Of the seven deadly sins, gluttony and sloth are two that can be found in the stereotypical American lifestyle. In our Western world of excess and abundance, having more and wanting more is encouraged, glorified, and too often…justified. Gluttony and sloth are both the lowest forms of destructive lifestyle behaviors. Gorging demonstrates signs of dietary disorders such as binge eating and food addiction. Sloth is the apathy, despair, and reluctance to make a move in one’s life. Sloth arrives when we are depressed, have given up, or lack self esteem.
Diseases of excess are the result of gluttony and sloth. These include illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and physical conditions like arthritis and obesity. The seduction of gluttony begins in the mouth as our taste buds are tantalized with fatty, salty, and sugary foods. And did you realize that the brain is altered when we ingest overly processed food? Sugar can light up and impact our brain just like cocaine, since both sugar and cocaine use floods the bloodstream with dopamine. Sugar also makes the blood sticky and can contribute to heart disease and type II diabetes.
Sloth lures us to apathy…we are sedentary too often, and this allows our muscles to atrophy. When we stop challenging our bodies with movement we enter a destructive cycle of weakness, fatigue, and sloth can lead to bone loss.
If you’ve been drawn into a dangerous relationship with gluttony and sloth, how do you break up? Self-care, behavioral therapy, time in nature, exercise, acupuncture, meditation, and a lengthy, honest conversation with your physician are just a few of the ways to address and rid yourself of this destructive duo. Gluttony and sloth are considered deadly sins for good reason. Say goodbye to these two and improve your quality of life.
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We invite you to Live Well and Be Well.
~Tiffany Anderson, LMT, RMT, BS, CHES