supply of zinc and
coffee blocks its absorption.
Magnesium is best found in organically grown fruit and vegetables as
commercially cultivated soil becomes deficient in magnesium due to
artificial fertilisers (nitrogen). A diet high in protein, fat,
sugar or flour increases magnesium requirements. People with
diabetes, suffering from stress or kidney problems or children going
through a growing phase as well as pregnant or lactating mothers
need more magnesium.
The mineral lead (remember? it used to be billowed into our air by
car exhausts) is found to be another common cause of aggression -
particularly if we do not eat much in the way of fruit and
vegetables but do eat refined carbohydrates. If you are in an area
that is constantly being poisoned with lead, get away from it as
often as possible, reduce your intake of refined carbohydrates
(pasta, bread, sugar) and eat to your heart’s content of fresh raw
fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Satisfy any yearning for
carbohydrates with potatoes, corn, bananas or dried fruit. Calcium
supplements sometimes contain traces of lead due to fumes affecting
the soil or animals they were extracted from.
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