Page 28 - Spring2013

A number of significantly after the elimination of high-sugar of total cholesterol.” Colin wrote that “these
96
studies have junk foods. findings have challenged the vast public health
Schoenthaler concluded that the primary programs aimed at promoting the decrease of

suggested a cause of hypoglycemia is poor nutritional habits. cholesterol,” and even suggested suspending the
103
relationship Because the brain uses mainly glucose for fuel, administration of lipid-lowering drugs.
Katherine DesMaisons, a counselor in drug
when glucose levels fall or fluctuate widely,
between neurons will not be supplied a constant source and alcohol programs, ran a nutrition-based
low of energy and may “misfire,” affecting thinking program for alcoholics in San Mateo County,
and reasoning patterns. High sugar and starchy California, called the “Biochemical Restoration
cholesterol carbohydrate intake can lead to excessive insu- Program.” By focusing on diet and nutrition,

levels and lin release, resulting in falling blood sugar and DesMaisons successfully reduced the sugar
cravings that led people with flawed carbohy-
hypoglycemia.
96
deaths due Alexander Schauss, author of the book Diet, drate metabolism to crave the sugar in alcohol.
to accidents Crime and Delinquency (1980), described as “the She went on to earn a PhD with the dissertation,
first clear guide to correcting behavior through “Biochemical restoration as an intervention for
or violence. diet,” used case studies to show that high intake multiple offense drunk driving” in 1966. She is
of sugar, processed foods, junk foods, food ad- the author of Potatoes not Prozac and The Sugar
ditives along with insufficient nutrients, food Addict’s Total Recovery Program. 104
allergies and lack of exercise, can all contribute Barbara Stitt was chief probation officer in
to criminal behavior. 97 Ohio for twenty years. During these years she
The Finnish researcher Matti Virkkunen did closely observed her clients and recognized that
a series of studies with violent male prisoners. diet and behavior were strongly related. When
He found abnormal glucose tolerance in sub- diet improved, behavior improved. Dr. Stitt
jects with antisocial personality and increased earned a PhD focusing on “The Biochemistry of
insulin secretion with excessive sugary foods, Crime” and “Healing the Delinquent Mind.” In
especially with alcoholics. He confirmed the her book, Food and Behavior: A Natural Con-
98
fact that violent male homicidal offenders had nection, she discusses reactive hypoglycemia, a
much lower cholesterol levels than other offend- defect that occurs when blood sugar levels are
ers; and that impulsive violent offenders and fire inadequate to meet the brain’s requirements.
setters have low serotonin levels in the brain. He She also fingers sub-clinical pellagra; B vitamin
hypothesized that the lower cholesterol levels in deficiencies; allergic reactions; alcohol consump-
the violent offenders could be “a consequence of tion; heavy metals toxicity; MSG; and aspartame
enhanced insulin secretion and that high insulin as partners in crime. Her main advice is to eat
levels are responsible for violent behavior.” 99-100 protein for breakfast instead of sugary cereals,
Finland suffers from one of the highest suicide bagels, toast and other quick carbs, which set the
rates in the world, along with an explosive rate stage for insulin swings and blood sugar reac-
of alcoholism. tions throughout the day. Her documentation
A number of studies have suggested a re- links hypoglycemia to aggressive and violent
lationship between low cholesterol levels and behavior. 105
deaths due to accidents or violence. In Sweden,
Beatrice A. Golomb found that low cholesterol DEPRESSION AND OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS
101
is associated with increased criminal violence The well-known French researcher, Jean-
in randomized trials. Studies in Turkey showed Marie Bourré, found a significant decrease of
that “violent suicide attempters” had significantly the polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids and/or
lower total cholesterol and leptin levels compared an increase of the omega-6/omega-3 ratio in the
to those with non-violent suicide attempts. 102 plasma of those with psychiatric diagnoses. He
Low cholesterol was also a major factor in presents the hypothesis that omega-3 deficiency
a French study of patients suffering from major “alters the structure and function of membranes
depression, which found that “clinical recovery and induces minor cerebral dysfunctions. Studies
may be associated with a significant increase of omega-3 fatty acids provide the first coher-
28 Wise Traditions SPRING 2013 SPRING 2013 Wise Traditions