Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 7/21/2008

Question
Hi, I'm a 23yr old female. I stopped smoking crack about 4 years ago, I used it heavily/daily for about two years. It seems though that ever since I quit, I've been having weight issues. I was a bigger-average size when I started using, I got quite thinner while I was on it, but now that I've stopped I've gained a lot of weight, even though my eating patterns have not changed.. if anything, they've gotten healthier... but I can't stop the weight gain. A friend of mine told me that when I person uses a drug like crack it speed up their metabolism while they're on it, but then drops it even lower than where it started from when the drug wears off. I've been searching all over the net trying to verify this, but cannot find anything really relating to it. Any help would be appreciated.

Answer
Dear Malanie,

The reason why you are putting on weight is because you are not metabolizing carbohydrates (the sugars) fully into biological energy called adenosinetriphosphate (ATP).  This energy is required to manufacture feel good neurotransmitters such as serotonin. This is a condition that existed BEFORE you drug taking period, and may be the very reason why you enjoyed drugs at the time as a remedy against depression.

The unused carbohydrates are stored in your body as fat cells and this is why people with depression usually put on weight as well.

The inability to metabolize carbohydrates is caused by insulin resistance, resulting in either pre-diabetes called hypoglycemia or diabetes. The non-drug treatment for hypoglycemia (as well as diabetes) is going on a hypoglycemic diet, supplemented with various nutritional supplements, such as B-complex vitamins and minerals (zinc, chromium, magnesium etc). This will stop or even reverse obesity over time if also accompanied by regular exercise.

Drug addiction and depression are complex biochemical processes, which I have tried to explain in articles at our web site.  Please e=read:

Drug Addiction is a Nutritional Disorder at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/drug_addictions_nutritional_disorder.htm...

Depression is a Nutritional Disorder at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/depression_disorder.html

What is Hypoglycemia at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/what_is_hypo.html

The Serotonin Connection at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/serotonin_connection.html

Self-help Personal Growth Psychotherapy at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/self-help_personal_growth.html

and discuss with a Nutritional Doctor, a Clinical Nutritionist or a Nutritional Psychologist if you want to.


_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman
Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search
Skype: jurplesman