The Doctors: Turn Your 2012 Resolutions Into Reality

The Doctors: 3 Deadly S’s Addictions

The Doctors continued their 12 Month Plan For A New You In 2012. For March, Dr. Travis Stork said to curb your cravings for “the three deadly S’s: salt, sugar, and smoking.” He explained that the brain chemistry behind all these cravings is essentially the same. The pleasure centers of your brain are the same, whether you are eating sweets or doing heroin.

Dr. Jim Sears: How Sugar Affects The Brain & Body

Addictive behaviors fill your body with dopamine. But as your blood sugar goes up, your pancreas secretes insulin. As the sugar rush depletes, your pleasure centers go dark and the dopamine dries up. That’s what makes you reach for that second cookie or snack, to keep the feeling going.

But this becomes addictive when you need sweets just to feel normal. Dr. Jim Sears said the average American eats 22 teaspoons of added sugar each day, in addition to natural sugars in food. He said the entire studio audience eats 14,136 pounds of added sugar every year. That comes out to about 70 pounds per person, and that sugar turns into fat, according to Dr. Andrew Ordon.

Dr. Travis Stork: Salt Addiction

Dr. Travis Stork said the average American consumes more than twice the recommended amount of sodium daily. This puts you at risk for strokes, kidney failure, heart attacks, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

He suggested some ways to combat those salt cravings. Research shows that starting your day with a high sugar breakfast makes you crave more sugar throughout the day. He said switching to leaner proteins for breakfast will make you less likely to reach for those unneeded sugars.

Dr. Lisa Masterson suggested using spices like Cinnamon or Nutmeg instead of sugar in your food. For spicier flavors, Dr. Jim Sears suggested Cayenne Pepper for spicy tastes or Coriander as a salt substitute.

Dr. Linda Hyder Ferry: Smoking Addiction

Smoking is a deadly addiction, and Dr. Linda Hyder Ferry, a smoking cessation expert, put that into real numbers for the audience. She said every cigarette you smoke takes seven minutes off your life.

Quitting smoking can improve your skin, your smile, and your life. That’s in contrast to the various health problems associated with smoking. Dr. Linda Hyder Ferry shared Ds To Help You Quit Smoking.

D’s To Help You Quit Smoking: Doctor

She said most people need medication to help them quit smoking, and said it’s best to start taking the medication before you quit.

D’s To Help You Quit Smoking: Date

Dr. Ferry recommended setting a quit date, and preparing for it by clearing your house of ashtrays and cleaning up to encourage yourself to succeed.

D’s To Help You Quit Smoking: Drink Cold Water Through A Straw

She said ice cold water stimulates the brain and curbs your cravings. The straw, which is about the diameter of a cigarette, gives you something to do with your fingers or mouth instead of holding a cigarette.

D’s To Help You Quit Smoking: Deep Breathing

Dr. Linda Hyder Ferry said deep breathing can have amazing effects on alleviating your cravings.

D’s To Help You Quit Smoking: Do Something For Yourself

She said that rewarding yourself for your progress will motivate you to continue toward your goal.

Dr. Travis Stork had one more tip. Eating high alkaline foods like celery and spinach, can actually change the way your taste buds respond to cigarettes, which can help you want to smoke less.

The Drs TV Show: Processed Foods vs Fresh Food

For April, The Doctors are issuing an Eat Fresh Challenge. They want you to ditch the wrappers and processed foods in favor of green, healthy choices. Dr. Travis Stork said you can drop eight pounds and cut your cholesterol by 20%, just by switching from processed to fresh foods.

Audience member Collette loves her processed foods. But Dr. Stork explained that they are located with trans fats. He demonstrated how those fats gum up your arteries, preventing blood flow and leading to strokes or heart attacks.

Dr. Lisa Masterson: Fresh Food Substitutes

Dr. Travis Stork showed a seemingly health breakfast sandwich that is secretly loaded with sodium, calories, carbs, and fat. He suggested substituting scrambled eggs and berries for better nutrition with the same amount of protein, which makes you feel satisfied.

Dr. Lisa Masterson said she snacks on nuts, which have protein and vitamins, and are a great snack alternative to chips or other junk food.

Dr. Jim Sears said processed foods can lead to other problems, like asthma, ADHD, and even has been linked to autism. Now children as young as age 9 may need to be screened for health problems associated with overeating processed foods.

Dr. Travis Stork encouraged everyone to sign up for the Eat Fresh Challenge.