Mika Brzezinski Reveals ‘Lifelong Struggle With Sugar’ in New Op-Ed

“Alone in my car, I have even been known to eat the icing off six Hostess cupcakes,” Brzezinski says

Morning Joe Mika Brzezinski
MSNBC

“Morning Joe” co-host Mika Brzezinski revealed what she called a “lifelong struggle with sugar” on Sunday in a new Op-Ed for NBC News Digital’s KnowYourValue.com.

“My diet has always gotten in the way of my productivity, because I have struggled with food issues for decades,” Brzezinski wrote. “Alone in my car, I have even been known to eat the icing off six Hostess cupcakes. You get it. I have a disordered relationship with sugar.”

“I feel gutted and empty when I haven’t had sugar for a few hours and start searching for it,” she added. “On airplanes, I feel trapped if I don’t have a bag of candy or Cheez-Its to get me through the flight.”

In the piece, Brzezinski lauded the positive effects of mindfulness therapy and said that her work with Massachusetts behavioral therapist Dr. Gillian Galen had helped her kick the addiction for nine days and counting so far.

“She’s on the forefront of this mindfulness-focused therapy that really teaches you to change your relationship with the very things that bring you down,” Brzezinski said. “After several months of practicing mindfulness, I am finding that my running is re-emerging in my life as a positive force — and it’s far less painful.”

The piece was published to a special “Know Your Value” section of the NBC website, that aims to promote Brzezinski’s personal women’s empowerment initiative which she frequently speaks about on-air. On Monday’s “Morning Joe,” Brzezinski noted the column during a discussion of mental health with 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

The story also provided a rare window into Brzezinski’s personal life with new husband (and MSNBC co-host) Joe Scarborough, including a fight brought on by sugar withdrawal that only ended after Scarborough bought her a caramel sundae and demanded she eat it.

“You can’t change any problem by just changing your behavior. You must look at your relationship with the problem. That’s the part that can be changed, and that’s what I’m trying to do right now,” Brzezinski concluded. “I hope you’ll join me.”

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